The bill establishes a new section in the Rhode Island Prekindergarten Education Act to create a statewide prekindergarten seat finder. This platform is designed to assist families in accessing high-quality early childhood education programs for children aged three and four. The seat finder will provide real-time availability, eligibility screening, and application support for families seeking licensed early learning providers.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is responsible for procuring, developing, and maintaining this digital prekindergarten seat finder platform. Key features of the platform will include a searchable directory of providers with filters for location, hours, quality ratings, tuition, language, tour availability, parent ratings, and subsidy eligibility. It will also offer an eligibility screener for state and federally funded Pre-K programs, enable families to apply directly for programs or join waitlists, and ensure accessibility for non-English speaking families and those with disabilities.

All licensed Pre-K providers, including state-funded, private, and nonprofit programs, are required to participate in the finder platform. Providers must update their availability at least weekly and report key program details, such as enrollment openings, tuition rates, program quality indicators, special services offered, parental ratings, and tour availability. The state will integrate the finder with the subsidy eligibility system to facilitate streamlined enrollment for families using childcare assistance or Pre-K grants.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will conduct outreach campaigns to ensure that families, particularly those in underserved communities, are aware of and can access the finder. The prekindergarten seat finder is expected to be fully operational within twelve months of the bill's enactment, and the department will report annually to the Speaker of the House and the Senate President on usage rates, enrollment trends, and provider participation.