Howard County Public School System Expands Pre-K Access for More Children

April 14th, 2016

The Howard County Public School System announced today an expansion of its full-day prekindergarten program at Talbott Springs and Stevens Forest elementary schools, which serve the Oakland Mills community, beginning in the 2016–2017 school year.

“High quality prekindergarten experiences help children develop the academic, social and emotional skills they need to be ready for learning, which sets the stage for success throughout school and life,” said Superintendent Renee A. Foose. “Early learning programs represent a strategic long-term investment in our children. Prekindergarten can eliminate achievement gaps between groups of students and reduce the need for remediation and other interventions later.”

The expansion provides for additional Pre-K instructional staff, materials and facilities at Talbott Springs and Stevens Forest elementary schools, which will enable more children living in the Oakland Mills community to participate. This expansion will increase eligibility from 185 percent to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. This means that a family of four with an annual household income of $72,900 or less who lives in Stevens Forest or Talbott Springs enrollment areas will qualify for full day prekindergarten. A higher proportion of families living in this area are income-eligible for Pre-K enrollment, in comparison to other regions of the county.

Outreach efforts are underway to ensure that all eligible families are informed about this opportunity.