National Alliance Strips Rhode Island Governor of Charter Champion Award

The legislative move, which also slashes the state’s charter cap from 35 to 28 and blocks the opening of already approved institutions, prompted the unprecedented rebuke. The Alliance argues the policy directly undermines students from low-income backgrounds and multilingual learners, who rely on these schools at higher rates than the state average. While McKee was once a vocal proponent of school choice—earning the award in 2009—the organization now claims he has abandoned those principles to serve personal political interests.

Starlee Coleman, President and CEO of the Alliance, characterized the governor’s pivot as a betrayal of the 12,000 students currently enrolled in Rhode Island charter programs and the thousands more languishing on waitlists. The Alliance maintains that the governor failed to consult with parents, who largely support the existing school choice model. By enacting these limits, the state has effectively halted the expansion of an educational sector that serves nearly 4 million students nationwide.