Early Childhood Focus

Head Start Really Works

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:40:00 PST

AS THE PUBLIC-SCHOOL year and the Rhode Island General Assembly session draw to a close and families are gearing up for weekends at the beach, we must remember that 400 vulnerable young children in the state may be turned away from Head Start in September because of the state budget crisis. This proposed budget savings comes at the expense of our children and creates future costs for our public schools and for the state at large.

City Rewarded for Child Care Programs

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:54:20 PST

Providence is one of six cities selected by the National League of Cities and the United Way of America to receive technical assistance to help child-care providers do a better job of preparing children to succeed when they enter kindergarten.

Advocates for Children Raise Alarm

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:14:10 PST

While the percentage of Rhode Island children living in poverty has dropped to 15 percent from 21 percent in recent years, child advocates worry this progress will be derailed by a series of deep cuts to welfare and other safety-net programs for low-income families proposed by Governor Carcieri.

State subsidies for childcare drop today

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:59:55 PST

Starting this week, the YMCA and other child-care providers will begin denying service to many lower-income families on state-subsidized childcare. The providers say they have no choice, given years of stagnant reimbursement rates from the state and a new rate formula approved by the General Assembly that takes effect today.