Rhode Island Businesses for Better Education is an alliance of businesses and business organizations committed to taking action that improves Rhode Island’s public K-12 system. Our top priority is ensuring that every student is provided a high-quality education to meet the demands of Rhode Island’s future competitive economy.

Rhode Island businesses have long agreed that our schools must provide every student with access to a high-quality education that prepares them for college and career. Through RIBBE, Rhode Island’s business community is demanding better results for every student, no matter their district. RIBBE’s work is focused on five guiding principles: 

• Equity: Businesses believe that every student - no matter their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, income, or ability - deserves equitable access to resources and opportunities to ensure that they can reach their full educational potential.

• High Standards and Accountability: Businesses believe that students do their best when all stakeholders – including parents, educators, state and local leaders, labor, and management – are held accountable for students achieving high standards.

• Innovation and Modernization: Businesses believe that students learn in different ways and that we need to push past the status quo to create opportunities for innovation and modernization in curriculum, approach, and infrastructure.

• Support: Businesses believe that students deserve teachers and educators who are fully committed to student success and that students benefit when their teachers have access to high-quality training and professional development.

• Workforce Readiness: Businesses believe that every student should graduate with the skills, knowledge, and credentials that are necessary for success in college or a career, recognizing that most jobs being created in Rhode Island require more than a high school diploma.

RIBBE will take clear action to influence policy and drive change for Rhode Island students. Specially, RIBBE members commit to:

1. Advocating for a student-first education agenda;

2. Leveraging their influence and networks to hold stakeholders accountable for improving education and securing more equitable pathways for all students; and

3. Learning, promoting and raising awareness of regional and national best practices.

As such, the undersigned parties agree to engage and collaborate with other businesses, business associations, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to stand up for student needs. By participating in Rhode Island Businesses for Better Education, members agree to the following activities:

• RIBBE MEMBERS WILL participate in and host events and activities to educate themselves and other businesses, business associations, and advocates about the current state, and potential, of K-12 education in Rhode Island;

• RIBBE MEMBERS WILL share information, including reports, white papers, and fact sheets, with association members focused on RIBBE’s core education priorities;

• RIBBE MEMBERS WILL advocate for improving Rhode Island’s public K-12 system consistent with RIBBE’s guiding principles;

• RIBBE MEMBERS WILL explore establishing RIBBE as a nonprofit corporation;

• RIBBE MEMBERS WILL contribute minimum dues to support the alliance’s efforts.

This MOU is intended to be a non-binding statement of the parties’ interest in pursuing further discussions concerning the organization of RIBBE. This MOU is not intended to, and does not create any right, benefit, or trust responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity, by any party, its officers, employees, or agents against the other parties, and their respective officers, employees, or agents.

Signed on November 2, 2023 by:

Erin Donovan-Boyle, Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce

Laurie White, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce 

Elizabeth Catucci, Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce

Tom Giordano, Partnership for Rhode Island

Lisa Ranglin, Rhode Island Black Business Association

John Simmons, Rhode Island Business Coalition

Oscar Mejias, Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Dave Chenevert, Rhode Island Manufacturers Association

Michael DiBiase, Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council