Pre-K and Head Start: What's the Difference?
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) offers two free preschool programs, Head Start and Pre-kindergarten (Pre-K), for children ages three and four years old who are living in families with lower household income levels. Teachers and staff of the MCPS Head Start and Pre-K unit share a mission to provide comprehensive, inter-disciplinary services through partnerships with families, schools, and the community in order to nurture and challenge children and parents to become life-long learners; these services include: health, disabilities, social services, parent involvement and research-based, culturally-responsive education.
The Head Start program is implemented according to Federal Head Start Program Performance Standards; eligible families live on household incomes of up to 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The Pre-kindergarten program (Pre-K) is implemented according to state and local guidelines. Pre-K students live in households that qualify for Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs). A full-day Pre-K pilot program was launched in the current school year for households with up to 300% of the FPL.
The Montgomery County Community Action Agency is the federal Head Start grantee and MCPS is the Head Start program delegate. There are twenty-seven classes offering a full-day Head Start program in the public schools. All other Head Start classes are half-day in the morning (3.25 hours). Next year, there will be five Head Start classes for seventy-five children who are three years old, and 29 classes for 573 four-year-old children. Each Head Start class is taught by a certified teacher and a paraeducator, students are provided with lunch, and transportation is available upon request.
Pre-K classes are in public schools, with certified teachers and assistants. Classes are offered in full-day, morning, and afternoon sections. Close to 2,265 four-year-old children are currently in MCPS Pre-K classes in nearly 60 schools. Eighty-five classes are half-day (2.5 hours) and 27 classes offer a full-day Pre-K program. Free lunch is provided for children who qualify for Free and Reduced Meals Program (FARMs). Transportation is available to families upon request.
The pilot, full-day Pre-K program is currently offered in seven elementary schools: Weller Road, Bel Pre, JoAnn Leleck at Broad Acres, Washington Grove, Clopper Mill, Rolling Terrace, Up County Early Childhood Center at Emory Grove, and Summit Hall. The program serves 200 four-year-old children in ten classes. Lunch is provided and transportation is available to families upon request.
All students in Head Start, Pre-kindergarten and the Pre-kindergarten Pilot follow a curriculum that meets Maryland Standards and helps prepare them for kindergarten. Our programs focus on the whole child and provide opportunities for children to grow academically, as well as socially, emotionally and physically.
MCPS is registering three-year-old and four-year-old children for Pre-kindergarten/Head Start for the 2021-2022 school year. The registration process is online and no in-person contact is required. Parents can begin their registration online by completing a survey or call 240-740-4530. Informational videos to help parents navigate the registration process remotely are available in English, Spanish, and Amharic.
The Basics Insights text messaging program helps families put The Basics Principles for early childhood caregiving into action. Twice a week, Basics Insights sends parents and caregivers of children up to three-years-old science-based messages with a fact and suggested activity linked to one of the principles. The messages are intended to support and reinforce conversations with community-based service providers and can be received in English and Spanish.
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The Community Action Board (CAB), along with participants in the Community Advocacy Institute, have been busy this month advocating for important issues impacting the lower-income community. |
CAB members joined in meetings with Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmember Craig Rice with advocacy partners from the CASH Campaign of Maryland, Maryland Center on Economic Policy, and the Capital Area Food Bank to express support for the Working Families Income Supplement (WFIS), which supplements the Maryland Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The County Executive has proposed an additional $20 million to support the WFIS in the FY22 Budget, reflecting a three-year expansion of the Maryland EITC. On April 7th, CAB Chair Tiffany Jones (pictured above) testified at the County Council budget hearing to share the Board's priorities, including full funding of the WFIS. Ms. Jones also testified in support of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which encourages eligible tax filers to claim tax credits. The Board will also testify on May 11 in support of County Council Bill 14-21, which will expand eligibility for the WFIS to all tax filers who are eligible for the federal or state EITC. Notably, the expanded eligibility would allow ITIN filers to claim the WFIS. An Individual Tax Identification Number, or ITIN, is an IRS-issued tax processing identifier for people who don’t qualify for Social Security Numbers. Community Action’s VITA program serves more ITIN filers than any other free tax program in Maryland.
Participants in the Community Advocacy Institute, the Board’s free advocacy training program, participated in the FY22 budget hearings as well. |
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Several participants submitted written testimony and three participants—Eneshal Miller, Ramata Diop (pictured), and Mariette Ghoumga—testified at budget hearings. Participants’ testimony covered a wide range of issues, including universal preschool, food security, affordable housing, and resource navigation. Twenty participants are on track to graduate from the program at a virtual celebration on May 25.
VITA's Monthly Tax Tips: American Rescue Plan Act & Economic Impact Payments
From our partners at Maryland CASH – Creating Assets, Savings, & Hope
The American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, contains financial relief in the form of stimulus payments, tax provisions, expanded unemployment benefits, and more. Some of these changes will apply retroactively to tax year 2020; Others will go into effect next tax season on 2021 tax returns.
The Maryland RELIEF Act also provides relief specifically for Marylanders.
What are Economic Impact Payments? Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), or stimulus checks, have been issued by the government to help Americans throughout the pandemic- induced financial crisis. The EIP is an advance payment of a refundable tax credit, known as the Recovery Rebate Tax Credit (RRTC). Individuals who are missing stimulus payments can claim the RRTC on their 2020 or 2021 tax returns.
ARPA Economic Impact Payments: Eligibility & Amounts
Who is Eligible for the new ARPA EIP 3?
•US citizens and resident aliens, with
•Valid Social Security Numbers, and
•Dependents of all ages (for child payments)
How much is the ARPA EIP 3 worth?
•$1,400 per individual
•$1,400 per qualifying dependent (regardless of age)
Normally, unemployment income is treated as taxable income on both federal and state returns. Typically, those receiving unemployment income should be encouraged to automatically withhold taxes (opt-in when applying), or make estimated tax payments to the IRS and Comptroller of Maryland to cover their tax liability.
Under the ARPA, taxpayers with an AGI under $150,000 receiving unemployment income are able to exclude $10,200 ($24,400 if Married, Filing Jointly) of their unemployment benefits.
Additionally, the MD RELIEF Act excludes all unemployment benefits from taxable income on the MD state tax return.
ARPA & MD RELIEF Act & Unemployment Income
Normally, unemployment income is treated as taxable income on both federal and state returns. Typically, those receiving unemployment income should be encouraged to automatically withhold taxes (opt-in when applying), or make estimated tax payments to the IRS and Comptroller of Maryland to cover their tax liability.
Under the ARPA, taxpayers with an AGI under $150,000 receiving unemployment income are able to exclude $10,200 ($24,400 if Married, Filing Jointly) of their unemployment benefits.
Additionally, the MD RELIEF Act excludes all unemployment benefits from taxable income on the MD state tax return.
For more information on Covid-19 Economic Impact Payments, visit Community Action's CASHBACK website.
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