New England mayors gathered in Providence to discuss access, quality and workforce development in Pre-K amid federal funding challenges
Mayor Brett P. Smiley today hosted mayors from across New England, including Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell and Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, in Providence for a convening on universal pre-kindergarten (Pre-K), early childhood workforce development and strategies to maintain high-quality early education programs. Mayor Smiley highlighted Providence’s path to universal Pre-K access and provide a platform for regional leaders to urge the Trump Administration to increase federal support for early education. Pre-K provides the foundation for lifelong learning and is vital to economic development of our communities.
“Expanding access to high-quality early learning provides children and families with foundational education that impacts their entire educational career. I am proud that in Providence, we have been able to make a Pre-K seat available to every child who needs one, which was a commitment I made to our community,” said Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. “Now our critical next step is to expand and diversify early learning opportunities for families and continue to improve the quality of programs. As cities continue to do more with less, mayors across New England are coming together to fight for the future of early learning. Cities like Providence have shown what’s possible, but the federal government must step up and invest in the early years that matter most.”
The convening highlighted the mixed delivery model for Pre-K, explore strategies to improve the quality of early education programs and recognize the opportunities and challenges of universal Pre-K in Providence. Leaders will discuss the obstacles of maintaining universal Pre-K in this federal landscape and identify actions municipal leaders can take to advocate for continued funding for children and families, especially for Head Start. The session will also address early childhood workforce development and rebuilding the workforce after COVID-19. The final session will include Providence administrators and educators who will reflect on the impact of both investments and current challenges on the field, as well as the children and families served.
“Universal Pre-K is one of the most powerful investments we can make in a child’s life. In a community like Central Falls, where so many families are asked to choose between childcare and a paycheck, access to high-quality early learning is a game changer. It means our children enter kindergarten more prepared, and our parents can stay in the workforce without sacrificing their family’s stability. Every child deserves that foundation. I am proud to stand with mayors across New England to call for the federal support our families need and fight for a future where all of our children have the same opportunity to learn and grow,” said Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera.
Providence now offers seats for more than 80 percent of eligible four-year-old children through a combination of RI Pre-K, Providence Public School District (PPSD) Pre-K programs, Head Start and high-quality community-based preschool programs. Educational professionals define universal Pre-K as seats for more than 70 percent of eligible children. Providence currently offers more than 1,800 seats for the about 2,100 4-year-old children in the city based on the 2025 RI Kids Count Factbook. More than two-thirds of these seats are full-time, with about one-third part-time, reflecting the City’s commitment to offering families flexible options that best meet their needs.
Now that Providence has Pre-K seats for the majority of four-year-old children, the City is committed to increasing the quality and diversifying the delivery of these seats. Professional development is a key component of quality. The BrightStars early childhood quality rating system includes requirements that Pre-K teacher assistants (TAs) complete college courses in early childhood education to achieve the highest quality rating. Investing in providing this training is a critical opportunity to improve the quality of PPSD’s Pre-K programs since their TAs are not eligible for current state scholarship and workforce development programs funded through the State’s Office of Child Care. The City is working with PPSD to develop a program that will support PPSD TAs in meeting course and certification requirements, stabilizing the workforce and ensuring equitable compensation.
“Every student in Hartford and beyond deserves access to a high-quality education from day one, and that starts with universal Pre-K. It’s an honor to join other New England mayors to align our regional advocacy — the path to educational equity runs right through early learning. Cities are ready to lead, but to ensure that this foundation for lifelong learning is secure, we need the Trump Administration to step up and make a robust investment in our kids,” said Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam.
Additionally, in an effort to support students of every age, the City has invested nearly $2 million in early learning infrastructure at centers and family childcare homes and is supporting Pre-K through eighth-grade schools as we implement the capital plan for Providence Public School District (PPSD).
“Learning begins at birth and early childhood education lays the foundation for all that follows,” said Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Professor of the Practice at the Brown University School of Public Health. “Benefits of high quality, universal pre-k include improved school readiness, can help to narrow the achievement gap for disadvantaged students, and provides economic benefits for families.”