Baltimore City Council Hearings: First Steps, Strong Start
The Baltimore City Council will hold two public hearings as part of First Steps, Strong Start, an effort to examine the state of childcare and early learning in Baltimore City. These hearings will explore access for families, affordability, program quality, provider capacity, and the systems that support young children from birth through prekindergarten.
Both hearings are open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend and share their perspectives.
Hearing Dates & Topics
January 29 at 12:30 PM
First Steps, Strong Start: Childcare in Baltimore City
This hearing will focus on the childcare landscape in Baltimore City, with attention to accessibility for families, capacity and quality for providers, and affordability for families and caregivers.
March 19 at 12:30 PM
First Steps, Strong Start: Early Learning in Baltimore City
This hearing will examine early learning in Baltimore City, including gaps in access, fiscal sustainability, and accountability structures for Head Start and the mixed-delivery prekindergarten system for 3- and 4-year-old students required by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
How to Attend
In Person
City Hall
Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th Floor
Virtually
Join via WebEx:
https://bmore.webex.com/bmore/j.php?MTID=m3218fe522dd82c8be47c202599429200
Access Code: 2348 534 7416
Password: Public
By Phone:
1-408-418-9388
Providing Public Comment
Members of the public may provide oral and/or written testimony for either hearing.
To submit or sign up to testify, use the City Council’s public testimony link:
https://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com/forms/testify-baltimore-city-council
Steps to provide public comment:
- Select the hearing you wish to provide public comment on:
- LO25-0039 – First Steps, Strong Start: Childcare in Baltimore City
- LO25-0040 – First Steps, Strong Start: Early Learning in Baltimore City
- Complete the required personal information.
- Indicate your position on the bill.
- Submit written testimony through the form or email it to testimony@baltimorecity.gov.
Need Support?
The coalition is offering a support for community members who would like guidance on how to prepare and submit public comment. Fill out the form below for more details.
Early Childhood Hearings Interest & Public Comment Support Form