The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) for Child Care Staff pilot was extended with applications being accepted through July 31, 2030.
Last-reviewed: Sept. 28, 2026
Latest News
- The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) for Child Care Staff pilot offers CCAP benefits to help offset the cost of childcare for early childhood educators and staff working in licensed childcare programs. Applications will be accepted through July 31, 2030.
- Starting January 1, 2027, the Child Care Assistance Program income eligibility went from 261% to 285% of the federal poverty level.
- Effective August 1, 2026, RI law now limits students to school issued devices during the day.
Childcare and pre-school
- RIDE, along with the RI Attorney General’s office, issued this guidance to schools that outlines their obligations to safeguard the rights of students regardless of their identity, gender and sexuality. The guidance also directs schools not to change their diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs.
- RIDE, along with the RI Attorney General’s office, also issued this guidance to schools outlining students’ rights and schools’ responsibilities to protect their rights.
- Children are entitled to enroll in public schools.
- Unauthorized adults are not permitted inside schools.
- While ICE can conduct activities in schools, they must have a signed judicial warrant.
K-12 Education
- To be eligible for school-based nutrition programs, like free or reduced school breakfast and lunch, some families will have to complete applications to enroll their children. RIDE has this outreach toolkit that explains program types, eligibility requirements, and outreach strategies.
- National School Lunch Program information.
- Parents can request a facilitated IEP process to help develop an individualized education program for students with disabilities so that their child receives the free and appropriate education they are entitled to. Parents can call RIDE to request this service at (401) 222-8999 or by email at RIDECallCenter@ride.ri.gov.
- Under Title IX, pregnant or parenting students have the right to continue to go to school, participate in extracurricular activities, and be provided reasonable adjustments to education.
College and Higher Education
- Effective July 1, 2025, there new borrowing limits for university loans and new changes to the Repayment Assistance Plan. Read more from Legal Key’s Federal Digital Digest.
- Rhode Island guarantees in-state tuition for all Rhode Islanders at CCRI. Conditions apply.
Unlocking Access® Resources for Care Teams
There are many ways care teams can support students and families to meet education and childcare-related needs. For more specific legal information and strategies, care team members who have access to Legal Key’s Unlocking Access® Hub should log in.
If you are a Legal Key partner who does not have their login information, or you’d like to learn more about how to gain access to the Unlocking Access® Hub, get in touch with us!
Spotlight on Equity
- Care teams working with children, youths and their families can help uplift key anti-discrimination rights to help protect against discrimination in publicly funded schools.
- Under federal law, discrimination is prohibited on the basis of race, color and national origin, sex, disability, or age. RI also prohibits discrimination based on a student’s (perceived or actual) sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Schools are required to maintain anti-discrimination policies that set out procedures to report discrimination.
- You can help a student who believes they have been discriminated against in their school by:
- Accessing their school’s anti-discrimination policy by doing an internet search for: [town name] schools non-discrimination policy.
- Sharing the RI Department of Education’s Civil Rights webpage.
- Connecting families to the US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights to file a complaint or to the RI American Civil Liberties Union.
Other Resources
- Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE)
- RIDE Special Education resource page
- RIPIN
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) & Head Start
- Family visiting
- Student loan forgiveness information
Advocacy Corner
Individual Advocacy
Access to childcare is critical to being able to work or go to school; in-state tuition and financial aid pave the way to higher education and non-degree professional certificate programs; individual education plans (IEP) and 504 plans support children with disabilities and learning differences. Care team members can support families encountering obstacles to accessing child care or education.
Policy Advocacy
Policy advocacy around education and childcare is broad. Local Rhode Island organizations working in this arena include:
- Rhode Island Kids COUNT
- Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families
- Parents Leading for Educational Equity (PLEE)
Youth Led Organizations:
- Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education (ARISE)
- Providence Student Union (PSU)
- Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM)
- Youth In Action (YIA)
- Young Voices (YV)
Local organizations supporting population-focused advocacy around education and childcare include:
Federal organizations addressing education and childcare access include: