East Providence Pre-K ends second term, talk of third already begins

Deadline for 2018-19 admissions lottery is Monday, July 2

By Mike Rego
Posted 6/28/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — Though having just completed its second term, there are key aspects of East Providence’s Pre-Kindergarten program already on the horizon for the 2018-19 school year. First among …

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East Providence Pre-K ends second term, talk of third already begins

Deadline for 2018-19 admissions lottery is Monday, July 2

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — Though having just completed its second term, there are key aspects of East Providence’s Pre-Kindergarten program already on the horizon for the 2018-19 school year. First among them is the end date for the admissions lottery operated by the Rhode Island Department of Education, which is on Monday, July 2.

The district runs the day-to-operations of the program, started in time for the 2016-17 term, but RIDE manages access. To be eligible to attend in East Providence, children must be 4 years old by September 1, 2018, and must reside within the city. The state describes the Pre-K program as “fully inclusive, supporting the learning and development needs of all children.” Parents of English learners and students with disabilities are encouraged to enter the lottery.

Five classrooms locally are housed at Martin Middle School, two more at Oldham Elementary and one operated by the non-profit East Bay Community Action Program in the former St. Brendan Church Rectory. One draw back, transportation is not provided to any of the three locations. The district also partners with The Children’s Workshop in Rumford for before and after-school care.

Lottery applications can be found online at ride.ri.gov or are available at the E.P. School Department Administration Offices located on the third floor of City Hall, 145 Taunton Ave.

In East Providence, city native Karen Rebello serves as principal of the program under the auspices of Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Dr. Celeste Bowler, directing operations out of her Martin Middle School office. The program here, of note, recently received a Five Star Award, the highest accreditation, from the state’s Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System, Brightstars.

Of the achievement, Superintendent Kathryn Crowley said, “It means that we have one of the best Pre-Kindergarten programs in the state. It meets all the criteria of the Rhode Island Department of Education and outside accreditors. It’s says that Dr. Bowler and Karen Rebello and our teachers have just done an outstanding job of reaching the early childhood education standards, that we’re providing the best possible early education to children in East Providence.”

Mrs. Rebello reveled in the accomplishment as well, noting the rating was achieved based on assessments through just over a year and a half of the program’s existence in city.

“We’re one of the top rated in the state,” Mrs. Rebello continued. “And it’s pretty challenging because what you need to do to get it is big.”

All of the teachers in the East Providence Pre-K program are certified by the state. Some 126 students participate with a maximum classroom size of 18. Each room has an instructor and a para-professional. The program is conducted under Rhode Island Early Learning Development standards.

“The universal pre-Ks, the fact that East Providence has so many, seven classrooms plus the one at EBCAP, it’s incredible for the city,” Mrs. Rebello added.

Rhode Island Pre-K programs follow Comprehensive Early Childhood Education criteria, encompassing curriculum, classroom quality and family engagement. Students attend for the full, six-hour day. Breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack are included. Class begins with a morning meeting, then two and a half hours of “playtime” where academics are stressed. Mrs. Rebello noted all curriculum is filtered through play. As an example, she said learning the letter “A” could be done with blocks, games or in a sandbox.

According to the administrators, students involved in East Providence’s program have quickly produced impressive outcomes in their reading skills, a crucial component of the effort.

“The kids in the ’16-17 class have already shown results. The Kindergarten transition program initiative makes sure kids are reading by Grade 3,” Mrs. Rebello explained. “Realistically, these kids have maintained they’re levels (into Kindergarten). Obviously, they’ve had one full year of schooling. But our goal is for them to maintain them. We have higher number of readers coming from here than kids who started at K. They’re reading earlier. Hopefully we see them on grade level or higher by the time they get to third grade.”

Of the 400 or so students who enter the district at Kindergarten, about a quarter can participate in Pre-K. For the just completed term, there was a waiting list of 40, a number Mrs. Rebello said was far less than she expected. She said the program ran at full capacity this past year, but, in fact, was below in 2016-17. There remains, she said, a lack of awareness of the program in the community.

“It’s amazing to me when I go to Kindergarten orientation and parents ask if there is a Pre-k program in the city,” Mrs. Rebello said. “We have waiting lists. Kids move in an out of the district. We will put a child in the program as late as February of the school year if there is a spot open. If you’re on a waiting list it doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get a spot in the program. They say, ‘Oh, I wished I’d have known.’ And I get that people can’t hold out for a spot because they have to find daycare. The kids are four, and most parents have to provide something for their child.”

Besides reading comprehension, an emphasis is put on the social/emotional wellbeing of the children as they prepare for the elementary school environment beginning with Kindergarten.

“Some kids enter Kindergarten and they don’t have that social/emotion balance, and then you’re expecting them to learn, which is hard,” Mrs. Rebello said. “So if you start them a little bit earlier it helps. If the only thing we get from a kid out of pre-K is that they know how to sit in a chair and can accept being taught when they reach Kindergarten, we’re hitting the ground running. But obviously we're trying to do more than just that.”

The family engagement element of the program is very much stressed as well. Parents are brought on site at least once a month. They’re also asked to volunteer and offer their input. Mrs. Rebello said engaging parents at the start of their child’s education will hopefully spur them to continue on that path all the way through high school.

“The ‘whole child’ notion of pre-K is emphasizing to families it’s so important is a kid’s education,” Mrs. Rebello continued. “We have a very strict attendance policy that the state adheres to, which is also very important. We’re not babysitters. You can be dropped from the program. Those things, when you start when you’re really young, start to push out the important messages to the children and their parents. And through that, I’ve seen it really helping the kids and the parents understand what’s expected of them. Not just now, but hopefully all the way through 12th Grade.”

The upcoming 2018-19 term is the last when the state will provide all funding for the Pre-K program operations. From 2019-20 going forward, it will have to be included in the district’s budget for it to continue, which is expected.

Of the program’s importance as a building block for a child’s long-term educational experience, Mrs. Rebello added, “Pre-K is so distinct. It’s school, but it really has to be a place of fun and warmth and nurturing while still getting that academic, learning component across. And that’s what we’re trying to do here.”

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