Partnering for Quality

The Rhode Island Early Learning Standards are regarded throughout Rhode Island as a framework for implementing high quality early childhood education programs.

Early childhood education programs that implement a quality curriculum and authentic child assessment aligned with the Standards, differentiate teaching and learning, and engage families in meaningful ways, are well-positioned to improve outcomes for the children they serve.

The members of the RI Early Learning Standards Steering Committee who represent state government agencies, RI higher education, and RI KIDS COUNT, our children's policy and advocacy organization, work together to ensure that the Standards are integrated into state-wide, systems-level initiatives that promote high quality early childhood education services for all of Rhode Island’s children. 

State-wide early childhood initiatives that integrate the work of the Rhode Island Early Learning Standards Project include:

·          Successful Start, a statewide, collaborative effort to strengthen Rhode Island's system of services for young children and families

·          BrightStars, a premier quality rating and improvement system created to improve the care and learning of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children

·          HOPE, Rhode Island’ Harbor of Opportunities for Professional Excellence, a blueprint for developing a coordinated system of career and professional development for early care and education (ECE), school age (SA), and youth care professionals

·          The Preschool Child Outcomes Indicator Project, an effort by the RI Department of Education to report data regarding the progress of preschool-age children with disabilities