The Urban Education Task Force recommends launching a high-quality pre-kindergarten program in Rhode Island, starting with a pilot program in 2009 and continuing with full implementation after the pilot, giving priority to children in communities with low-performing schools and low literacy performance in fourth grade.

SAMPLE ACTION STEP Priority should be given to children in communities with low-performing schools and low literacy performance in fourth grade given that high-quality pre-K is a core educational strategy for closing the achievement gap that appears at kindergarten entry.

• The Task Force recommends that pre-K programs be designed to address the needs of English language learners.
  

Task Force members note that to close the achievement gap it will also be important to start interventions at birth, including high-quality infant/ toddler childcare, health care, and child development services. The Task Force also supports progress toward full-day kindergarten in Rhode Island’s school districts as a related strategy.

Downloads

• Pre-Kindergarten Education Recommendations and Action Steps [PDF: 3 pages]
  Introduction, promising work under way in Rhode Island, recommendations, short- and long-term action steps
  
  
• Pre-K Supplements [PDF: 2 pages]
  Supporting data, information about the recommendation
  
  
• Executive Summary [PDF: 16 pages]
  Introduction, outline of the recommendations
  
  

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