The bill amends Chapter 16-48 of the General Laws, titled "Educational Services to Very Young Children," to change the applicability of educational services to children aged three to five years old, as opposed to the previous age range of two years eight months to six years. It also expands the scope to include any program offered by public or approved private schools, rather than just private nursery schools and other regular programs. The bill stipulates that, starting June 1, 2025, any entity wishing to operate such a program must maintain a rating through Rhode Island's quality rating and improvement system, which will remain in effect unless revoked by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

Additionally, the bill repeals several sections of the law related to the establishment, operation, and revocation of approval for schools and programs. It removes the requirement for schools to be approved by the commissioner after meeting certain standards and the process for revocation of approval. The bill also eliminates the need for criminal background checks for owners, officers, and employees of the schools or programs, as well as the destruction of fingerprint records after background checks. The act will take effect upon passage, signaling a shift in the regulatory framework for educational services to very young children in Rhode Island.