RIDE/ DHS Collaborative Training Session: Supporting McKinney Vento Children from Birth to Age Five

Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the Local Educational Agency (LEA) homeless liaisons’ legal duties extend fully to young children from birth to age five. The liaison must ensure that these young children are identified, connected to early childhood . The specific responsibilities for this age group include Identification and tracking, referrals to Early Childhood […]

En español abajo  In response to an increase in measles cases nationally and 2 recent cases in Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Department of Health has developed resources for use by schools, child care settings, summer camps, colleges, and universities. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 9 out of […]

Dear Valued Providers, We hope you are enjoying the spring weather! Thank you for your continued commitment to providing child care to the families of Rhode Island.  DHS would like to share important reminders regarding background check requirements. Please review the information below carefully. Comprehensive fingerprint-based background checks are required for all child care staff who […]

Early childhood educators can apply to earn free college credit from CCRI through the RI Early Childhood Education & Training Certificate Program. The application deadline is July 15th! Click here to learn more or contact Lori Ryan, CCRI RIECETP: lryan2@ccri.edu. You can also find out more information on the CCRI website. Educadores de cuidado infantil […]

Rhode Island College’s Early Childhood Leadership Certificate of Graduate Studies (CGS) is currently welcoming applications for a new cohort starting in Fall 2026. Students completing the Early Childhood Leadership CGS will: develop intrapersonal and interpersonal leadership skills utilizing culturally responsive practices develop pedagogical leadership knowledge and skills to facilitate effective community building strategies and advocacy […]

Español Está Abajo March 30, 2026 Valued Providers, Thank you for all of the work you are putting into getting your information into the system. I promise it will be a lot easier after the first go-round. We have some updates we want to share that we hope will answer some questions that have been […]

Join RIAEA & Lincoln School for an immersive day dedicated to the powerful intersection of play, art, and child development. Picturing Play brings together early childhood experts and art educators to explore how creative expression fuels cognitive growth in our youngest learners. Through a synthesis of research-driven presentations and interactive workshops, you will gain practical […]

Hello CCAP Providers, Please join the Office of Child Care CCAP team on a virtual call on March 24 for a walkthrough of upcoming changes related to payment based on enrollment. We’ll cover the new policy and changes to the CCAP provider portal as well as other important updates. Watch your email this week for […]

Valued Providers, The Office of Child Care recognizes the importance of having a qualified workforce for each of your quality programs. We know how crucial it is for both your small business operations and the overall state economy so families can access high quality early care and education and participate in the workforce. As a […]

Join the Early Education Empowerment Conference on May 7–9, 2026, at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, Rhode Island, for a dynamic professional development experience. Day One (Thursday, May 7) is designed for program owners and directors, focusing on the business side of early childhood education, including strategic planning, marketing, bookkeeping and tax management, staffing, and […]