BALTIMORE — Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced $500,000 in grant funding on Monday to support pre-K and childcare programs across the city, focusing on raising awareness and helping families enroll in existing educational opportunities.
WATCH: Baltimore gets $500K for early childhood education programs
The funding aims to address a significant gap in access to early childhood education.
Many families remain unaware of available programs, despite their existence throughout Baltimore. "Here in Baltimore, every year between 800 and 1000 young people enter kindergarten with no prior educational experience, which makes it harder for them to keep up in school before they even have a chance to start," Mayor Brandon Scott said.
The mayor's initiative extends beyond awareness campaigns.
Scott also announced the city's planning department will evaluate vacant and underutilized city-owned properties to determine their potential for repurposing as pre-K education facilities.
This dual approach of increasing program visibility while exploring expansion opportunities represents Baltimore's commitment to ensuring more children receive early educational experiences before entering kindergarten.
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