Research, Reports, Surveys & News

With its significance to the economy, education and future of Rhode Island, the child care industry, early learning and workforce is often studied. The following research, reports, surveys and data highlight the latest developments around child care. Read about the Market Rate Survey here. 

Office of Child Care Data Dashboard

Early Childhood Care and Education Capital Fund

In the March 2021 special election, Rhode Island residents overwhelmingly voted in support of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Capital Fund. The approved funding provides over $13 million in grant funding for physical improvements to existing child care spaces and for the development of new licensed early childhood care and education facilities. The following status report provides an update on the administration of the program, specifically relating to the distribution and impact of capital funds. 

A child speaking to a teacher

For more information on the fund, as well as detailed information about the wave 1 grantees, please click here: Early Childhood Care and Education Capital Fund – RICCELFF

COVID-19 Impact Survey

DHS deployed a series of three surveys in October, November, and December 2020 to collect information on the programmatic and financial impact that COVID-19 had on licensed child care programs and the families they serve. 

Each month, an average of 339 licensed, reopened child care providers responded to the survey (October: 347, November: 324, December: 346).

Hearing directly from providers was crucial to providing DHS with real-time information to inform our decisions and best provide additional support. Specifically, the information gathered through this survey series provided DHS the data to:

  • Advocate for the $5 million COVID-19 Relief Fund, which will be used to support licensed child care providers to maintain their businesses
  • Continue the enhanced Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) rate to better support child care providers serving children enrolled in CCAP
  • Continue the CCAP payment practice to pay providers based on enrollment rather than attendance
  • Plan and advocate for future funding

The COVID-19 Impact Survey series summary report is below. 

PDG Reports

In January 2019, the State was awarded a one-year, $4.19 million federal Preschool Development Grant (PDG) that was targeted at youth from birth through age 5. While the PDG funds cannot be used to pay for additional pre-K seats, the grant led to the redesigned RI Children's Cabinet website and critical reports that helped pave the way for the Child Care Facilities Fund detailed on our Quality Initiatives page.  

    BrightStars Think Tank Recommendations Report

    The 2018 BrightStars Think Tank was convened in order to develop recommendations to the Department of Human Services (DHS) on ways to strengthen Rhode Island’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) so that it is more effective in supporting the continuous quality improvement of child care programs. Read the recommendations report and the DHS implementation response below.