Governor McKee Reinforces Need for FY 27 Budget Investment in Learn365RI Out-of-School Learning
Published on Tuesday, April 21, 2026
WARWICK, RI — At a visit to a STEM-based April Vacation Camp at the Norwood Branch of the Warwick Boys & Girls Club, Governor Dan McKee and Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green underscored the importance of continued investment in Learn365RI out-of-school learning initiatives. The Governor has proposed $2 million in additional Learn365RI funding in his FY 27 budget.
Joining the Governor and Commissioner were State Representatives Joseph Solomon (D-District 22, Warwick), Representative Earl Read (D-District 26, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick), Representative David Bennett (D-District 20, Warwick, Cranston); Boys and Girls Club of Warwick CEO Lara D’Antuono; and Warwick School Board Chair Shaun Galligan.
“One of my top goals as governor is to improve student performance,” said Governor McKee. “If we are going to catch up to Massachusetts, we can’t expect schools to do all the work. This must be a team effort, both in and out of school.”
At the Boys & Girls Club, the Governor and Commissioner toured three classrooms with STEM and STEAM-related activities, including “magnetic math,” food truck design, and a paper airplane challenge that focuses on data gathering and graphing.
“Extended learning opportunities like those provided by Learn365RI are essential to improving student outcomes and closing achievement gaps across the state,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “I’m pleased to spotlight our diverse April break camps, specifically the programming at the Warwick Boys & Girls Club, which exemplifies this worthwhile investment in our children’s learning.”
“We were proud to welcome the Governor today and give him the opportunity to see firsthand how powerful these partnerships can be,” said Lara D’Antuono, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Warwick. “When community organizations, schools, and municipalities work together, we extend learning beyond the traditional school day—and it works.”
“Through the Learn365RI initiative, we are seeing real gains in student achievement, especially in mathematics, as students receive consistent, targeted support that complements and strengthens instruction during the school day,” Warwick Public Schools Superintendent William McCaffrey shared in a statement. “This includes high-impact tutoring and vacation programs facilitated by our Warwick teachers. By combining year-round learning opportunities with this level of instructional support, we are not just maintaining progress; we are accelerating it.”
Learn365RI is a signature initiative of Governor McKee that seeks to position Rhode Island to meet or exceed Massachusetts student achievement levels by 2030 by expanding year-round learning opportunities.
On the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or the Nation’s Report Card, Rhode Island climbed from 25th in 2019 to 14th in 2024 in fourth‑grade reading. In eighth‑grade reading, the state improved from 34th to 25th over the same period.