For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Montgomery County Council Approves Work Group to Develop a Plan for Implementing Universal Preschool
ROCKVILLE, Md., July 22, 2008—The Montgomery County Council today, July 22, unanimously approved the formation of the Universal Preschool Implementation Work Group. The work group will provide the Council with recommendations to develop a high-quality, free, voluntary preschool, early child care and education program for all County 4-year olds.
The work group was created by a resolution whose chief sponsor was Councilmember Valerie Ervin, chair of the Council’s Education Committee. The work group must incorporate recommendations from the State Task Force on Universal Preschool Education and build on the work of the Maryland State Department of Education’s Strategic Plan, the Montgomery County Leadership in Action Program and the Higher Education Initiative in Early Childhood/Child Care.
“Numerous studies show that pre-kindergarten education is a proven strategy for offsetting the challenges of poverty, language, disability and mobility,” said Councilmember Ervin. “Now more than ever before, we need to focus on cost-effective early interventions that will produce proven results over the long-term for our children.”
The work group must assess the standards for determining quality preschool programs, strategies for increasing access to quality programs and the costs and resources available to support the program. The work group must submit an initial report by Dec. 15 and a final report by March 1, 2009.
The work group will consist of representatives from organizations including Montgomery County Public Schools, the County Department of Health and Human Services, the County Commission on Childcare, the Collaboration Council, the County Chapter of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Maryland State Department of Education, the Maryland State Teachers Association, Montgomery College, the Universities at Shady Grove, the County Chamber of Commerce, the Organization of Child Care Directors, the Family Child Care Association of Montgomery County, the Service Employees International Union and parent representatives.
The text of the full resolution can be found at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/
content/council/pdf/agenda/col/2008/080722/20080722_2E.pdf