Maryland

Overview of Pre-K Program-Prekindergarten Program

Program is voluntary and open to all four-year-old children from families with economically disadvantaged backgrounds (185% of the Federal Poverty Level) or who are homeless. If any slots are vacant, districts may then choose to enroll children who display a lack of readiness for school.
Goal is to provide learning experiences to help children develop and maintain the basic skills necessary to be successful in school.
Program is funded through state aid and local education dollars.
Regulated by the state and administered by local boards of education.

Serves at-risk children from birth through kindergarten and their families to increase the number of children entering school ready to learn.
Promote school readiness through collaboration with community-based agencies, organizations and businesses.
Centers are located in or affiliated with elementary schools and provide full-day, full-year services
Twenty-three counties across Maryland have been awarded grants to establish Judy Centers.
Funded by Maryland General Assembly.
Administered by the Maryland State Department of Education.

1979 Maryland’s Prekindergarten Program begins as a pilot program in 2 counties.
1998 State establishes the Maryland Model for School Readiness to define school readiness goals for Maryland’s young children.
2000 Judith P. Hoyer Early Child Care and Education Enhancement Program is established and $7 million is allocated to create “Judy Centers”, provide enhancement grants for private providers and track progress in school readiness.
2002 Bridge to Excellence of Public Schools Act is passed and requires that all local school districts expand pre-kindergarten services to all economically disadvantaged four year olds by the 2007-2008 school year.
2005 The Division of Early Childhood Development is created within the State Department of Education.
2006 The Task Force on Universal Preschool Education is created and by 2007 they recommend that Maryland establish a pre-k-for-all program for four year olds.
2009 Maryland State Department of Education completes the Preschool for All Business Plan based on recommendations of the Task Force.