{"id":1640,"date":"2014-07-28T09:19:44","date_gmt":"2014-07-28T13:19:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/?p=1640"},"modified":"2015-12-29T09:39:34","modified_gmt":"2015-12-29T14:39:34","slug":"lt-governor-brown-msde-announce-4-3-million-in-grants-to-fund-marylands-prekindergarten-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/lt-governor-brown-msde-announce-4-3-million-in-grants-to-fund-marylands-prekindergarten-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"Lt. Governor Brown, MSDE Announce $4.3 Million In Grants To Fund Maryland’s Prekindergarten Expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"

State partnering with local providers and school systems to expand high-quality pre-K to an additional 1,563 children<\/em><\/h3>\n

For Immediate Release<\/p>\n

Contact: Lauren Gibbs, Lt. Governor’s Office, 410-570-3115
\nJenaya Parris, MSDE, 410-767-0602<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Today, Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown was joined by President of the Maryland Board of Education Dr. Charlene Dukes, Baltimore County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dallas Dance, other state and local officials, and early childhood education advocates for a press conference announcing $4.3 million in Prekindergarten Expansion Grants to 24 providers throughout the state. The grant program is made possible by the O\u2019Malley-Brown Administration\u2019s Prekindergarten Expansion Act of 2014 (SB 332)<\/em>, which Lt. Governor Brown led the effort to pass during this year\u2019s legislative session. Under the expansion, the State is partnering with local providers and schools systems across the state to expand high-quality full and half day pre-K to another 1,563 children.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery child in Maryland deserves to be able to climb the ladder of opportunity towards success, and expanding access to quality early childhood education is a critical part of our effort to close the achievement gap throughout our state,\u201d said Lt. Governor Brown.<\/strong> \u201cWith this $4.3 million investment, we\u2019re ensuring that another 1,560 of our children will have access to a high-quality Pre-K program this year. By working together with educators, advocates, parents, and members of our communities, we\u2019re one step closer to making high quality, voluntary Pre-K available to each and every one of Maryland\u2019s children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s announcement took place at White Marsh Child Care Center (WMCCC), one of five programs in Baltimore County that are receiving a total of $770,000 in funds to expand their services under the grant program. WMCCC will receive $112,000 to support an additional 20 four year old children. The Center also plans to use these funds towards teacher salaries and technology upgrades in the classroom (including computers) in order to reach families in need of educational services.<\/p>\n

“Baltimore County has been, and continues to be a leader in early childhood education, and this $770,000 in State funding for pre-kindergarten expansion recognizes our ongoing commitment and will make a real difference in our communities,\u201d said County Executive Kevin Kamenetz.<\/strong> \u201cI want to thank Governor O’Malley and Lieutenant Governor Brown for their commitment to education in Baltimore County.”<\/p>\n

The Prekindergarten Expansion Act of 2014 (SB 332) <\/em>builds on the State\u2019s existing pre-K system and expands the number of pre-K slots available to include Maryland children whose families make up to 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The bill represents the first step toward expanding pre-K to all Maryland children by establishing a competitive Pre-Kindergarten Expansion Grant Program and Fund through which local school systems and local providers were able apply to establish, expand and enhance existing pre-K programs and highly effective Judy Centers. Recipients were selected by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) following the application process which began in April. See attached for a full list of recipients.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis Prekindergarten Expansion Grant builds upon the existing public prekindergarten system and moves us even closer to the target goal of providing universal access to high-quality prekindergarten for Maryland children of all income levels,\u201d said Dr. Lillian M. Lowery, State Superintendent of Schools.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The programs selected for expansion span nearly every part of Maryland (see map here<\/a>) and reflect the wide spectrum of high quality early childhood programs in the state that serve 4-year olds:<\/p>\n