BALTIMORE – In service of providing high-quality, affordable prekindergarten opportunities to Maryland families, the Maryland State Department of Education recently announced opportunities for three grant programs which will collectively provide more than $35 million to prekindergarten programs across the state.

Through the Prekindergarten Expansion Grant and the Maryland State Prekindergarten Grant, MSDE has awarded 53 public and private prekindergarten programs a total of $28 million in funding.

MSDE has also announced the launch of the Prekindergarten Capacity Building Grant, a competitive grant program designed to provide funding for targeted technical assistance, resources, and support for new and/or existing programs.

Prekindergarten Expansion Grant & The Maryland State Prekindergarten Grant:

Through the Prekindergarten Expansion Grant and the Maryland State Prekindergarten Grant, a total of 13 local education agencies (LEAs) received funding for one or more additional prekindergarten classrooms. In addition, 40 private providers including child care centers, family child care homes, Head Start and other programs across the state have been awarded grant funds. Collectively, the private and public prekindergarten programs will create 2,731 new prekindergarten seats and will provide 3- and 4-year-old children from low-income families access to full-day prekindergarten.

These grant funds allow school systems and early care and education programs to increase the length of the school day from a half day to a full day, fund highly qualified and certified early childhood teachers in each classroom, and serve more children who otherwise would not have access to early childhood education necessary for success in school and life.

Funds for these grants were made possible by House Bill 1300/Chapter 36 (2020), as amended House Bill 1372. Chapter 55 – Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future enables the state to expand high-quality prekindergarten, provide technical assistance, and ensure family support services are accessible in many high-need communities.

Prekindergarten Capacity Building Grant:

Recognizing that programs may need additional support to administer high-quality prekindergarten, MSDE launched the Prekindergarten Capacity Building Grant on July 27. The grant is a one-year, one-time competitive grant that provides additional seats for eligible 3- and 4-year-olds across the state. The Prekindergarten Capacity Building Grant also provides a pathway for LEAs and private providers to become eligible to apply for either the Maryland State Prekindergarten Grant or the Prekindergarten Expansion Grant for the following school year.

As part of the grant, recipients will receive targeted technical assistance as well as support with accessing additional teacher credentials and state-approved teacher certification to support high-quality instruction. In addition, MSDE’s Office of Early Learning and Instruction staff partnered with staff from Maryland EXCELS will support the grantees to reach a quality rating of at least 3 or 4. This will enable each grantee to be ready to receive either the Prekindergarten Expansion Grant or the Maryland State Prekindergarten Grant in fiscal year 2025.

The Prekindergarten Capacity Building Grant Information Guide, Frequently Asked Questions, and other information about the grant program, including customer service support sessions, can be found on the MSDE Division of Early Childhood Grant Programs webpage. Grant information, including applications, was released July 27.

The Prekindergarten Capacity Building Grant is leveraging one-time American Rescue Plan Act funds to support a pipeline of high-quality prekindergarten programs that are ready to receive state funding.