Education 101
INTRODUCTION
The Puerto Rico Department of Education is the government agency responsible for the academic education of a large portion of Puerto Rico’s population. At the administrative level, the PRDE operates simultaneously as both State Education Agency (SEA) and Local Education Agency (LEA) and operates with federal and state funds. For years, it has been the largest government agency in the archipelago of Puerto Rico with nearly 45 thousand employees.
Understanding the complexities of Puerto Rico’s education system and the educational challenges faced by the Island’s students is critical to implement changes and advancing efforts for the benefit of the general society. It is possible to address the most pressing needs of K-3 students and provide them with the tools they require for their academic and personal development, as well as to overcome the educational lag of students in higher grade levels if we identify the obstacles that hinder their access to opportunities to lead a successful life in the future.
The Flamboyán Foundation has worked for over a decade to improve the quality of life of Puerto Rican children through education. We have and continue to support families, teachers, and the PRDE in their task of teaching and educating the students of the public education system. Because we understand that this is a monumental task that requires the support of all sectors, we have designed this webpage to keep you informed, supported with data and references, of the state of education in Puerto Rico.