June 2025 Newsletter
The Sandbox: Unpacking Kindergarten Readiness
In the latest edition of The Sandbox, Children’s Opportunity Alliance Executive Director Kimberly Rusnak breaks down what “Kindergarten readiness” really means, why it matters, and how we’re tracking it. Readiness goes beyond knowing letters and numbers; it also includes skills such as getting along with others, being physically healthy, and feeling supported by adults.
In this blog post, Kimberly highlights how families, early learning programs, and community partners all play a role in helping young children start Kindergarten with confidence.
Check Out the Common Agenda Data Dashboard
The Alliance recently launched a Common Agenda Data Dashboard, an interactive tool that shares data on early care and education (ECE) in Montgomery County. The dashboard includes data on Kindergarten readiness, the ECE workforce, access to child care programs, and more. Users can explore visualizations, compare trends over time, and download data for further use.
The Common Agenda Data Dashboard is designed to help track progress on the Montgomery County Early Care and Education Common Agenda. Access to timely data can help us understand where progress is happening – and where gaps remain. It equips stakeholders with the information to make informed decisions about how to invest strategically in the system. It also ensures transparency and fosters trust by making data about the ECE system more accessible.
The dashboard helps hold the Alliance publicly accountable to the goals outlined in the Common Agenda. By showing how the system is performing over time, we can assess in what ways our collective efforts are making a difference for young children and families.
Recap: Month of the Young Child
This April, we celebrated Month of the Young Child with three events in Montgomery County that highlighted the importance of early care and education for our whole community. We enjoyed spending time with so many of you and building energy and momentum at these special gatherings. Friends and partners helped us foster renewed commitment to building an equitable, accessible, high-quality, and sustainable early childhood system that benefits all of us.
The Daycare Myth: The Case for Early Investment
Month of the Young Child culminated with a lively conversation on April 28 about The Daycare Myth: What We Get Wrong About Early Care and Education [and What We Should Do About It] with the author, Dan Wuori. Demetria Joyce, Director, Early Childhood Strategy Implementation for the Bainum Family Foundation, graciously moderated the evening, which included a panel discussion with local leaders:
Dr. Thomas Taylor, Superintendent, Montgomery County Public Schools
Jennifer Arnaiz, Senior Administrator for Early Childhood Services, Department of Health and Human Services
Danielle Edmondson, Parent
Tiffany Jones, Owner/Educator, Precious Moments Family Childcare
Alongside Dan, they emphasized and explored the critical need for investment in early care and education and the long-term benefits it brings to the community.
Dine Out for Young Children
On Wednesday, April 9, local restaurants and businesses participated in Dine Out for Young Children, in which a portion of the day's proceeds supported Montgomery County early care and education. Special thanks to our participating businesses: Barking Mad, Dirty Dough, El Golfo, Frankly Pizza, and Restaurant 198.
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us to make the day a success!
Councilmember Andrew Friedson, the Ruppert Landscape team, Joan Schaffer, and Margot Krauss at Frankly Pizza
Glenda Hernandez-Tittle of Montgomery College with friends at El Golfo Restaurant
Breeze Thru the Trees
On Sunday, April 6, we kicked off Month of the Young Child with Breeze Thru the Trees, a 5K race and one-mile fun run through the scenic Agricultural Reserve at Ruppert Nurseries. Nearly 3,000 participants joined us, raising an incredible $30,000 for the Alliance and supporting our work to ensure that every young child in Montgomery County has an equitable start in life. Ruppert Nurseries and Sophie Felts Floral Design generously sponsored the event.
