$50 Million in New Funds: What it Means for RI Schools
Saturday, December 17, 2011
For the second time in two years, Rhode Island has won a major federal grant to improve schools across the state.
The state was named one of one of 9 winners of a Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant, which could bring $50 million to the state over the next four years to improve early learning. The Education Department is expected to inform Rhode Island about the amount of the grant next week.
Last year, the Education Department awarded Rhode Island a Race to the Top grant of $75 million to transform education across the state. Today’s award makes Rhode Island one of only 6 states to win two Race to the Top awards.
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“As an educator who began my career as an early-childhood teacher, I am especially proud that Rhode Island received an Early Learning Challenge grant that will dramatically improve schools and programs for all of our children,” said Deborah A. Gist, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. “This grant is the result of the partnerships we formed with educators, school leaders, health-care and human-services providers, and community members, and these partnerships will guide us as we move forward together to put this grant into action. Our goal is to make our schools – including our preschools and early-childhood programs – America’s best.”
Governor Lincoln Chafee said the funding will help improve the lives of children across the state.
“As we work to improve education in Rhode Island, we must focus our efforts on the education of our youngest students. Success in the early years is the foundation for all that follows,” said Governor Lincoln D. Chafee. “The grant we have received today will improve the quality of early learning for all children in Rhode Island, with a special focus on increasing access for high-needs populations. This award will benefit our state for many years to come.”
An opportunity to Succeed
California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington are the other states winning the funds. The states will combine to receive grant awards from the $500 million Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge fund, a competitive grant program jointly administered by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.
President Obama asked Congress in his budget to authorize and make permanent an Early Learning Challenge Fund in previous years. Unfortunately, Congress did not act on that proposal, so the Administration took action to ensure this program was funded this year through Race to the Top, because our kids only get one shot at a top-notch education and they cannot afford to wait.
“This grant award is all about our children and giving them every opportunity to become successful adults,” said Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed. “Strong public-private partnerships led to Rhode Island receiving this grant, and working together we will continue to help our youngest children benefit from excellence in education.”
George D. Caruolo, Chairman of the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education, called the funds a major victory.
“As we move rapidly forward with our work to improve our public schools, we are also aware that we need to support and develop a high-quality system of prekindergarten education,” he said. “With this Early Learning Challenge grant, we can ensure that we will have high standards, strong measures of quality, and extensive professional development and other resources for our preschool children and for those who teach them. We are grateful and honored that the U.S. Department of Education has once again recognized our commitment to transforming education.”
Early Childhood Focus
Through the competition, 35 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico have created plans to increase access to high-quality programs for children from low-income families, providing more children from birth to age 5 with a strong foundation they need for success in school and beyond. The number and list of winners was determined both by the quality of the applications and the funds available.
The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge will support the work of the nine state grantees to develop new approaches to raising the bar across early learning centers and to close the school readiness gap. Awards will invest in grantees' work to build statewide systems of high-quality early learning and development programs. These investments will impact all early learning programs, including Head Start, public pre-K, childcare, and private preschools. Key reforms will include: aligning and raising standards for existing early learning and development programs; improving training and support for the early learning workforce through evidence-based practices; and building robust evaluation systems that promote effective practices and programs to help parents make informed decisions.
“The receipt of this federal funding will further our efforts to improve and increase early-learning opportunities for Rhode Island’s children,” stated Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Co-Chair of the Rhode Island Early Learning Council and Executive Director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. “Ensuring access to high-quality early learning programs is a key strategy to close the preparation gap that is evident for many children when they enter kindergarten and will help all children succeed in school and reach their full potential”
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