With new leaders put in place across Rhode Island’s educational system in the last year, the state could be looking at many positive changes, according to Gov. Gina Raimondo.

In an interview last week, Raimondo outlined some of the initiatives as well as her expectations for the system’s new leaders: Education Commissioner Dr. Ken Wagner, Postsecondary Education Commissioner Jim Purcell, and CCRI President Meghan Hughes.

Just over a week prior to the meeting, Wagner gave his State of Education address, introducing a new empowerment plan to allow schools more flexibility and authority in making day-to-day decisions. The three-year voluntary plan would allow individual schools to determine a climate and culture for itself and implement initiatives to see that vision come to fruition.

“We believe schools are the unit of change,” Raimondo said. “We are asking schools, principals and teachers to be innovative. People are going to have to step up.”

Raimondo, who nominated Wagner for the position last July, said the commissioner is meeting her expectations.

The governor said in looking at candidates, she knew Wagner was “what Rhode Island needed.” She said he has a proven track record in New York as a listener and collaborator and has only continued to be so here in Rhode Island.

In the past she believes the state has focused on a rigid, top-down, “my way or the highway” approach, moving from “idea to idea.” She said Wagner, on the other hand, moves “slow and steady,” reaching out to all parties to get things right the first time. Initiatives have a better chance of receiving support from the whole system and becoming more sustainable.

When looking at the success of Massachusetts schools, Raimondo said Rhode Island likewise has the “robust curriculum,” high standards, and proper funding. She said the empowerment of schools is the big difference.

“It’s not that we aren’t spending enough money,” she said. “We can all agree that we need to see improvements. We want to create a culture of excellence.”

Raimondo would like to increase funding for ELL students, or English language learners. As the fastest growing population in the state’s schools, it’s necessary to provide these students with the proper resources to succeed, she said.

“This is a huge population of students we are leaving behind,” she said. “Why shouldn’t these students have the same educational opportunities?”

Raimondo sees ELL funding as a “social justice” issue. As a large population of youth that could go on to contribute to the state’s success, they deserve a proper education.

Looking to higher education, Hughes is the new president at the CCRI and Nancy Carriuolo will step down as Rhode Island College president on May 21.

In the face of these changes, Raimondo said Purcell has had to undergo a lot in his position, but he remains “steady and supportive” with a focus on accountability when it comes to performance and funding as well as working toward a more unified state system.

Raimondo would like to see all three institutions – CCRI, Rhode Island College, and the University of Rhode Island – become more unified with improved communication between them. Ideally, the institutions would specialize, each playing a different role for the state, she said.

Raimondo commended Hughes on her success so far as president of CCRI but said she still has “a big job ahead of her.”

Currently, around 9 percent of CCRI students graduate within three years or transfer to a four-year institution.

“You can never expect 100 percent, but 9 percent just isn’t acceptable,” Raimondo said.

Raimondo believes many students attending CCRI are under-prepared in math and reading skills, often wasting Pell grants on remedial courses. Having run out of funds before taking meaningful courses, students are discouraged from continuing. Similarly, many students are unaware of where they want to take their education and similarly run out of money taking just general education courses, she said. She said CCRI faces having to better work with students from day one on exactly what they want to pursue and ensuring they take the proper classes to get there.

Raimondo would also like to see increased partnership with local businesses because if students have job assurance they are more likely to graduate.

“It’s a big takeover, but I think Hughes is up to the job,” Raimondo said.

Declining enrollment is a challenge RIC faces, she said. She would also like to see a more defined mission for RIC.

As for URI, Raimondo called the new engineering school as “critical” and called the business engagement program “excellent.”