RIPEC Report: Has “Attendance Matters” been Effective on School Absenteeism

A row of various backpacks hanging on hooks against a purple wall.

Attendance Matters RI appears to have helped drive a sharp improvement in student attendance, reducing chronic absenteeism from its post-pandemic peak and producing one of the largest declines nationwide. However, absenteeism remains a serious concern, with 22.1% of students chronically absent in 2024–25 and rates exceeding 40% in some district, state, and charter schools (LEAs).…

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Rent Control continues to Collect Opposition, Veto Promise, even as Providence City Council slogs it along

Group holding signs advocating for the Reproductive Health Act.

The Providence City Council Thursday formally introduced their rent control ordinance. The ordinance will now go to the Special Committee on Health, Opportunity, Prosperity, and Education (HOPE), where public commentary time will continue. Members and supporters of the Rhode Island Coalition of Housing Providers showed up in force with about 100 members in response to…

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RIPEC Study Finds Rent Control Has Negative Long-Term Impacts on Housing

Informative graphic about rent control in Providence by RIPEC.

The Providence Foundation (The Foundation) announced findings from an extensive report on rent control policies to inform ongoing discussions locally. The report found that rent control policies have consistently had negative long-term impacts on housing markets, including reducing supply and worsening overall affordability. Meanwhile, reforms that intentionally increased supply and provided means-tested rental assistance have…

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RIPEC report: RI Housing Resources Commission an agency in need of reform

Rhode Island map with RIPEC text.

The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) has released a policy brief highlighting issues with the design and operations of Rhode Island’s Housing Resources Commission (HRC): RIPEC found that the HRC has wide statutory authority over housing policy and programming and shares many of the same top-line responsibilities with the Department of Housing. Conducting a…

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Rhode Island has employment gains but lags US in jobs recovery

Ripec logo on a blue background.

Rhode Island’s job market has improved, with four major industry sectors having regained all jobs lost during the pandemic, according to the Rhode Island Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Briefing for the second quarter of 2022, released today by the Center for Global and Regional Economic Studies at Bryant University and the Rhode Island Public Expenditure…

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