Rhode Island's Council on Elementary and Secondary Education has given the green light to three new Providence charter schools. The council issued the final approval on Wednesday to Excel Academy, Nuestro Mundo Public Charter School and Providence Preparatory Charter School, each of which will be allowed to operate for a maximum term of five years. Excel is slated to open for the 2022-23 school year, while the latter two are set to open for the 2021-22 school year. The approvals, given via a Zoom meeting, followed remarks from more than a dozen speakers including parents and local leaders. Those included Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, who affirmed his support for Excel in particular.