$22M Remodel Of Faulkner Ridge Center Into Universal Preschool Center Announced

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Faulkner Ridge Center will be renovated into a universal pre-kindergarten facility thanks to a $22 million investment by the county.

The Faulkner Ridge Center used to be Faulkner Ridge Elementary School but was repurposed in 1983 by the Howard County Public School System. After being fully renovated, the center will offer 260 new openings for preschoolers.

"Howard County is known for its world-class school system, due to our collective efforts to create the best teaching and learning environment for all our students and educators. We know that the success of our students starts early with a strong educational foundation for our youngest learners. By expanding pre-K access for 3-and 4-year-olds, all our children will have more opportunity to begin kindergarten ready to learn," Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said at a news conference.

Michael J. Martirano, superintendent of the HCPSS, shared at the news conference that he passes by the building daily and had pondered how best to use the space.

"(I) have always considered it a prime location to serve our youngest learners. Understanding the reality that learning begins at birth, we must continually implement and expand efforts to serve children even before they arrive in kindergarten," Martirano said.

Ball’s allocation is part of the $35 million in state pass-through grant funding that was awarded to Howard County by the Maryland General Assembly in 2022. The pass-through funding is unique in that it requires no local matching funds.

When fully implemented in fiscal year 2032, all 4-year-olds and 3-year-olds from low-income households will be able to attend for free, while all 4-year-olds who wish to attend must be enrolled as soon as fiscal year 26. The plan follows the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a state mandated education reform bill that was passed in 2020 by the state legislature. The bill calls for early education funding and a phase-in of universal pre-kindergarten.

In addition to expanding pre-kindergarten, the Blueprint will improve student readiness for kindergarten, increase the number of high-quality early education providers, expand family supports and fully fund the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program. Howard County currently is ahead of most jurisdictions in fulfilling the requirements of the Blueprint.