The R2LP Early Learning Center at CCRI

In October 2008, R2LP opened a preschool on the Liston Campus of the Community College of Rhode Island. In its first year, the classroom served up to 16 three- to five-year-olds who no longer qualified for child-care subsidies because of the state's new eligibility requirements. The program was funded through R2LP's U.S. Department of Education Early Reading First (ERF) grant and was offered at no cost to Providence families who qualified.

In August 2009, the classroom was chosen as one of seven sites in the state's Pre-kindergarten Demonstration Project. The program, which is free, serves 18 four-year-olds (chosen by lottery) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Extended child care is provided, but parents are responsible for that cost. The classroom is staffed by two experienced teachers, Bethany Carpenter and Victoria Rojas, who are assisted by two R2LP AmeriCorps members.

The program recently earned a four-star ranking from BrightStars, the state's new quality rating and improvement system.

On October 22, 2009, the pre-kindergarten class visited the law offices of Brown Rudnick, a funder of R2LP's AmeriCorps program. The Providence Journal joined the class on the visit and captured it in a video and in pictures.

(Other press includes a Providence Journal article that appeared on January 4, 2009.)