PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island received a $4.2 million federal grant to support early childhood development and education, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo announced Thursday.
The grant, called the Preschool Development Grant, is overseen by the U.S. Department of Education.
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Raimondo and the R.I. Department of Education said that the grant money will be used for community outreach and to ease access to information available to the public as well as to create a five-year strategic plan for early childhood development following a survey of the education workforce and the conducting of a family need assessment. Funds also will be used to invest in direct supports for families to promote early learning.
The outreach efforts will target children from birth to age 5 and their families.The grant may not be used to pay for additional pre-K seats.
Rhode Island will be eligible to apply for more funding from the PDG program over the next three years.
“We have no task more important, no investment more worthwhile, than to ensure all children are on a path to success. That is why I have made early child care and expanding Pre-Kindergarten a top priority, both in my last term and moving forward over the next four years,” said Raimondo in a statement. “We know that children learn best when they are healthy, engaged and ready to learn. With this federal award, Rhode Island will be able to continue a holistic approach by conducting the research, planning and system improvements we need to build a strong, family-centered early childhood system.”
