It is disheartening to see the Rhode Island House Finance Committee turn its back on potential federal funding and the future of kids in Rhode Island by cutting $1.5 million in proposed aid for two new charter schools (“$1.5 million in aid for charter schools cut by House panel,” June 19).

In doing so, they buck a very clear priority of the Obama administration. In a number of settings, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has made it crystal clear that the new administration wants to “create a network of charter schools" — “high-performing” schools that are “accountable” and will “absolutely be closed down” if they fail children.

Duncan has been equally clear that states with longstanding barriers to charters, like Rhode Island, need to lift them if they want access to the $5 billion “Race to the Top” funding offered by Washington.

Rhode Island risks falling further behind Massachusetts and other states, unless lawmakers are willing to embrace the mayoral academies and charter schools. Restore the funding.

JIM STERGIOS

Boston

The writer is executive director of the Pioneer Institute.