(WASHINGTON, DC) – On Thursday, July 13, at 11 am, Mayor Muriel Bowser will highlight the Administration’s efforts to ensure high-quality child care education to prepare early childhood professionals in the District. The Mayor will also recognize the first graduating class of First Step, a program for high school students to earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate while completing their high school graduation requirements. An innovative partnership between the Office of State Superintendent of Education and Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP), the First Step program provide students with paid work experience in a child care environment that is required to be eligible for a CDA license.

Earlier this year, Mayor Bowser launched Thrive by Five DC – a citywide initiative to ensure DC families are connected with the wide range of early childhood health and education resources offered by the District. Thrive By Five is a one-stop service center to help parents and caretakers navigate the city’s wide range of early health programs and learning resources such as maternal and child health, behavioral health, literacy, early education, and intervention.

WHO:

Mayor Muriel Bowser
Jennifer Niles, Deputy Mayor, Education
Hanseul Kang, State Superintendent of Education

WHEN:

Thursday, July l3, at 11 am

WHERE:

Spanish Education Development Center
4110 Kansas Avenue, NW
*Closest Metro: Georgia Avenue – Petworth Metro Station*

Press interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP to [email protected]. To view the event online, visit mayor.dc.gov/live or tune in on Channel 16 (DCN).