Howard County Executive Calvin Ball broke ground on the Howard County Public School System’s (HCPSS) first-ever regional pre-kindergarten facility at the Faulkner Ridge Center in Columbia last week.
“As an educator and parent, the implementation of universal pre-K is an issue that is near and dear to my heart,” Ball said. “I know how important it is for our youngest residents to receive high-quality education even before they set foot inside that kindergarten classroom. Sometimes, receiving that early education is the difference between having potential and reaching potential. … Once complete, the Faulkner Ridge Early Learning Center will ensure that more families have access to a safe, high-quality environment where their child can learn and thrive.”
In 2023, Ball announced he would direct $22 million to renovate the Faulkner Ridge Center to expand universal pre-K services. Faulkner Riege opened in 1969 as an elementary school, but was closed in 1983, then became fully vacant in 2011.
Construction is expected to be completed in August 2027 on the Faulkner Ridge Early Learning Center, with new electrical, mechanical, plumbing, technology, roofing and life safety systems. The redesigned space will be reconfigured with new finishes and improved accessibility, ready to welcome 260 preschoolers for learning and play.
“Thank you to County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball along with our State and County partners for their collaboration and funding for this dedicated PreK center,” said Bill Barnes, superintendent of HCPSS. “We look forward to welcoming our County’s youngest learners through these doors next school year, setting the foundation for lifelong learning and achievement and creating more equitable opportunities by helping to set them up for success as they begin their school careers.”
In 2021, the Maryland legislature passed the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which made major investments in public education funding and standards for prekindergarten. The Blueprint made full-day prekindergarten free for all 3- and 4-year-olds from low-income households up to 300% of the poverty level. It also made pre-K available to all other 4-year-olds on a sliding scale through a public-private mixed delivery system. The premise for the investment is how foundational early childhood education is to young learners succeeding in kindergarten and beyond.
“Finally, the day is here that this building is being turned around, said Jennifer Swickard Mallo, chair of the Board of Education. “We are moving at a faster pace to meet the needs of our traditionally underserved students, we are moving towards universal PreK, and we are meeting Blueprint requirements—not just because we have to, but more importantly because we believe in the goal.”
Ball and Howard County directed $22 million in pass-through funding from the state for the HCPSS Capital Budget to renovate the Faulkner Ridge Center for expanded pre-K services. The funding is part of the $35 million in state pass-through grant funding awarded to Howard County by the Maryland General Assembly in 2022. Pass-through funding requires no local matching funds, unlike most other state funding for HCPSS capital projects.
In addition to state funding, Ball has allocated $7 million in local funding to bring the total investment for the renovation to $29 million for the Faulkner Ridge Early Learning Center.
“As a community, we have been looking at this building sitting vacant for many years now,” said Debbie Cappuccitti, chair of the Wilde Lake Village Board and member of the Faulkner Station Community Association. “I want to thank the school system and Superintendent Barnes for not just asking for our feedback, but for listening to our community input and incorporating our comments as the project moved forward. We very much appreciate the ongoing collaboration and communication.”
