The Virtual Ready For Kindergarten Charette held on June 8, 2023, by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) focused on enhancing early childhood education and addressing the challenges faced by underserved populations. The meeting brought together educators, administrators, and early childhood advocates to discuss strategies for improving access to quality pre-kindergarten programs.

The session began with a discussion led by a special education teacher from Kent County, who emphasized the need for adequate planning time for educators to develop high-quality lessons and materials. This sentiment was echoed by other participants, highlighting the importance of ensuring that all children have access to pre-kindergarten education, particularly those from underserved backgrounds.

Wendy, another educator, raised concerns about the lack of engagement from families in high-quality early childhood centers, particularly in rural areas where options are limited. This issue was further elaborated by Christina, who shared her personal experience with the scarcity of daycare facilities in Caroline County, stressing the need for expansion of pre-kindergarten programs.

Erica, a school system employee and parent, pointed out the necessity for outreach to motivate daycare providers to achieve higher quality ratings. Darlene, an early childhood coach, echoed this by calling for more incentives for family childcare providers to participate in Maryland Excels, a quality rating system.

Elizabeth, a supervisor of instruction, discussed the importance of partnerships with private providers to enhance early childhood education. She noted the challenges posed by transportation and the need for consistent communication and support for these providers.

The conversation also touched on the need for a system to track children’s readiness for school, as raised by Chris, who questioned how to quantify the performance of children coming from various program levels. This led to a discussion about the potential for a validation study of the quality rating system.

Tess highlighted the importance of early identification and support for families in need, emphasizing that addressing basic needs can lead to better educational outcomes for children. Diane from Worcester County shared similar concerns about the availability of childcare centers and the struggle to fill pre-kindergarten seats in certain areas.

Ismenda, a Judy Center coordinator, pointed out the disconnect between available pre-kindergarten seats and the children who are not enrolled, suggesting the need for a database to identify where children are located.

The meeting concluded with a focus on collaboration among various educational entities, as Tracy from Garrett County emphasized the benefits of working together to meet the needs of children and families. Participants were encouraged to rank strategies for improving early childhood education, indicating a collective commitment to enhancing readiness for kindergarten across Maryland.

Overall, the charette underscored the critical need for increased access to quality early childhood education, particularly for underserved populations, and the importance of collaboration among educators, providers, and families to achieve these goals.