Gov. Raimondo outlines plan for universal pre-kindergarten
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo proposes spending another $10 million in the next year to reach the goal of universal pre-kindergarten statewide.
The Democratic governor's new initiative builds on an earlier promise to double the number of students reading at grade level by the end of third grade. In April, Rhode Island was one of only three states that met all of the standards set by the National Institute for Early Education Research.
Rhode Island only served less than 9 percent of 4-year-old children, but that represented a 70 percent increase over the previous year at the time.
The $10 million proposed by the governor would be in addition to existing funding.