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Frequently Asked Questions What is Ready to Learn Providence? R2LP, a program of The Providence Plan, is a community-based school readiness initiative that was founded in 2003 with the vision that all children will have high-quality early education and a healthy start. With its growing expertise and capacity in the urban core, R2LP now brings many of its services statewide. Since its inception, nearly 2,000 early-care educators have participated in R2LP professional development, many of them for college credit. R2LP is a participant in the state's Pre-kindergarten Demonstration Project and administers a 35-member AmeriCorps program. In 2010, R2LP became the Rhode Island home of T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood, which awards college scholarships to early-care educators. How is Ready to Learn Providence funded? Ready to Learn Providence is funded with both public and private funds. Our primary grants come from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Child Care Bureau, U.S. Department of Education, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Additional funders include the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation. How can I find child care in my neighborhood? The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families provides certification and licenses for family child-care providers and child-care centers throughout the state and keeps its information in a database. You can access its listing of child-care providers by town by going to its online Day Care Provider Directory. Additionally, Options for Working Parents, a non-profit program of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, provides referrals for parents seeking child care. You can contact them by telephone at 401-272-7510 or via their website for information about providers near you. What should I look for in choosing child care? Several local and national resources exist that present comprehensive checklists for families to use when choosing a child-care setting. In Rhode Island, Options for Working Parents, which is a program of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, offers a detailed checklist of questions parents should consider when choosing a child-care provider. The phone number is 401-272-7510. Child Care Aware is a national non-profit that helps parents locate quality child care and child care resources in their community. Its website has many resources and suggestions in English and Spanish. How do I enroll my child in kindergarten in Providence? Kindergarten registration for fall enrollment in the Providence School District is held annually during March and April. However, the Providence School Department operates a year-round Student Registration and Assignment Center for parents and students who need to register at any time during the year. The Center is located at the B.J. Clanton Elementary School Complex, on Prairie Avenue. You can read more about the center at the Department’s website or by calling the Registration Center at 401-456-1702. What age does my child have to be in order to start kindergarten? By Rhode Island State Law, children must be 5 years old by September 1st to enter kindergarten. How can I help prepare my child for school? The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education developed Rhode Island Early Learning Standards to guide families, teachers and administrators on what children should know and be able to do as they enter kindergarten. For families, they are intended to give a clearer understanding of the skills typically needed for a successful start in school. They are also available in Spanish and the department also developed fun activities that parents can work on with preschoolers to prepare them for kindergarten. What training do I need to work for a child-care center? The Department of Children, Youth and Families establishes the educational and experience standards for child-care center staff. Read the full requirements in its Licensing Standards or call DCYF at 401-528-3624 for more information. Spanish speakers may call 401-528-3621. How do I become a certified family child-care provider? The Department of Children, Youth and Families certifies all family child-care homes in Rhode Island. Certification requirements are available online or may be accessed by calling 401-528-3624. Spanish speakers may call 401-528-3621. |