Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) will reportedly commit $10 million to a universal preschool program in the state.
Raimondo is set to hold the first State of the State address of her second term as governor, during which she will lay out more details in her multiyear plan, according to the Providence Journal.
“There are currently 1,080 4-year-olds enrolled in 60 state pre-K classrooms across 11 communities,” Raimondo spokesman Josh Block told the news outlet. “Governor Raimondo has set a goal to achieve universal pre-K, which requires us to add approximately 6,000 additional pre-K seats over the coming years.
He added that the children “would have access to high-quality state pre-K classes in public school buildings, child care centers, and Head Start agencies across every Rhode Island community.”
Rhode Island’s pre-kindergarten program started more than a decade ago in its public schools, through the Head Start program and private child care facilities, the Journal reported. Ten million dollars was initially poured into the pre-K program over a multi-year commitment. Children who are eligible for the program still must go through a lottery to be enrolled due to the limited number of seats.
The Journal reported that the state received a federal grant recently aimed at improving early-education options.
The $4.19 million grant came from the U.S. Department of Education and will be used to improve the state’s system that supports early education, not to add pre-K classroom seats.
During her inaugural address earlier this month, Raimondo made universal pre-K school a priority.
“We have no task more important, no investment more worthwhile, than to ensure all children are on a path to success. That is why I have made early child care and expanding pre-kindergarten a top priority, both in my last term and moving forward over the next four years,” Raimondo said in a statement earlier this month to the Journal. “We know that children learn best when they are healthy, engaged and ready to learn. With this federal award, Rhode Island will be able to continue a holistic approach by conducting the research, planning, and system improvements we need to build a strong, family-centered early childhood system.”