Over the past 18 months we've reached hundreds of educators, families and children through our different programs. Ready Willing Able takes a quick look at what we've accomplished and why it matters.

The booklet also highlights some recently released data showing that children who participated in our programs, or whose early childhood providers did, outperform their peers on standardized tests in third grade. We'll be publishing this new data in more detail soon.

None of this would be possible of course without the funders listed on the back cover. Click the photo to see the full book.

Click phoro to see other pictures from this class, which is taking place this week.

Providence teachers go to summer school

This week kindergarten teachers, assistant teachers and other personnel from seven schools in Providence are participating in Mind in the Making, learning all about the seven life skills that successful children possess and how to promote those skills in their classrooms. Families and other teachers at these schools will have a similar opportunity during the upcoming school year.

Last year eight other schools participated in this initiative. By 2017 we'll have brought this eight-session course to more than 1,800 family members and 300 school personnel in the city, thanks to a grant from the Investing in Innovation Fund through the U.S. Department of Education.
 

Child-care centers, family child-care providers and public schools that increase their BrightStars rating by December 15 are eligible for a Rising Star cash award. Programs that transition to the 2013 BrightStars framework are also eligible. Click the image at right for details.
 

The children in the pre-kindergarten classrooms at CCRI (Liston Campus) and the Heritage Park Early Learning Center celebrated the end of the school year with their teachers and families in June. See more photos from the CCRI and Heritage Park celebrations here.

 

On June 25 we honored the members of our AmeriCorps team for their year of service and their many contributions to the community. Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza stopped by to offer his thanks as well, and Blue Cross & Blue Shied of RI generously hosted the event at its headquarters.Click here to see more photos.

Early childhood educators in a third cohort at Rhode Island College will begin their coursework this fall. They will pursue their bachelor's degrees as a group, taking most of their classes together at times that accommodate their professional schedules.

Members of this cohort are shown here at an orientation session held this month by the RIC Institute for Early Childhood Teaching and Learning. Like previous cohorts, most of them are earning their degrees with T.E.A.C.H. scholarships.The first cohort, now in its fourth year, was created by T.E.A.C.H. and Ready to Learn before RIC launched its Institute for Early Childhood Teaching and Learning in 2014. The group pictured here is the Institute's second cohort.

See the box below to see if a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship might help you pursue coursework or a degree at the Community College of Rhode Island, or a bachelor's degree at RIC. You can find additional information on eligibility and benefits on our website. For questions about eligibility into a RIC cohort, please call (401.456.8414) or email Susan Zoll, the Institute's director.