Advocate for Early Care and Education

Help secure more resources for young kids and their families in Montgomery County by participating in Community Conversations.

Montgomery County government is gearing up for another budget season. To seek feedback from the community before submitting budget recommendations early next year, County Executive Marc Elrich, along with the County’s regional services offices and community partners, will host 12 "Community Conversations" from September through November to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Operating Budget. 

Keep scrolling for talking points and more helpful information.

Where and when are the Community Conversations?

  • Bethesda-Chevy Chase Community Conversation: Monday, Sept. 8, 7-8:30 p.m. Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Office, East-West Room, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda 

  • UpCounty Community Conversation: Monday, Sept. 15, 7-8:30 p.m. BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown 

  • Older Adults Community Conversation at The Beacon 50+ Expo: Sunday, Sept. 28, 3-4:30 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center Building, 1 Veterans Place, Fenton Room, Silver Spring 

  • African-Caribbean Diaspora Community Conversation: Monday, Sept. 29, 7-8:30 p.m. Montgomery College, East County Education Center, Community Event Room, 2221 Broadbirch Drive, Silver Spring

  • East County Community Conversation: Monday, Oct. 6, 7-8:30 p.m. White Oak Community Recreation Center, Social Hall, 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring

  • Mid-County Community Conversation: Monday, Oct. 13, 7-8:30 p.m. Wheaton Community Recreation Center, Social Hall, 11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton 

  • Spanish Language Community Conversation: Monday, Oct. 27, 7-8:30 p.m. Gaithersburg High School, Auditorium, 101 Education Blvd., Gaithersburg 

  • MCPS Educators, Parents, and Students Community Conversation: Monday, Nov. 3, 7-8:30 p.m. Carver Educational Services Center, Auditorium, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville

  • Black/African American Community Conversation: Monday, Nov. 10, 7-8:30 p.m. Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 608 North Horners Lane, Rockville 

  • Older Adults Community Conversation: Thursday, Nov. 13, 12:30-2 p.m. Leisure World, 3701 Rossmore Blvd., Clubhouse 1 Crystal Ballroom, Silver Spring (Only Leisure World residents may attend in person at Leisure World)

    • Satellite viewing location: Damascus Community Center, 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus

    • Satellite viewing location: Wheaton Community Recreation Center/Senior Center, 11701 Georgia Ave., Social Hall, Wheaton

    • Riderwood Senior Living Community residents in Silver Spring can view the presentation in their homes on Riderwood TV.

  • Multilingual Community Conversation: Monday, Nov. 17, 7-8:30 p.m. Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC), 9318 Gaither Road, Suite 215, CCACC Art Gallery, Gaithersburg. This forum will be conducted in English with interpretation services provided in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. 

Silver Spring Community Conversation: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 7-8:30 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center Building, 1 Veterans Place, Buffalo Soldiers Great Hall, Silver Spring

What should I know about attending?

There is no requirement to sign up in advance to attend the budget forums, and you may just attend, but there is no guarantee that you will actually be able to speak or provide your thoughts and comments to the County Executive. After the County Executive shares his budget priorities, he will ask attendees to either line up at the microphone or raise their hand to receive a microphone to briefly share a quick statement and/or question. If you can’t attend one of the Community Conversations but would like to participate in the process, you can submit a comment or question  for County Executive Marc Elrich online. 

Suggested format and talking points

Suggested format for sharing input: 

  1. Introduce yourself and share relevant information about your connection to the County and the early childhood system: for example, where you live, how many children you have, or where you work. 

  2. Thank County Executive Elrich for the opportunity to share input or for something the county has done in the early childhood space that you appreciate. Share a short, real-life personal story that describes a problem you are experiencing and a solution you’d like to be considered.  

  3. Make an ask for continued and greater investment in young children and the adults that care about them – or make a targeted ask for funding of a specific program or resource. 

  4. Ask any questions that you want the County Executive to answer. 

Sample prompts, questions to ask, and points to make to spark your thinking (not an exhaustive list!): 

  • Describe your experience with Pre-K expansion and make an ask to support efforts to keep the expansion momentum going. 

  • Child care is not just a parenting issue – it is an economic imperative. 

  • Fewer than half of our children are entering Kindergarten demonstrating readiness. To help improve readiness for our young children, we need comprehensive supports starting at birth. Are you willing to invest more resources in efforts across the early childhood system? 

  • In a time of uncertain federal and state resources, what can you do to ensure funding to support young children is sustainable and reliable? Will you establish a dedicated funding stream for early care and education? 

  • The County has made progress in helping more young children access child care through recent innovations like the EquiCare grants, but nearly two-thirds of income-eligible children are not receiving tuition supports. What steps will you take to close this gap? Will you fund more subsidized child care supports? 

  • How will you support efforts locally to recruit, retain, and stabilize the early care and education workforce? Are you willing to support fair compensation for educators? 

Speak from your experience, share what you’re passionate about, and speak out on behalf of the young children who cannot speak for themselves.  

 

Need additional support?

The Alliance is here to support you in telling your story about the need for more funding in early care and education.