Alliance Early Childhood Center receives grant

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Race to the Top federal funds to benefit Center

PROVIDENCE – The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island JCC Early Childhood Center has received a $15,000 Program Quality Improvement Grant for its commitment to quality early childhood care and education.

According to wire service reports, Governor Lincoln Chafee announced that $335,000 will be given in grants to early childhood learning centers in 17 communities – including the ECC in Providence – as part of the state’s Race to The Top award.

Nicole Katzman, director of the Alliance JCC ECC, said that the $15,000 will be used to update and upgrade the Center’s materials, including those used for dramatic play, literature, art and music. The ECC, which plans to submit a grant request for the second round of grant funding from Race to the Top, will use any grant money awarded then to purchase new furniture. 

“We are thrilled to be one of only 20 schools in Rhode Island to receive this improvement grant,” said Katzman. “It’s an honor to have been chosen. Bright Stars, a program of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, is assisting the ECC in our educational programming.”

A total of $5 million is expected to be available during this first round of funding. Grants will be issued throughout the year.
The money comes from the $50 million federal Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant that Rhode Island won in 2011.
Rhode Island’s Early Learning Challenge focuses on developing high-quality programs, promoting early learning outcomes, building an early childhood education workforce and measuring progress, the Associated Press reported. 

The ECC is opening a new preschool room and a room for toddlers (ages 2 to 2½) in September. Space is limited. Currently, the ECC enrollment is 104 children.

Contact Nicole Katzman, MAT, MAE (421-4111, ext. 180 or nkatzman@shalomri.org) for more information.