1st Pre-K Facility In Howard County Unveiled

COLUMBIA, MD — Leaders broke ground Tuesday on the first ever regional pre-kindergarten facility.

As part of the Howard County Public School System, the newest addition will be located at the Faulkner Ridge Center in Columbia.

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Faulkner Ridge opened in 1969 as an elementary school. In 1983, the school closed and the building was repurposed before sitting empty in 2011. The latest renovation into a pre-kindergarten facility will include new electrical, mechanical, plumbing, technology, roofing and life safety systems. Interior spaces will be reconfigured, new finishes provided and accessibility improved. When all done, 260 new pre-kindergarten seats will be available.

"As an educator and parent, the implementation of universal pre-K is an issue that is near and dear to my heart. 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," said Calvin Ball, Howard County executive, during the groundbreaking ceremony.

Jennifer Swickard Mallo, chair of the Howard County Board of Education, applauded the use of an unused building that now will help shape bright futures.

"Finally, the day is here that this building is being turned around. We are moving at a faster pace to meet the needs of our traditionally underserved students, we are moving towards universal pre-K, and we are meeting Blueprint requirements—not just because we have to, but more importantly because we believe in the goal. We believe that by providing this education to 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds, we will make this community better," Swickard Mallo said.

The funding to renovate Faulkner Ridge Center comes from $22 million in pass-through money from the state that's in the HCPSS capital budget, part of the $35 million total awarded by the Maryland General Assembly in 2022. Pass-through funding requires no local matching funds for projects.

In addition to state funding, Ball has allocated an additional $7 million in local funding to support the renovation, bringing the total investment in the Faulkner Ridge Early Learning Center to $29 million.

Construction on the Faulkner Ridge Early Learning Center should wrap up by August 2027.