To: Montgomery College Board of Trustees, Dr. Derionne Pollard, President, Montgomery College, Marsha Suggs Smith, Board of Trustees, Michael Knapp, Board of Trustees, Gloria Aparicio Blackwell, Board of Trustees, Michael Priddy, Board of Tr...
Save the Early Learning Centers at Montgomery College
Delay the closing of the the Montgomery College Early Learning Centers at Rockville and Takoma Park campuses for two years, and work with parents and community to find a permanent solution to keep the centers open.
Why is this important?
In November, the board of trustees of Montgomery College announced without previous warning that they would close the Early Childhood Centers at Rockville and Takoma Park in June of 2016.
When I made the decision to change careers—leaving a 20-year career in advertising to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse-midwife—my family had to figure out how we could afford my tuition and early childhood education for our two young children on one salary.
At first, it seemed impossible. With our income we didn't qualify for Head Start or other public programs, but the private options we found were too much for us to afford.
When we found the Early Learning Center at Montgomery College, we were elated. Not only did the center offer a discounted rate for students, but it was one of the few centers in our area accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
The Early Learning Center has made it possible for me to pursue my dream, and it’s provided a safe, welcoming environment where our children thrive.
Now, without seeking community input or providing any warning, the college has decided to close the center at the end of this school year.
We've formed a parents group that wants to help. We're asking the board to keep the centers open for two years, and to work with us to find a solution. We have skills and experience in grant writing, fundraising, marketing, organizing and advocacy, and we're ready to be a partner in this work.
Affordable and high-quality early childhood education is difficult to find. Recent studies have shown that families are going into deep debt—and even falling into poverty—to find quality education for young children. The American Association of University Professors released a recent report showing that child care on campus is "a must for mothers in college." http://www.aauw.org/2014/05/06/child-care-on-cc-campus/
Montgomery County is known for its high-quality public education system. The county itself recognizes the importance of expanding programs for more families. Just last spring, the County Council passed Bill 11-15 to expand access to quality care for the most vulnerable and low-income families.
But, for many middle-income families like mine, quality early childhood education is out of reach. Even with a well-paying job, we cannot afford for me to attend school full time and pay for school for our two young children.
The Early Learning Center at Montgomery College has made it possible for me to pursue my life-long dream—a dream that will also allow me to give back to my community as a nurse.
I urge you to find a way to keep the centers at Rockville and Takoma Park/Silver Spring open for two years and work with our community to find a permanent solution. We need the centers so that families like mine can continue to pursue a quality education for adult students and our young children.
When I made the decision to change careers—leaving a 20-year career in advertising to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse-midwife—my family had to figure out how we could afford my tuition and early childhood education for our two young children on one salary.
At first, it seemed impossible. With our income we didn't qualify for Head Start or other public programs, but the private options we found were too much for us to afford.
When we found the Early Learning Center at Montgomery College, we were elated. Not only did the center offer a discounted rate for students, but it was one of the few centers in our area accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
The Early Learning Center has made it possible for me to pursue my dream, and it’s provided a safe, welcoming environment where our children thrive.
Now, without seeking community input or providing any warning, the college has decided to close the center at the end of this school year.
We've formed a parents group that wants to help. We're asking the board to keep the centers open for two years, and to work with us to find a solution. We have skills and experience in grant writing, fundraising, marketing, organizing and advocacy, and we're ready to be a partner in this work.
Affordable and high-quality early childhood education is difficult to find. Recent studies have shown that families are going into deep debt—and even falling into poverty—to find quality education for young children. The American Association of University Professors released a recent report showing that child care on campus is "a must for mothers in college." http://www.aauw.org/2014/05/06/child-care-on-cc-campus/
Montgomery County is known for its high-quality public education system. The county itself recognizes the importance of expanding programs for more families. Just last spring, the County Council passed Bill 11-15 to expand access to quality care for the most vulnerable and low-income families.
But, for many middle-income families like mine, quality early childhood education is out of reach. Even with a well-paying job, we cannot afford for me to attend school full time and pay for school for our two young children.
The Early Learning Center at Montgomery College has made it possible for me to pursue my life-long dream—a dream that will also allow me to give back to my community as a nurse.
I urge you to find a way to keep the centers at Rockville and Takoma Park/Silver Spring open for two years and work with our community to find a permanent solution. We need the centers so that families like mine can continue to pursue a quality education for adult students and our young children.