Harford County Local Management Board Receives Race to the Top Early Learning Grant

From Harford County Government:

(Bel Air, MD) – – Harford County Local Management Board within the Department of Community Services received the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant. It was in partnership with the Harford County Public Schools and through the Early Learning Council funding from the U.S. Department of Education.

Awards in Race to the Top go to those leading the way with ambitious yet achievable plans for implementing coherent, compelling, and comprehensive early learning education reform. In Harford County, the funding will be used to launch two new initiatives within Edgewood and Deerfield Elementary schools:

The Early Childhood Council was created in 2013 by the State of Maryland Department of Education and through Executive Order to the Harford County Local Management Board (LMB) to expand proven early learning programs in the county. The Council is comprised of representatives from the Harford County Local Management Board, School System, Health Department, Mental Health, Social Services, and numerous community providers. The goals of the Early Childhood Council are to improve the early childhood service delivery system and overcome local school readiness achievement gaps for children with high needs, including children from low-income families, children with disabilities, and English Language Learners.

The Social Emotional Awareness (SEA) Project provides information to parents and caregivers on helping children with feelings, following rules and developing problem solving skills. Harford County has currently trained 24 people from numerous agencies in the SEA program. The Learning Parties are a best practice model based on the Maryland model. After the completion of the Learning Parties, families are given a backpack with educational materials to enhance skills learning at home. The Harford County Local Management Board (LMB) measures community needs, facilitates the development of services, and monitors outcomes for children, youth, and families. For more information, contact Kim Parks-Bourn, Harford County Local Management Board, at kjparks-bourn@harfordcountymd.gov.