BALTIMORE, MD (Monday, November 24, 2025) - Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced a push to increase access to, and awareness of, early childhood education and care, beginning with a $500,000 grant to The Fund for Educational Excellence to expand and improve the quality of Pre-K and child care programs in Baltimore. Mayor Scott also directed the Department of Planning to conduct an inventory of underutilized or vacant properties that can be repurposed for early childhood education through public-private partnerships. This announcement builds on the $1,000,000 the City of Baltimore invested in childcare support last month as part of its shutdown relief package. Mayor Scott announced the investment during a visit to Arundel Elementary School's Literacy Lab and Judy Center Early Learning Hub alongside City Council President Zeke Cohen, Baltimore City Councilmembers James Torrence and Mark Parker, and childcare and early education stakeholders.

"This announcement, and the work to come, is about investing in Baltimore's greatest resource: our young people," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "Closing the early childhood education gap is no easy task, but there are incredible educators, providers, and advocates who have been working on this for a long, long time. I've challenged them, and my team, to identify investments that City government can make to help expand access to, and awareness of, quality Pre-K and childcare programs in our city. Together, we are committed to giving all of our young people the best possible start to their education."

Children who are kindergarten-ready are 4.8 times more likely to be reading on grade level in third grade, making them much more likely to meet goals for student achievement and to graduate on time. In 2024, more than half of children who attended Baltimore City Pre-K or childcare centers were ready for kindergarten, compared to just 17% of children with no prior care, as measured by the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment. Currently, 800 to 1,000 Baltimore City children enter kindergarten every year with no prior care experience, making it much more likely that they will have fallen behind before they have even started school.

"My experience as a teacher taught me the students who arrive kindergarten-ready have a tremendous advantage, and as a parent, I know how challenging it can be to navigate the childcare system," said Council President Zeke Cohen. "This grant funding is an important step toward closing the early education gap and supporting the families who need these services most."

The grant will be used to gather data on access and enrollment, which will be used to drive enrollment through awareness campaigns and navigators. It will also be used to help providers improve care through training to care for young people with special needs. The Fund will develop a competitive process to sub-grant these dollars to organizations that have a track record of doing this work.

"The Fund for Educational Excellence is grateful to Mayor Scott for his leadership and for the City's investment in early childhood and Pre-K," said Roger Schulman, President & CEO of The Fund For Educational Excellence. The conditions for a successful education begin at birth and we are eager to put these funds to use to ensure every child throughout our city has the opportunity to access high quality early childhood and Pre-K options."

"Arundel is grateful to be a part of the Mayor's vision for early childhood education and care in Baltimore," said Kerry-Ann Malcolm, Principal of Arundel Elementary School Principal. "Early childhood education plays a critical role in shaping long-term academic success, social development, and school readiness. Our Community School model allows us to wrap comprehensive supports around children and families to remove barriers and increase opportunities. These programs ensure that our youngest learners have a strong foundation from the very beginning."

"Early childhood education is one of the most powerful investments we can make in our city's future," said Crystal Francis, Baltimore City Public Schools Executive Director of Early Learning Programs. "When we give our youngest learners access to high-quality, inclusive early learning programs, we're not just preparing them for kindergarten; we're strengthening families, supporting our workforce, and building a more equitable Baltimore. I'm grateful for the Mayor's leadership in making early childhood a priority, and I'm committed to ensuring every child in our city enters school ready to learn, grow, and thrive."