Early Childhood Education

One of the best ways to ensure that children succeed in school is to provide all children with access to high-quality programs for early learning.

To meet this goal, we work with public and nonpublic schools, community-based organizations, and home-based child-care providers to continuously improve the quality of early-learning programs and to expand opportunities for early learning across our state.

The early childhood work in the Office of Instruction, Assessment, and Curriculum supports four primary goals:

1. Increasing access to high-quality early childhood education programs for all children
2. Supporting the professional development of early childhood professionals
3. Providing information to families about supporting their child's learning
4. Ensuring that children with developmental delays or disabilities are identified and have access to specialized services and supports

Rhode Island is a member of EXCEED, Rhode Island’s Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge state agency cross coordination effort. EXCEED supports the children of Rhode Island to achieve new heights in their learning and development. RIDE is partnering with The Executive Office of Health and Human Services, The RI Department of Health, The Department of Human Services and The Department of Children Youth and Families.

Check out Exceed’s website, search for an early learning program, and sign up to receive updates on Facebook. 

Learn more about Early Childhood Education

• Workforce - developing a highly qualified workforce with access to a high quality professional development system
• RI Early Learning and Development Standards (RIELDS) - what children should know and be able to do between the ages of Birth and 60 months.
• Child Outreach - programs and services to identify and evaluate young children with disabilities
• Family Engagement - programs to support families as they prepare their children for school success
• Early Childhood Special Education - individualized special education preschool programs and services for 3-5 year olds

Kindergarten Jumpstart: 2023 Summer Enrichment Grants

The transition to Kindergarten from Pre-K is a complex time that presents a myriad of demands, expectations, and support for children and families. The successful coordination between Pre-K and Kindergarten during this transitory period helps lay the groundwork for a child’s positive school experience. With the continued presence of the COVID-19 pandemic and illness-related closings of public and private school buildings, childcares, Head Starts, and family-home childcare centers, many children may have had reduced exposure to, or relatedly, have missed out on any form of school experience, which may impact their Kindergarten Readiness.

The Kindergarten Jumpstart: 2023 Summer Enrichment Grants are intended to support LEAs, municipalities, licensed childcare providers, and licensed summer activities providers with funds to develop and implement a summer readiness program that will meet the needs of their community and build on existing evidence-based practices. Grant funds will be awarded on a competitive basis through a grant application submission and review process.

All relevant information pertaining to the Kindergarten Jumpstart: 2023 Summer Enrichment Grants are linked below:

• Kindergarten Jumpstart: 2023 Summer Enrichment Grant Application & Guidance [DOCX]

For any questions regarding this opportunity, please email the RI Pre-K team at RIPre-K@ride.ri.gov.

Timeline

• April 28, 2023: Kindergarten Jumpstart: 2022 Summer Enrichment Grant Application Released
• May 22, 2023: Completed applications are due by 4:00 PM and should be electronically submitted to RIPre-K@ride.ri.gov. Applications must be completed on the application template form provided in the Grant Application document linked above.
• End of May/Beginning June 2023: K-Jumpstart grant award notification; recruitment and registration for awarded programs 
• July 1, 2023: Beginning of grant term