PROVIDENCE, R.I. The Rhode Island Children's Cabinet's Request for Proposal (RFP) is available for qualified providers to support the state's efforts to develop early childhood education and family-centered support programs. This solicitation covers a range of services needed under the state's $4.19 million Preschool Development Grant (PDG), including a family needs assessment, a strategic plan, and professional development for early childhood providers.
"At the same time that we gear up to bring universal pre-K to Rhode Island, Rhode Island's successful pursuit of this grant is a major step forward in improving services and support for our children," said Governor Gina M. Raimondo. "The PDG work, coupled with pre-K expansion and other investments in early childhood education, represent a comprehensive approach that can change the lives of our youngest learners and their families. I look forward to seeing what proposals come through to help us bring this work to life."
In January, Governor Raimondo and the Children's Cabinet announced that Rhode Island had been awarded a one-year, $4.19 million federal Preschool Development Grant that is targeted at youth from birth through age 5. While PDG funds cannot be used to pay for additional pre-K seats, the grant will lay important groundwork to make a universal pre-K system possible.
The RFP includes eight separate components. Applicants are encouraged to apply for as few or as many components as they wish. The application can be viewed from the Preschool Development Grant link below. Responses to questions about the RFP can also be viewed from the RFP Responses to PDG link below.
The full scope of the PDG activities include:
· Conduct a family needs assessment to better understand families' experiences, desires, and challenges
· Develop a comprehensive birth through 5 years strategic plan
· Empower and inform families through a media campaign, an online presence that centralizes information, and parent engagement and programming
· Support professional learning opportunities for early childhood workforce
· Improve quality by beginning to scale up programs that have demonstrated success
· Conduct a performance evaluation to ensure that the work coming out of this grant is leading toward improved child outcomes
All proposals are due to the state by March 4, 2019, at 4:30 p.m. The initial contract period will begin approximately March 15, 2019, and will continue for 10 months. Contracts may be extended if the state is awarded an extension for the federal grant.
For additional information on the Preschool Development Grant B-5, please contact Kayla Rosen, Policy Director for the RI Children's Cabinet, at kayla.rosen@ohhs.ri.gov.