Chapter 265

2008 -- H 8168 AS AMENDED

Enacted 07/05/08

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND PREKINDERGARTEN EDUCATION ACT

          

     Introduced By: Representatives Fox, Pacheco, Ajello, E Coderre, and Rice

     Date Introduced: April 22, 2008

 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

by adding thereto the following chapter:

 

CHAPTER 87

RHODE ISLAND PREKINDERGARTEN EDUCATION ACT

 

     16-87-1. Short title. – This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island

Prekindergarten Education Act."

 

     16-87-2. Findings. -- (a) The general assembly hereby finds that attending high quality

early childhood education programs help children develop important social and cognitive skills

and knowledge that prepares children to succeed in school. Research has shown long-lasting

benefits for children who participate in very high quality, educationally focused early childhood

programs. The benefits to children can also generate substantial government cost savings,

including reduced need for special education services, reduced need for cash assistance and other

public benefits, and reduced rates of incarceration.

     (b) The general assembly finds that there are substantial numbers of children in Rhode

Island entering kindergarten who are not adequately prepared to succeed in school. Early school

failure may ultimately contribute to such children dropping out of school at an early age, failing

to achieve their full potential, becoming dependent upon public assistance, or becoming involved

in criminal activities.

     (c) Furthermore, the general assembly finds that there is an existing infrastructure of early

childhood programs in Rhode Island serving preschool age children in full-day and half-day

programs that is supported through state and federal investments in child care, Head Start and

special education. It is the goal of the general assembly to support a system of publicly-funded,

high quality prekindergarten education programs that are operated through a diverse delivery

network, including child care, Head Start and public school districts.

     (d) By enacting this law, the general assembly acknowledges the need to adequately

prepare all children to succeed in school by providing access to publicly-funded high quality

prekindergarten education programs.

 

     16-87-3. Planning phase for a prekindergarten program. – (a) The Rhode Island

department of elementary and secondary education shall begin planning an initial, pilot

prekindergarten program that meets high quality standards, builds on the existing early childhood

education infrastructure in the state (including child care, Head Start and public schools) and

serves children ages three (3) and four (4) who reside in communities with concentrations of low

performing schools. This planning phase will develop specific goals to expand the pilot

prekindergarten program over time and will also identify opportunities to strengthen care and

learning programs for infants and toddlers.

     (b) During this planning phase, the Rhode Island department of elementary and

secondary education will quantify the resources needed to achieve and maintain high quality

standards in prekindergarten programs and identify incentives and supports to develop a qualified

early education workforce, including opportunities for experienced early childhood educators and

paraprofessionals to acquire college degrees and earn early childhood teacher certification.

     (c) The Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education will begin to

develop plans to collect and analyze data regarding the impact of the pilot prekindergarten

program on participating children's school readiness and school achievement.

 

     16-87-4. Early childhood workforce development. -- The Rhode Island department of

elementary and secondary education shall work with other state departments and private

philanthropy to establish a statewide, comprehensive, research-based early childhood workforce

development scholarship program to expand the numbers of early childhood educators who have

an associate's or bachelor's degree in early childhood education and who work with children from

birth to age five (5).

 

     16-87-5. Reporting. -- The Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary

education shall report back to the general assembly and the governor on the progress of the pilot

planning phase no later than October 31, 2008.

 

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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