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AACPS to redirect prekindergarten resources to serve 4-year-olds next school year
Summary
Superintendent's office announced that, starting next fall, Anne Arundel County Public Schools will refocus prekindergarten services to prioritize 4-year-old students in Tier 1 (high-poverty) categories, following a joint Maryland State Board of Education and Blueprint Accountability board policy change.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools will redirect prekindergarten resources next fall to prioritize 4-year-old students, district officials announced during the April 2 board meeting.
Chief Academic Officer Christina Catalano said a joint policy adopted in January by the Maryland State Board of Education and the Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board requires the mixed-delivery pre-K system to focus public-school seats on 4-year-olds while private providers concentrate on 3-year-olds. “I want to be clear that we are not cutting any pre k resources,” Catalano said. “We are redirecting our pre k resources from our pre k 3 classrooms into our pre k 4 classrooms.”
Catalano said the shift is intended to better serve pre-K 4 students who are Tier 1 — students from families experiencing a high level of poverty — as well as children who are homeless, multilingual learners and students with disabilities. The district said the change will allow more pre-K 4 students to be served in facilities closer to their homes. Pre-K registration will begin May 6.
Board members were informed the change responds to new state guidance; staff clarified the move is a redirection of existing resources rather than a reduction. The superintendent’s office will provide families with registration details and school assignments in coming weeks.
