Office of Early Learning Programs, Birth through Five

Charlene Iannone-Campbell, Director 

The focus and purpose of our work is to provide high-quality, comprehensive, developmentally appropriate programs and resources to our youngest learners and their families and to ensure that every child in Baltimore is safe and healthy and arrives at school bright and ready to learn and succeed. The Office of Early Learning Programs guides and supports schools on issues related to early childhood education, including curriculum and instruction, assessment and professional development.

Our guiding principles are systemic in approach, grounded in research and characterized by significant levels of parent involvement and strong community support. Our emphasis on high-quality teaching reflects the knowledge that young children are active learners, drawing on direct physical and social experience as well as culturally transmitted knowledge to construct their understanding of the world around them. Our early childhood teachers provide interactive opportunities for all of our young learners to develop self-esteem, social competence and intellectual growth.