Elizabeth Burke Bryant has been named the recipient of the fourth Paul Crowley Award by the Rhode Island School Superintendents’ Association. Bryant has been the executive director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT since it was founded in 1995. She has also held positions as policy director for the city of Providence, prosecutor for Housing Court and as consultant to various nonprofits.
PBN: What is the mission/purpose of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT?
BRYANT: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is a children’s policy and advocacy organization that works to improve the health, education, safety, economic well-being and development of Rhode Island’s children. We provide policymakers, community leaders and the news media with the best available data and information on children’s issues and work with a wide range of community leaders to shine a spotlight on strategies to increase the odds that children … will reach their full potential.
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PBN: The Paul Crowley Award is presented to a Rhode Island citizen who “has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to improving the quality of education for the children of Rhode Island.” Could you describe some of the specific efforts to improve education that you have been a part of?
BRYANT: On behalf of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT I have been involved in a range of education issues, including tracking 22 education indicators in the annual “Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook,” helping to design and launch the Pre-K Demonstration Program, assisting with the effort to develop the school funding formula that the General Assembly passed last year, hosting a Drop-Out Prevention Summit, co-chairing the Rhode Island Early Learning Council and focusing on the critical issue of reading at grade level by the end of third grade.
PBN: What are some steps needed to improve Rhode Island education?
BRYANT: Winning the $75 million Race to the Top grant gives Rhode Island a terrific opportunity to lead the way nationally to ensure that every Rhode Island child has the chance to attend an excellent public school. We need to continue to work together to expand access to early-childhood education, institute a top-notch, educator-evaluation system, and ensure that we provide the kind of support necessary to have all children reading at grade level by the end of third grade. •
