January 9th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, together with U.S. Representatives Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5), Elijah E. Cummings (MD-7), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2), John P. Sarbanes (MD-3), Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-1), Anthony Brown (MD-4), Jamie Raskin (MD-8) and David Trone (MD-6) announced today that Maryland has been awarded $10.6 million through the Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five program to conduct a statewide, comprehensive birth through age five needs assessment for Maryland’s children. In October 2018, Maryland’s full Congressional Delegation urged Secretary Alex Azar of the Department of Health and Human Services to support the Maryland State Department of Education’s grant application.

 

“I’m proud that the Maryland State Department of Education has secured $10.6 million in federal funds to conduct a statewide assessment of what must be done to ensure that Maryland students have quality childhood education programs,” said Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. “The federal funds announced today will strengthen existing and future federal-state investments in childhood education, and go a long way toward helping students excel when entering kindergarten.”

 

“To best prepare our children for the future, we have to start early,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees. “This investment in Maryland’s children will help ensure that they get the care they need and the education they deserve in order to succeed. I was proud to support this funding – grants like this benefit all Marylanders and are key to our children’s success.”

 

“I’m very pleased that the state of Maryland has again received funding through the Preschool Development Grants program,” said Congressman Hoyer. “As we have seen in past years, this federal investment will help improve upon our existing early childhood infrastructure including, Judy Centers, which provide comprehensive services and education to children and families. These new funds are an important step in ensuring the success of children and families in Maryland.”

 

“I often say that our children are the living messages that we send to a future we will never see, and nurturing a student’s early development is crucial to fostering their future success. I applaud the Maryland State Department of Education for securing $10.6 million in federal funds to assess childhood education programs statewide so that we can ensure every young student has access to the skills needed to excel when entering kindergarten,” said Congressman Cummings.

 

“This is the type of common sense investment Americans want and expect,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “Research suggests that Pre-K can improve a child’s chance of success in school and in life – children who attend Pre-K are more likely to graduate from high school, earn more as adults and avoid involvement in our criminal justice system. This is an investment in our future.”

 

“This new federal investment in Maryland’s children will help improve early childhood education and services across our state,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “I was proud to work alongside my colleagues in the Maryland Congressional Delegation to secure these important funds.”