| Rhode Island is Finalist in the
"Race to the Top" |
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Rhode Island is one of 16 finalists for federal "Race to the Top" funds from the U.S. Department of Education. The finalists were chosen from among 40 states and the District of Columbia. Winners will be chosen from among the 16 finalists and announced in April.
To receive federal "Race to the Top" funding states must show progress in reducing achievement gaps and increasing innovation in four critical areas: improving teacher effectiveness, accelerating the performance of low-performing schools, establishing world-class standards and assessments, and developing user-friendly data systems. |
| Rhode Island Policymakers Visit
New Pre-K Classrooms |
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On Friday, February 26, 2010, Governor Donald L. Carcieri, Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist, Senator Juan Pichardo, Representative Grace Diaz, Superintendent Thomas Brady and community leaders toured two classrooms that are part of the state's newly launched Pre-K Demonstration Program. Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Executive Director, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, kicked-off the tour with a press conference that was covered by WJAR NBC 10. View pictures from the tour of the classrooms at Beautiful Beginnings Child Care Center and Ready to Learn Providence at the Community College of Rhode Island, Providence Campus.
Launched in September 2009 with seven classrooms serving 126 children, the program provides high-quality Pre-Kindergarten to four year-olds in four urban communities: Central Falls, Providence, Warwick and Woonsocket. |
| RI Department of Education Proposes Education Funding Formula |
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The Rhode Island Department of Education Commissioner, Deborah A. Gist worked with the Brown University Education Department to develop a proposal for a funding formula for education aid that recognizes district capacity, student enrollment and student need. The proposed formula, which builds on work that has been underway for the past few years, is designed to provide a predictable, adequate and equitable distribution of state education funding. Rhode Island is currently the only state without a funding formula for state education aid. For more information, download the Rhode Island Department of Education's fact sheet and power point presentation.
At their March 4th meeting, the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education will vote on whether to endorse this proposal, which would then be considered by the Rhode Island General Assembly. |
| Save the Date: 2nd Annual Fighting Poverty with Faith Conference |
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The 2nd Annual Fighting Poverty with Faith Conference will take place on May 11, 2010 (location to be determined). This year's conference will focus on issues related to child and family poverty in Rhode Island.The Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition is a faith-based partnership whose purpose is to fight poverty. The Coalition includes over 40 faith and advocacy organizations in the state, including Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. The Coalition is part of a national initiative with over 20 faith-based organizations whose goal is to cut poverty in half within 10 years. |
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