Feds Send Little Rhody $6 Million for Pre-School Development Grants

PROVIDENCE, RI—More federal dollars are in the pipeline for preschoolers, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed announced today. It was a team effort by the Congressional Delegation, said Reed, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline at a press conference this morning.

Specifically, Rhode Island will collect $6,043,131 from the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services through the Preschool Development Grant Program, Reed's office said. "Rhode Island is one of 18 states awarded funds to expand access to preschool for children from low- to moderate-income families."

There was a battle in Congress to eliminate funding, he said, but Reed and others won out.

"Over the past three years, the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services have invested $750 million nationwide to expand access to early education in 230 high-need communities," Reed's office said. "Rhode Island is one of six states that met or substantially exceeded enrollment targets. Between the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years, the state increased the number of classrooms served from 17 to 33, representing 594 students."

Courtesy Photo: U.S. Sen. Jack Reed's Office