GOVERNOR O’MALLEY SIGNS LEGISLATION TO EXPAND HIGH-QUALITY PRE-K IN MARYLAND

Annapolis, Md. (April 8, 2014) – Governor Martin O’Malley today joined fellow presiding officers, Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Mike Miller, to sign the first of the Administration’s 2014 legislative priorities, the Pre-Kindergarten Expansion Act of 2014. The governor also signed several departmental bills passed by the General Assembly this year.

“Education is a ladder to middle class success. Over the course of the O'Malley-Brown Administration, we've focused on creating opportunity by making record investments in Maryland’s top ranked public schools, and since 2007-08, we've done more than any other state in the nation to hold down the cost of college,” saidGovernor Martin O’Malley. “Thanks to the dynamic leadership of Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, along with overwhelming support from the General Assembly, our children will continue to lead the nation in achievement and eventually, the world.”

In brief opening remarks, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown added, "Today, we have taken an important step toward providing universal, voluntary pre-k for all Maryland children. By enrolling an additional 1,600 kids in high quality pre-K, we're helping more of our students climb the ladder of opportunity toward success and continuing to close our state’s achievement gap."

The Pre-Kindergarten Expansion Act of 2014 expands high-quality pre-kindergarten to more families across our State through a competitive grant program called the Pre-kindergarten Expansion Grant Program and Fund. With $4.3 million included in the FY15 budget to help expand and start programs across the State, the legislation is expected to support half-day or full-day kindergarten for approximately 1,600 children statewide.

"Expanding high quality pre-k is a proven way to prepare every child in Maryland for success," saidMargaret Williams, Executive Director of the Maryland Family Network. "We want to thank Lt. Governor Brown and the Administration for leading this year’s legislation to expand access to more Maryland children and their families."

The legislation also builds on the State’s current Pre-K program by expanding the number of Pre-K slots available to include Maryland children whose families make between 185 percent and 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, which was $70,650 for a family of four in 2013. Additionally, the bill paves the way for expanding access by ensuring that the State’s long-term plan for education funding takes into account providing access to pre-kindergarten for all Maryland children.

As part of our 16 strategic goals, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has set benchmarks designed to boost the number of children in Maryland who enter kindergarten fully ready to learn. Today, eighty-three percent of Maryland’s kindergarteners entered school fully ready last year -- that is up 38 percent (from sixty percent) since 2005.