Rhode Island Republican Party

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RIGOP Chairman Condemns McKee’s Charter School Moratorium as Betrayal of Students and Parents

WARWICK, RI — Allyn Meyers, Chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party, issued the following statement strongly condemning Governor Dan McKee’s decision to sign legislation imposing a three-year moratorium on new charter schools and lowering the statewide cap from 35 to 28.

“Governor McKee’s decision to sign this bill is a profound betrayal of Rhode Island’s students, particularly those from low-income families who rely on charter schools for better educational opportunities,” said Chairman Meyers. “For years, McKee positioned himself as a champion of school choice and innovation. Today, he has chosen partisan politics and special interests over the futures of thousands of children. This is politics at its worst.”

Meyers fully supports the strong statements issued by Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz and House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale.

“Senator de la Cruz was absolutely right when she said the governor faced a clear choice between students and politics — and today, politics won,” Meyers continued. “This moratorium slams the door on families desperate for quality education options at a time when demand for charter schools far exceeds available seats, with thousands of students on waiting lists statewide. In just three critical school years, a child can master foundational academic skills, build confidence, and unlock future opportunities, or fall irreversibly behind. Forcing families to compete for fewer charter school seats during this pivotal window can impact a child forever, closing doors to better preparation and lifelong success.”

Meyers stated, “Leader Chippendale was correct on the House floor when he declared, ‘Charter schools work — they work well.' He rightly pointed out that we should not be afraid of competition, noting that charter schools are simply laboratories addressing real needs that traditional district schools sometimes cannot. We should be expanding what works instead of restricting it to appease special interests.”

The Governor’s own explanation reveals the emptiness of this move: it offers no plan to actually improve struggling district schools and instead punishes successful charters while families wait. Rhode Island’s children cannot afford this cynical tradeoff. Educational outcomes should drive policy, not re-election calculations or union endorsements. Governor McKee’s legacy on education will be defined by this moment of weakness.

“Republicans will continue fighting for every family’s right to choose the best education for their child,” Meyers concluded. “Our children’s futures are too important to sacrifice for political convenience.”

Happy Birthday, Chairman Allyn Meyers!

We are grateful for your tireless dedication to our party, our candidates, and our committees. Your consistent leadership, hard work, and unwavering support make a tremendous difference, and we deeply appreciate all that you do.

Wishing you a wonderful birthday and all the best in the year ahead. Thank you for your continued commitment and service!

K.C. Crosbie, Co-Chair of the RNC, will be joining us at the Rhode Island Republican Party Convention on Thursday, June 25th!

This is your chance to attend the VIP/Anchor Club Reception and meet K.C. Crosbie in person during an exciting night of energy, leadership, and momentum for our party.

📍 Rhodes on the Pawtuxet
60 Rhodes Place, Cranston, RI

🕔 Doors Open: 5:00 PM, check-in required
🕠 VIP Reception: 5:30 PM to 6:25 PM

🎟 VIP tickets are $150.00 includes Convention
Limited tickets available to State Central Committee members and guests.

Do not miss this opportunity to be in the room, meet national Republican leadership, and help build momentum for 2026!