Resources & Research

Empowering Change: MECLP’s Latest ECE Leadership Brief 

Explore Maryland’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) leadership journey with our latest evaluation brief, Closing the Early Childhood Leadership Gap in Maryland: The Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Program. This comprehensive document sheds light on our rigorous approach and the impactful stories of our fellows, showcasing how MECLP equips leaders to drive change and champion equity in Maryland’s ECE landscape. Access the full document here and join us in shaping the future of ECE leadership.

MECLP in Action

Leadership Matters: Empowering Maryland’s Early Childhood Education

On May 20, 2024, Maryland’s past, present, and emerging leaders in early childhood education gathered for the inaugural leadership forum, “Sustaining an Inclusive and Equitable Future in Early Childhood Education,” hosted by the Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Program (MECLP) at UMBC. The event featured insights from esteemed speakers, including Dr. Nancy Grasmick and Christina Lopez, highlighting the critical need for high-quality early learning opportunities and equitable systems. The forum showcased inspiring change projects from MECLP fellows, emphasizing the importance of leadership in driving systemic change. As MECLP continues to nurture leaders in the field, this forum serves as a call to action for everyone invested in the future of Maryland’s children.

Integrating The Principles of Ideal Learning Environments into State-Based Early Childhood Education Leadership Programs, a Guide written by MECLP under a grant from the Trust for Learning/New Venture Fund, illuminates the integration of the TFL’s Principles of Ideal Learning Environments into various components of the Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Program, illustrating that the Principles are well-aligned with the course syllabi, capstone projects and the Community of Practice webinars and leadership institutes. The full report can be found here.

In Spring 2021, MECLP released its brief – Filling the Early Childhood Leadership Gap in Maryland: Meeting the Challenges and Opportunities Ahead. Based on a survey circulated in Maryland to better understand the current state of ECE leadership in Maryland, the report enumerates four (4) findings and a conclusion that addresses the need to support leadership development and promote diversity in its ECE leadership pipeline. The full report can be found here.

In Summer of 2021 MECLP released How Maryland Can Mitigate its Early Childhood Education Gap, a report that argues that MECLP’s contribution will fill a critical leadership gap in early education which will be exacerbated by the broad-based expansion of early childhood education programs in Maryland over the next 10 years.