Montgomery College Foundation Receives $1 Million Pledge to Bolster Early Childhood Education Workforce

The Ruppert Family Foundation has pledged $1 million over five years that will significantly boost efforts to strengthen the early childhood education workforce in Montgomery County and enhance student success. The first payment of this pledge was received in January 2025.

The gift establishes both a current-use and an endowed scholarship fund for early childhood education students pursuing credit, noncredit, and alternative pathways. Students began receiving these scholarships this semester.

“One goal of our gift is to address the significant shortage of childcare seats in Montgomery County, which means that many working families are unable to access affordable care for their little ones,” Pat Ruppert said. “We also must work to ensure that early childhood educators earn the family-sustaining wages that they deserve.”

In addition, the funding will support bilingual academic coaches from Montgomery College’s Achieving the Promise Academy. These coaches will be embedded in select Early Childhood Education classes with high DFW (D, F, Withdrawal) rates or other identified needs, starting as early as Fall 2025. This initiative aims to mitigate barriers to academic success, particularly for students whose first language is not English.

This investment comes at a critical time. According to the Children’s Opportunity Alliance, Montgomery County is home to nearly 75,000 children aged five and under, representing a diverse array of identities. The county faces a significant shortage of early education and childcare options, especially for economically vulnerable families.

Pat and Craig Ruppert have been longtime supporters of scholarships for Montgomery College students. Pat taught philosophy at Montgomery College for 13 years, where she received the NISOD Excellence Award, and she currently serves on the board for the Children’s Opportunity Alliance in Montgomery County, MD. Craig is founder and executive chairman of the board for Ruppert Landscape, a company based in Laytonsville, MD. With 50+ years in the industry and 2,500+ employees, Ruppert Landscape is a leading provider of quality commercial landscaping with a focus on growing their people and exceeding customer expectations.

“The Ruppert Family Foundation’s generous pledge will have a lasting impact on Montgomery College students and the early childhood education workforce in our county,” Montgomery College President Jermaine F. Williams said. “By providing vital financial support and embedded academic coaching, this investment directly empowers students to achieve their educational and career goals. Montgomery College is deeply grateful for this commitment to strengthening our community’s early education system and expanding opportunities for the next generation of educators.”

Data from the Montgomery Moving Forward coalition highlights the urgency of this situation, citing a 9% decrease in the number of Montgomery County childcare providers from 2020-2024 (Capitol News Service 2024 Child Care: Missing in Maryland?) and a projected loss of 1,000 more childcare slots by 2027 (Maryland Family Care Network 2023 Montgomery County Care Demographics).

This $1 million pledge represents a vital step towards addressing these challenges and ensuring that all children in Montgomery County have access to high-quality early childhood education.