When children get to school they must be ready to be successful. This means access to high-quality child care and preschool and it means getting children screened for developmental delays so they can receive Early Intervention and/or preschool special education services to catch up with their peers. Right now:
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About 60% of Rhode Island children under age 3 are screened for developmental delays and 7% receive Early Intervention.
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About 40% of children ages 3 through 5 are screened for developmental delays and 8% receive preschool special education services.
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About 44% of low-income children age 4 are enrolled in RI Pre-K or Head Start.
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About 8% of infants and toddlers and 12% of preschoolers receiving child care assistance are enrolled in a high-quality child care program.
Here are ways you can help improve school readiness:
School Readiness includes:
Language Development
Children begin learning at birth. Language is the foundation for reading and babies, toddlers and preschoolers learn language by listening to their parents, siblings, and caregivers and interacting with the world around them. Families can help develop strong language skills by talking, reading, and singing to children every day, beginning at birth.
Additional information:
Child Care Access
Access to high-quality child care and preschool helps children develop important early skills they need to become strong readers. High-quality public preschool programs are available in Rhode Island but there are not enough spaces to meet the need.
Additional information:
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Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Issue Brief - Working Parents, Child Care, and Paid Family Leave in Rhode Island This Issue Brief includes data and research on low-income working families as well as provide a deeper analysis of three key policies – child care assistance, paid family leave, and earned sick leave – that promote family economic security and children’s development and school readiness. The Issue Brief also includes recommendations on how to improve these policies to best support low-income working parents and their young children in Rhode Island.
Developmental Screenings
Regular and comprehensive developmental screenings at the doctor’s office, in school, and in the community helps uncover developmental delays and get children help to address any delays identified.
Additional information:
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Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Issue Brief: Young Children with Developmental Delays & Disabilities outlines the benefits young children receive from early developmental screenings and high-quality intervention and education programs, and key issues related to young children with disabilities. The report also outlines Rhode Island’s developmental screening, referral, intervention, and education system for young children with developmental delays and disabilities.