Report: R.I. somewhat hospitable for charter schools to offer pre-K

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island has a “somewhat hospitable” climate for charter schools to offer pre-kindergarten, according to a report from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
Rhode Island, the report said, has no state statutory or regulatory barriers to charter schools accessing state funding for pre-kindergarten, but it said the size of the pre-kindergarten program limits charter access to funding.
The report said that Rhode Island is implementing a 10-year pre-kindergarten expansion plan, which will provide state pre-kindergarten to 1,080 children by fall 2019. It said that as Rhode Island expands the number of pre-K slots, it should take the following steps to include charter schools in its pre-K program:

  • Improve coordination within the state Department of Education between staff responsible for carrying out its charter-authorizing responsibilities and staff who administer the pre-K program
  • Ensure state outreach efforts to new providers include charter schools

The report said one charter school in Rhode Island offers pre-kindergarten, while 12 charter schools in the state offer elementary programs. It also said that 6,434 students are served by charter schools in Rhode Island, or 3.3 percent of school-age children, through 25 charter schools.
It said the state launched the pre-kindergarten program in 2009.
Massachusetts also has a “somewhat hospitable” climate, the report said.

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