Montgomery County groups set aggressive early-childhood goals, urge new funding to meet them

Montgomery County officials and partner organizations presented coordinated plans this week to expand early childhood access, strengthen the workforce and boost school readiness, while warning the county’s current funding and provider capacity fall far short of the goal.

At a joint session of the county’s Education Culture and Health and Human Services committees, Kimberly Resnick, executive director of the Children’s Opportunity Alliance, led a landscape review showing about 72,000 children under 5 in the county and “just over 11,000 total funded seats,” she said. Resnick said the alliance has proposed a common agenda that sets an aspirational target to grow publicly subsidized seats to 18,000 in five years and a countywide goal that by 2030 “75 percent of children will demonstrate readiness for kindergarten.”

The plan relies on multiple strategies: expand affordable, high-quality seats across delivery systems; engage at least 5,000 parents through local navigators and ambassadors; and grow the early childhood workforce by 30 percent (roughly 2,600 workers) through career ladders, a registry and improved compensation. “We will aim to increase the number of workers in the early care and education workforce by 30% or 2,600 workers,” Resnick said, describing the target and an intent to partner with Montgomery College and other local organizations to build pipelines.

Why it matters: County presenters and council members said the current mix of programs leaves thousands of young children without funded seats and that workforce shortages and thin provider margins undermine quality and stability. Jennifer Ardenis, senior administrator for Early Childhood Services in Health and Human Services, summarized the studies that prompted the action plan: childcare remains unaffordable for many families, providers operate on thin financial margins that do not cover the true cost of care, and demand for infant/toddler care far exceeds supply.

What’s proposed and how it would work: The common agenda groups four strategies into targets and measurable actions. Resnick described a multi-year advocacy and campaign plan to create a dedicated local revenue stream, saying the alliance has consulted the Children’s Funding Project and jurisdictions that have used local levies. The alliance will also support community-based providers seeking state pre-K grants, increase funded seats in underserved ZIP codes and back shared-services efforts to reduce operating costs.

Funding and timeline: Presenters outlined short- and medium-term milestones. ECEI’s action plan includes goals to add 200 childcare seats in underserved areas by FY27, reduce application processing time by 25% through digital access, increase credentialing programs by 20% and grow flexible-care offerings by 15%. OMB reported roughly $7.2 million in spend or encumbrances in the first six months of FY25 related to access, expansion and sustainability; presenters said additional public and private resources will be required to meet the agenda’s targets.

Voices from education and higher ed: Montgomery College’s LaVena Nash Dela Rosa described a 57% growth in scholarship recipients for early-childhood programs since FY23 and said the college is working to expand pathways for students into local child-care employment. Michelle Owens of Montgomery County Public Schools outlined MCPS programs and said a new Judy Center at Weller Road Elementary will expand family supports and school readiness services.

Next steps: COA’s board will discuss the draft common agenda on Feb. 19, after which presenters plan public messaging and detailed implementation steps, including setting performance measures and steering committees. Ardenis said the workforce and compensation study will begin surveys and focus groups in February with initial findings by April and a final report by July, work the county hopes will help target wage and benefit interventions.

The session ended with councilmembers urging faster progress on funding solutions and closer alignment among county agencies, COA and school partners so the county can more clearly explain timelines and expected results to the public.

What’s next: COA and ECEI staff said they will return to committees with progress updates and specific implementation plans; the workforce study is scheduled to report initial findings in the spring and a final report by July.