A Big Boost for Providence Schools

Mayor, Education & State Leaders Celebrate up to $50M in Race to the Top Funding.

Mayor Angel Taveras this week joined the state's education leaders and elected officials, along with preschoolers from the Ready to Learn Center, at the CCRI Providence campus to celebrate up to $50 million in Race to the Top funding awarded by the U.S Department of Education to Rhode Island. Rhode Island was one of nine states awarded the highly competitive Early Learning Challenge grant. This is the second time in two years Rhode Island has received a major federal grant for education reform.

The state's application focused on developing high-quality programs; promoting early learning and development outcomes for children; building a great early-childhood education workforce; and measuring outcomes and progress.

"I am committed to ensuring that all children in Providence will enter kindergarten prepared for school and ready to learn. The Race to the Top Early Learning Grant will assist in giving our young children the resources and assistance needed to put them on the path towards success," said Mayor Taveras, who went from Head Start to Harvard and through the Providence schools.

To view the Rhode Island application, go to: http://www.ride.ri.gov/OSCAS/earlychild/