PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island preschool programs will receive $6,043,131 through the Preschool Development Grant Program funded by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, according to a Wednesday announcement made by U.S. Sens. Jack F. Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Reps. James R. Langevin and David N. Cicilline.
The Ocean State is one of 18 states to receive funding which will expand preschool access to children from low- to moderate-income households. It is also one of six to meet or substantially exceed enrollment targets. Through the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 academic years, Rhode Island almost doubled the number of classrooms supported, from 17 to 33, accounting for 594 students.
Families, communities and the economy benefit from better early education opportunities, said Reed, who helped secure $250 million in the fiscal year 2017 Appropriations bill to support the Preschool Development Grant Program.
“Because we stood firm and staved off the elimination of funding for the Preschool Development Grant, more kids are going to get an opportunity to learn,” Reed said in a statement.
Said Whitehouse, “These federal resources will help open the doors of quality early education centers to more of Rhode Island’s littlest learners.”
