Maryland Joins Effort to Strengthen Early Childhood Workforce

Project is Collaboration of National Governor’s Association,
Council of Chief State School Officers

BALTIMORE – Maryland has signed on to a national project to help develop a policy agenda designed to improve the quality of the childcare and early childhood education workforce.

The effort was announced earlier this month by the National Governor’s Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Maryland joins eight other states collaborating on the work: Arkansas, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

“It is essential that our early education programs offer creative, meaningful learning experiences for our youngest learners. For that to occur, we need an effective workforce,” said Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools. “Early learning represents the bedrock for everything we do in Maryland education. A good start in learning can make all the difference for a child.”

Research indicates that high-quality care and education in the earliest years of life has a positive effect throughout life. There is a growing understanding of the importance of a knowledgeable and skills workforce to provide quality early childhood education that makes a difference in children’s lives.

“CCSSO is proud to partner with the National Governors Association to support Maryland and other states as they strengthen the quality of early childhood education and increase access to these important opportunities for all families,” said Carissa Moffat Miller, executive director of CCSSO.

Through the project, the NGA Center for Best Practices in Education Division and CCSSO will provide technical assistance and grants for the development of policy. Maryland and the other states involved in the project will receive support to develop and carry out action plans focused on one or more specific state policy priorities related to improving their early care and education workforce.

Support for the project comes from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Alliance for Early Success, the Foundation for Child Development, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.