In 2019, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) was awarded a $10.6 million federal grant through the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program. A primary goal of the grant is to create a strategic plan that outlines how the state will coordinate existing early childhood care and education (ECE) programs that prepare low-income children for kindergarten. To inform the strategic plan, the state conducted a statewide early childhood needs assessment that included a series of Town Hall meetings. These Town Hall meetings were used to obtain a first-hand perspective on the needs of Maryland’s children and families; issues that impacted access to services and high-quality ECE programs; and challenges with the coordination, collaboration, and alignment between the ECE and public school systems. This report summarizes the key takeaways from Maryland stakeholders including parents, early childhood educators, administrators, members of the higher education community, local business and government leaders, advocates, and other stakeholders. Topic areas for which MSDE sought input included: Challenges faced by families when raising young children in Maryland; Issues related to accessing services and high-quality ECE programs; Ways in which to improve the quality of ECE programs; Connections and transitions between ECE programs and public school systems; and The level of coordination and collaboration among service delivery models and funding streams. (author abstract)
Description:
Resource Type:
Reports & Papers
Publisher(s):
Grantee(s)/Contrator(s):
Funder(s):
Country:
United States
State(s):
Maryland