Rhode Island § 16-87-6 - Rhode Island Prekindergarten Education Act

§ 16-87-6. Planning for prekindergarten expansion.

On or before December 31, 2022, the department of elementary and secondary education, in collaboration with the department of human services and the children’s cabinet, as established in § 42-72.5-1, shall submit to the governor, speaker of the house, president of the senate, and chairs of the house and senate finance and education committees, an annual growth plan to expand the state prekindergarten program to five thousand (5,000) seats, for three- and four-year-old children, over five (5) years, beginning in FY 2024, as well as recommendations for achieving universal prekindergarten in the state. The growth plan shall detail annual targets and projected funding needs, as well as how the state will:

(1) Equitably distribute prekindergarten funding to eligible providers;

(2) Ensure that access to infant and toddler care is not at risk as the state prekindergarten program is expanded;

(3) Prepare, recruit, and retain a highly-qualified early childhood workforce, including adequate wages for early childhood educators, regardless of setting;

(4) Build capacity among new and existing providers to ensure quality standards are met in all settings; and

(5) Ensure providers in the mixed-delivery system have sufficient facilities to expand access to high-quality prekindergarten services.