BCPS Superintendent helps announce $4.3 million in new pre-kindergarten grants

07/29/2014
Spotlight

Prekindergarten Expansion Announcement from Baltimore County Public Schools on Vimeo.

BCPS Superintendent Dr. S. Dallas Dance joined Maryland’s Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and state education officials at a White Marsh pre-school facility as together they announced $4.3 million in state pre-kindergarten expansion grant money.

Alongside several Baltimore County elected officials, Dr. Dance applauded the effort to boost pre-kindergarten instruction and better prepare the county’s youngest learners for their formal academic careers.

The state’s Prekindergarten Expansion Grants will go to 24 providers throughout Maryland, including four recipients in Baltimore County. The grant program partners the state with local providers and school systems to expand high-quality full and half day pre-K to an additional 1,563 children.

In addition, Baltimore County Public Schools will be awarded $272,692 to extend prekindergarten programs from a half-day to a full-day for about 20 students.

Monday’s announcement took place at the White Marsh Child Care Center, one of the Baltimore County programs receiving a total of $770,000 to expand services. The White Marsh center will receive $112,000 to support an additional 20 pre-schoolers, according to state government sources, and the Center plans to use these funds toward teacher salaries and technology upgrades in the classroom, including computers, in order to reach families in need of educational services.

Other recipients of the grant awards are the Excellent Start Learning Center, Play and Learn at Hunt Valley, and