School Closures: Dismantling Public Education (2010-present)

The mass closure of Puerto Rican public schools is not simply downsizing — it is the systematic dismantling of the institution that preserved Puerto Rican identity through 120 years of colonialism.

The Numbers:
- Puerto Rico had approximately 1,500 public schools in 2006
- By 2023, approximately 856 remained — a loss of over 600 schools
- Hundreds more closures are planned under FOMB fiscal plans
- Approximately 100 schools were closed in 2017-2018 alone (Education Secretary Julia Keleher)
- Post-María, dozens of schools closed as families left the island

Why Schools Close:
1. Population decline: Fewer students as families leave the island
2. FOMB austerity: Budget cuts mandate 'right-sizing' the school system
3. Hurricane María: Damaged buildings, displaced families
4. Charter school push: Education Secretary Julia Keleher (2017-2019) pushed charter school legislation, opening the door to privatization
5. Federal incentives: Race to the Top and other federal education policies favored 'reform' models that included school closures

Julia Keleher: The former Education Secretary (appointed by Governor Rosselló) became the face of school closures. She:
- Closed approximately 300 schools during her tenure
- Pushed charter school legislation through the legislature
- Was later indicted on federal corruption charges (wire fraud, theft) related to steering contracts to politically connected vendors
- Was convicted in 2022 — demonstrating the intersection of colonial education policy and corruption

Impact on Communities:
- Rural schools were often the center of community life — their closure destabilizes entire communities
- Students face longer commutes (some over an hour each way) to reach remaining schools
- Special education services are concentrated in fewer locations, creating access barriers
- School buildings sit empty and deteriorating — visible symbols of decline
- Teachers lose jobs or leave the island — accelerating the brain drain
- Parents face impossible choices: accept worse education or leave Puerto Rico

The Colonial Dimension: No U.S. state has experienced school closures at this scale or rate. The closures are driven by colonial economic policies (that caused population decline), imposed by a colonial fiscal board (that mandates austerity), and aligned with mainland education reform ideologies (that favor privatization). Puerto Rican parents had no meaningful voice in any of these decisions.

What's Lost: Puerto Rican public schools are not just educational institutions — they are the places where Puerto Rican identity is transmitted: the Spanish language, Puerto Rican history, cultural traditions, community bonds. Closing them does not just reduce educational capacity — it weakens the infrastructure of national identity.