H.B. 635                                                 VETOES

Sincerely,

Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

Governor

House Bill No. 635

AN ACT concerning

Education - Early Childhood Educational and Developmental Programs

FOR the purpose of authorizing early childhood educational and developmental
programs to enter certain agreements to promote certain programs; providing
that the purpose of the agreement is to collaborate and develop a plan to provide
certain information to certain parents; requiring the State Department of
Education to assist in developing the agreement, monitor and review results
from the agreement, and submit a certain annual report; requiring the Governor
to include certain funding in the State budget; and generally relating to early
childhood educational and developmental programs.

BY adding to

Article - Education

Section 8-601 and 8-602 to be under the new subtitle "Subtitle 6. Early
Childhood Educational and Developmental Programs"

Annotated Code of Maryland

(2001 Replacement Volume and 2002 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Maryland recognizes the need to provide early education programs
for children under the age of 6 years; and

WHEREAS, The Early Head Start and Head Start programs, in addition to
Judy Centers, prekindergarten programs, child care centers, and child care providers
offer educational services to meet the needs of children and families; and

WHEREAS, Children and pregnant women participating in Early Head Start
and Head Start programs receive significantly more health care screening than
non-Head Start mothers and children; and

WHEREAS, Low-income and at risk children who participate in early childhood
programs like Early Head Start, Head Start, the Judy Centers, prekindergarten
programs, and child care centers are less likely to be held back in school or to be
placed in special education classes; and

WHEREAS, Maryland must take steps to obtain the goal of universal access for
all children in the State who qualify for Head Start programs; now, therefore, and

WHEREAS, Maryland has a collaborative, public awareness campaign on early
childhood, namely the Maryland Public Engagement Campaign, and further has a

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