Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Over $2.3 Million in Head Start Funding for Maryland Rural Development Corporation

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced $2,369,024 in federal funding for Head Start projects at the Maryland Rural Development Corporation. The funding was awarded through the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. The Maryland Rural Development Corporation provides Head Start services to families in Caroline, Cecil, and Harford Counties.

“Investing in early childhood education is crucial to our students’ success. These funds will ensure more Maryland children have the resources and the support they need to begin learning at a very young age,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committees. “I will continue working to support Head Start and increase funding for early childhood education across our state and the country.”

 “We know that the quality of education a child receives in their earliest years has lifelong implications. Federal Head Start programs have a long history of working to give every child the best chance at success,” said Senator Cardin. “I will continue to fight to ensure that Maryland students, educators, administrators, and volunteers have the resources to make that mission possible.”

Delivered through 1,700 agencies in local communities, Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide services to over a million children every year, in every U.S. state and territory, in farmworker camps, and in over 155 tribal communities. Head Start programming is responsive to the ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage of each child and family. More than 80 percent of children served by Head Start programs are 3- and 4-year-olds.  Infants, toddlers and pregnant women make up just under 20% of Head Start enrollment, and are served through Early Head Start programs. Early Head Start programs are available to the family until the child turns 3 years old and is ready to transition into Head Start or another pre-K program.

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