Montgomery County Council approved Bill 42-21, establishing an independent organization focused on access, equity, and inclusion in early care and education programs while helping the sector recover from the pandemic.
The Montgomery County Council unanimously approved Bill 42-21, which would require the Council to designate a nonprofit corporation to serve as the County’s Early Care and Education Coordinating Entity as well as establish its guidelines and duties. Council President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Nancy Navarro and Craig Rice are the lead sponsors of the bill, and all other Councilmembers are cosponsors.
“With voting authority and responsibility, this newly implemented law will bring employers, philanthropic organizations, government entities, childcare providers and parents together to ensure equitable accessibility of early care and education to our most precious commodity, our children,” said Council President Albornoz. “This win-win approach will create seeds of change not only within families, but for our economic and social sectors which have been rattled by this global pandemic.”
According to the County press release:
The Early Care and Education Coordinating Entity created through this legislation will serve as a public-private convenor to help build a more unified system and convene all stakeholders, including health providers, social service agencies and other support organizations, employers, and childcare providers. Its aim is to help facilitate a sustainable economic recovery for the County and future growth by helping to identify needs and coordinate resources across the entire ECE system.
The chosen entity will be a Maryland nonprofit, non-stock corporation exempt from federal income tax and headquartered in the County. Its Board would have nine ex-officio government officials and 12 private sector members appointed by the Executive and confirmed by the Council.