Gov. McKee, RIDE, PPSD Announce Harry Kizarian Elementary Receives Elementary Pre-K Accomplishment, Second in District
PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee, the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), and the Providence Public School District (PPSD) are thrilled to announce that the Harry Kizirian Elementary School Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) program has officially been awarded the prestigious BrightStars 5-star rating.
Harry Kizirian Elementary Pre-K is the second school in the District to receive this star rating, following Young Woods Elementary, which recently received the first 5-star rating in the District. BrightStars is Rhode Island’s Quality Rating and Improvement System for early learning and is managed by the Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children. This recognition highlights the outstanding efforts and unwavering dedication of the Kizirian Pre-K team and district Education Coordinators in providing exceptional Pre-K experiences for Providence children. The achievement highlights the program’s excellence in creating a nurturing and stimulating environment for our young learners.
“We are incredibly proud of Harry Kizirian Elementary School Pre-K for achieving the BrightStars 5-star rating,” said Governor Dan McKee. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our educators, students, families, the Providence Public School District, Rhode Island state agencies, and partners who are committed to providing children with a strong foundation for their educational journey. Congratulations to the PPSD community.”
“Strong early childhood education is foundational for our children, providing them environments to explore, gain a sense of self, and build skills and confidence,” said Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Patti DiCenso. “Congratulations to Harry Kizirian Pre-K for becoming the second program in the district to receive this stellar 5-star rating.”
As a participating school in the State’s free, high-quality RI Pre-K Program, Harry Kizirian Pre-K was also supported by the RIDE Early Childhood Team and the Center for Early Learning Professionals, which helps providers learn about best practices in early learning and apply them to the care children receive. In order to achieve a 5-star BrightStars rating, the Pre-K program at Harry Kizirian was assessed across many quality standards and criteria.
“The BrightStars 5-star rating for the Harry Kizirian Pre-K program is a testament to Rhode Island’s exemplary efforts in early childhood education,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “This achievement during the Turnaround of Providence Public Schools reflects our collective commitment to ensuring that our youngest learners receive the highest quality education to set them on a path to success. We are so proud of everyone who worked to make this possible. Congratulations!”
“By achieving a BrightStars 5-star rating, the Harry Kizirian Pre-K has improved access to high quality child care for our youngest learners,” said Rhode Island Department of Human Services Director Kimberly Merolla-Brito. “As more families take advantage of these opportunities, the Office of Child Care is ready and available to help child care providers strengthen their programs so that every child has the same opportunity to thrive in the classroom and beyond.”
“Studies from Harvard show the first years of a child’s life are the period of the most rapid brain development and lay the foundation for all future learning. We are thrilled to celebrate Kizirian Pre-K program’s achievement of the BrightStars 5-star rating,” said Providence Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez. “This recognition affirms our district’s commitment to delivering exceptional Pre-K experiences that prepare our students for future success. Congratulations to the Kizirian Pre-K team and our district Ed Coordinators for their outstanding work.”
To celebrate this remarkable achievement, the Providence Public School District plans to organize a presentation of the award event at the Harry Kizirian Pre-K program in the fall. This event will provide an opportunity to recognize the program’s outstanding accomplishments and highlight the positive impact it has on the students.
For more information on the state’s RI Pre-K program which Harry Kizirian Elementary is a part of, please visit the RIDE RI Pre-K Page. For more information BrightStars, visit www.BrightStars.org or call 401-739-6100.
Photo Caption: PPSD, RIDE, and PTU celebrated Young Woods Elementary School becoming the first Pre-K program to receive d the prestigious BrightStar 5-Star rating June 14, 2022.
