H-7497 (McNamara) & S-2843 (Gallo)
The 2022 RI Pre-K Expansion Report commissioned by the General Assembly points out that expansion requires careful planning and implementation to ensure equity and sustainability. The RI Pre-K model has expanded without attention to the funding needed to provide compensation parity for teachers and without attention to the investments needed to sustain and expand access to other essential parts of the early care and education system., particularly infant and toddler care. While expanding Pre-K can be an excellent option to expand early education, it should not come at the expense of access to child care and other early learning programs.