Governor to expand preschool access with $27M grant

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PROVIDENCE- Governor Gina Raimondo announced today that a three-year, $27 million federal grant will be put towards expanding pre-kindergarten access across the state.

Speaking from the Meeting Street School in Providence, Raimondo said she was looking to add 6,000 new seats to the state’s public preschools.

“Its not just about childcare and providing universal pre-k, its about quality pre–k,” Raimondo said.

An initial $3 million will be used to supplement a proposed $4.5 million state investment from the governor’s 2021 budget, according to a statement the governor released Tuesday.

Beyond preschool, the grant will also seek to expand professional development for educators, improve data systems for early education programs, and create a public awareness campaign so families can access those programs.

“Rhode Island is a national leader in early learning,” said Rhode Island Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “This funding will help ensure we maintain that high bar at the same time that we work to invest in and expand access to state pre-k for all children.”