Harford County Prekindergarten Program Expands Thanks To $2M Grant

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — More than $2 million has been awarded to Harford County Public Schools to help expand their prekindergarten program for the 2025-2026 school year.

“Early learning is the bedrock to a successful education journey,” said Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Sean Bulson. “With this grant, we will be able to significantly expand upon opportunities for Harford County’s littlest learners, while meeting the requirements set forth in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Education in a time of tightening local budgets.”

The $2,315,680 in funding comes from the Maryland State Pre-K Expansion Grant Program. The money must be used to create 160 new prekindergarten slots for the upcoming school year. The grant also funds more than 20 new positions that will serve prekindergarten programs across the county.

Families with eligible 4-year-olds are encouraged to apply on the school's website under the registration button for the 2025-2026 school year as soon as possible, the school district said. Children must be residents of Harford County and 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 of the same school year they wish to enroll in.

To find out if a child is eligible for the prekindergarten program, complete the prekindergarten application online first, then parents or guardians will be notified about the application status and next steps afterward, school officials said. There is an online step-by-Step video tutorial for completing prekindergarten online application and a prekindergarten brochure for more information.