HCPSS Opens New Early Learning Center at Stevens Forest ES

August 6th, 2025

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) recently opened a new, grant-funded Judy Center at Stevens Forest Elementary School (SFES). The new Judy Center—the second in Howard County—provides free, high-quality early learning experiences, parent education, developmental screenings, and connections to health and social services to children aged prenatal through five years old and their families who live in the school’s catchment area. It also supports families who live outside that area and have children with disabilities and/or who are experiencing homelessness.

“One of the best ways to ensure all students achieve is to be sure they are prepared for kindergarten and have the necessary supports and resources for a successful start to their educational journey. Our Judy Centers benefit many students and families, and I am delighted that we now have two centers that provide valuable early learning opportunities and put our children on a path to succeed in kindergarten and beyond,” says HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes, who joined local leaders, community partners, and families on July 25 to celebrate the opening of the SFES Judy Center.

The Judy Center at SFES offers a combination of structured and flexible playgroups and a variety of family engagement activities. This work is being led by the SFES Judy Center staff— including Site Director Bonita Ward, Family Service Worker Tanisha Hance, Bilingual Program Assistant Lourdes Salazar—in collaboration with staff at Howard County’s Judy Center at Cradlerock Elementary School (CRES). Programs at both locations are aligned with the Maryland Early Learning Standards.

“At the Judy Center at Stevens Forest Elementary, we believe that when families are empowered with the right resources, knowledge, and support, they become confident leaders in their children’s learning and development. Our mission goes beyond preparing students for success in school — it’s about helping families build the skills and confidence to nurture learning at home and lay the foundation for a lifetime of growth and achievement,” says Ward. “Through consistently supportive relationships built during programs like playgroups, field trips, family enrichment and education activities, SFES school and PTA events, we create lasting bonds between families, school and the broader community. These connections help children and their caregivers feel supported, valued, and fully engaged — not just during the elementary years, but as they grow and thrive far beyond the classroom.”

“The Judy Center helps us meet families where they are—with compassion, responsive care, and practical support that begins well before a child enters pre-K or kindergarten,” adds SFES Principal Katie Carter. “What makes the Judy Center especially valuable is its ability to build trusting, long-term relationships with families. These connections strengthen attendance, support transitions into school, and encourage ongoing family engagement. When families feel seen and supported from the very beginning, they become true partners in their child’s education—something that is at the heart of our mission here at SFES,” Carter says.

The Judy Center at Cradlerock Elementary School opened in 2002. Like the center at SFES, the Judy Center at CRES offers a range of programs to support early learning and school readiness.

The addition of the Judy Center at SFES is one of many steps HCPSS has taken to satisfy Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future requirements, which include expanding access to early learning opportunities. In recent years, the district has also grown its pre-kindergarten program. Currently, full-day pre-k is offered at 32 elementary schools throughout the county. More than half of those programs have achieved Maryland Accreditation, with the remainder expected to achieve that distinction by the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Judy Centers have existed in Maryland since 2000. Today, there are more than 80 centers located throughout the state–all aimed at helping to ensure that children enter school ready to succeed. The SFES and CRES Judy Centers are funded through grants administered by the Maryland Department of Education Division of Early Childhood.

Families interested in programming offered at the Judy Center at SFES or CRES can email judycenter@hcpss.org, call 410-313-8245, or fill out this interest form. Additional information about the Judy Center at SFES is available online.