The State’s BluePrint for Maryland’s Future recommendations from the Kirwan Commissioners will expand pre-kindergarten access by creating a public-private model to add pre-kindergarten slots through a publicly funded system. Enrolling more students in pre-kindergarten can alleviate adverse childhood experiences and result in early intervention for learning difficulties. If more children receive interventions at a younger age, they will enter elementary and subsequent school levels more prepared, and the state’s special education population could decrease. State funding for pre-kindergarten programs would ramp up over the 10-year expansion plan. It will create a need for more highly qualified leaders and qualified early childhood education teachers who are proven experts in early education.
The Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Program (MECLP) was designed to meet the new demands created by BluePrint and to fill the early childhood education leadership gap that currently exists in Maryland. It is a workforce initiative to accelerate cross-sector leadership and career advancement in early education. It seeks to develop and support strong leaders who will generate positive change in communities by significantly improving school readiness and related outcomes for early learners, particularly for disadvantaged and vulnerable children. The Program prepares newly developed leaders representing a variety of early childhood classrooms, programs, and associated fields that comprise Maryland’s early childhood system to:
- Affect state-level change in early care and education and Head Start community programs and public education systems that impact young children (birth to eight) and their families.
- Develop a broad and diverse network of early education professionals recognized as transformative leaders in the field, creating a diverse and equitable career pipeline.
- Advocate for equitable, high-quality early care and education experiences for all children.
- Expand early childhood coursework in higher education to institutionalize leadership skills.
- Position Maryland at the forefront of developing strong leaders in early education.
- Create collective impact to improve outcomes for young children, families, and communities.
How Does It Work?
This tiered approach builds early childhood education workforce capacity for leadership positions with different levels of complexity. As the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is being implemented, MECLP will develop early education leaders to serve as Directors/Coordinators of childcare programs and Judy Centers, in supervisory roles at non-profit organizations and local school systems, as well as lead policymaking at local and state governmental agencies. MECLP is positioning itself as the state’s early childhood education leadership hubwith the purpose of increasing the number of highly qualified early education leaders to address the needs of the field.
Tier 1: SHER 601 – Leading for Change in Early Childhood Education – a 12 month course taught by faculty from The Institute for Early Education Leadership and Innovation (IEELI) at the University of Massachusetts, Boston focuses on seven core competencies: visioning, values, people management, organizational capacity, results and outcomes, creativity and innovation, and policy advocacy.
Tier II: Community of Practice – An opportunity for MECLP alums to connect through a series of robust opportunities – a pilot coaching program; a series of webinars featuring MECLP alums and ECE leaders from Maryland as well as national experts; Leadership in Action Conversations, ample opportunities for networking and small group sharing, and an annual Early Childhood Leadership Forum.
Tier III: SHER 602 – Public Policy and Advocacy in Early Childhood – With SHER 601 as a prerequisite, this course builds students’ capacity to act as advocates, leaders and innovators for high quality practices and research-informed policies in early childhood at the local, state and national level by influencing public policy and through advocacy.
Upon completion of SHER 601 and SHER 602, students receive a UMBC Endorsement in Early Childhood Leadership. (In development) MECLP expects to develop 2 additional 3-credit graduate courses culminating in a Certificate in Early Childhood Leadership from UMBC.