RIght Start Video: Addressing RI’s Child Care Crisis – Higher Pay For Early Educators
Watch our new video, “Addressing RI’s Child Care Crisis: Higher Pay For Early Educators.” Rhode Island’s child care and early learning system is in crisis due to underfunding, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a severe staffing shortage that is forcing many early educators to leave for higher paying jobs. That means closed classrooms […]
RIght Start 2023 Campaign Events Calendar
Prevent Closure of RI Pre-K, Head Start & Early Head Start Classrooms Wednesday, March 1, 2:30 to 3:30 ZOOM Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_v77zKkW4TGGyawlpD9G_lw End Deep Child Poverty: Improve RI Works Tuesday, March 7, 3:00 to 4:00 Raising RI Coalition 2023 Kickoff Event State House Library, RI State House, Providence, RI Solve the Early Educator Staffing Crisis Wednesday, March […]
Preventing the Closure of High-Quality RI Pre-K, Head Start, and Early Head Start Classrooms in Rhode Island 2023
H-6009 (McNamara) & S-463 (Gallo) – H-5200 Governor’s Budget Proposal, RI Pre-K Full fact sheet in pdf format Legislation will allocate sufficient resources to ensure all RI Pre-K classrooms, Head Start classrooms and Early Head Start classrooms continue operating for the 2023-2024 school year. Classroom educators will be paid competitive wages comparable to similarly qualified K-12 educators. In addition, the bill will require […]
RIght from the Start Kicks Off 2023 Campaign at Rhode Island State House
Thank you to everyone who joined us for yesterday’s #RIghtStart 2023 campaign kickoff! The energy was amazing. We look forward to working together to support budget investments and legislation to ensure ALL RI kids get off to the right start, working families can find quality, affordable child care, and our early educators earn #worthywages! See our full #RIghtStart […]
2023 RIght Start Agenda
RIght Start 2023 Agenda PDF – En Español With large state budget surpluses for the past two years, increased federal support for early childhood programs, and a strong economy, now is the time for Rhode Island to invest in building strong systems to make the state the best place to have a family. Rhode Island needs state […]
RIght Start FY 2024 State Budget Priorities
Governor Dan McKee’s FY 2023 state budget included transformative investments in our children, families, and Rhode Island’s early education system. From Cover All Kids, to extending postpartum Medicaid coverage for new moms, to significant funds to support our child care programs, these investments, ultimately enacted into law, amounted to the boldest child care plan proposed […]
5 Things To Include In Rhode Island’s Pre-K Expansion Plan
We’re thrilled that the Rhode Island Department of Education, Rhode Island Department of Human Services, and the Children’s Cabinet are developing a plan to expand access to high-quality, publicly funded preschool for three- and four-year-olds through child care programs, Head Start, and public schools! Here are 5 key things to include in Rhode Island’s Pre-K […]
Rhode Island Foundation Supports RIght from the Start Campaign’s Advocacy Efforts With Grant
We’re thrilled to share that the Rhode Island Foundation has awarded the RIght from the Start campaign grant funding to continue our work on behalf of Rhode Island’s young children (0-5) and their families. A huge thank you to the Rhode Island Foundation for supporting our work!
RIght Start Draft 2023 Policy & Budget Priorities
At the RIght from the Start campaign we’re already gearing up for the 2023 Rhode Island General Assembly session. Below are our draft 2023 policy and budget priorities designed to ensure that ALL Rhode Island kids, regardless of zip code, race, ethnicity, or family income, get off to the right start in life! We’d love […]
RIght from the Start Campaign Urges Rhode Island to Apply for PDG Birth to Five Federal Grant to Better Coordinate Early Care & Learning Programs
The RIght from the Start Campaign Steering Committee would like to urge Rhode Island leaders to submit an application for the newly announced PDG Birth to 5 Planning Grant opportunity. We know there is a planned discussion about the opportunity at Wednesday’s Children’s Cabinet meeting and would like to offer our ideas, support, and help […]