PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Governor Gina M. Raimondo today released the following statement on the announcement that Rhode Island will receive $6 million in federal funding for early education.
"We are pleased the U.S. Department of Education has announced Rhode Island will receive full funding - $6,043,131 - for year three of our Preschool Development Grant. In announcing the funding today for 18 states, the U.S. Department of Education noted Rhode Island was one of only six states that met or exceeded targets for the number of young children served. We recognize that in order to continue to strengthen our economy, we need to have great schools - and that starts with having high-quality prekindergarten programs that are accessible to all children. That's why we included $1.2 million in our current budget to expand access to pre-kindergarten programs - adding 12 sites this fall to the Rhode Island Pre-kindergarten Program. Thanks to Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation, who are always working tirelessly to bring federal funds home to Rhode Island, we will continue to invest in early learning for all Rhode Island children."
###