Her plan to transform education statewide involves providing feedback and resources to educators. Curriculums, she said, will be developed that are in line with meeting the standards; data systems will be in place that allow access and information-sharing among parents, teachers and students; educators will be evaluated on their teaching methods and student progress; and innovations such as charter schools, virtual learning and experiential learning will become options.

After a 30-minute overview, Ms. Gist opened the floor to questions and comments.

“While it’s a great story, your formula is flawed in many ways,” said state Representative-elect Richard Morrison (D-Bristol, Warren). “In Bristol-Warren, as a regional school district, the funding formula will cause our district to lose $1 million a year. How do you propose empowering great teachers?”

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The program, open to all juniors and seniors, allows students to select from a highly focused list of academic courses on the college preparatory, honors and advanced placement levels.

Narragansett is one of four towns in Rhode Island participating in virtual learning, along with North Smithfield, Scituate, Newport and Portsmouth.

Once enrolled, students are part of a class taught by a high school teacher in a different part of the country. “Students have the opportunity to meet online with teachers and talk to other students to make it feel like they are part of the class,” Pince said.

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