Fast Facts

• Downtown Baltimore Child Care.
• Located on the campus of University of Maryland at Baltimore

• Serves children from 12 weeks through pre-kindergarten

• Accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education

• Rated Level 5 through Maryland EXCELS

• Collaborates with the Baltimore City Public Schools for public Pre-K

• Open 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., weekdays, year round

• Nutritious Breakfast and snacks provided

• Milk provided for lunch

• Individualized Creative Curriculum based on children's strengths and needs

• Credentialed and experienced teachers

• Voted Best of Baltimore 2003, 2008, 2010

What Makes DBCC Different?

• Play based program

• Why play is important

• How play teaches academics and other necessary skills

The History of Downtown Baltimore Child Care

• 1983
  JUNE: Mary Verona (president of the first board) signed the lease for the Park Avenue center, in her wedding dress, minutes before her wedding to David McClung at First and Franklin Presbyterian. SEPTEMBER: During renovations, contractors answered the phones in Nancy Kramer’s (DBCC’s first Director) absence. DBCC opened its doors September of ’83 with five children enrolled and two teachers! Susan Sandstrom and Bonnie Bain were those first two teachers.

• 1984
  FEBRUARY: The new two-year old room opened. APRIL: The third classroom on the ground floor of Park Avenue was opened! Plans for increasing enrollment and the renovation of the second floor began!

• 1986
  APRIL: DBCC opened its new Kindergarten program in a new room. In September, Park Avenue reached its full capacity. SEPTEMBER: Margo Sipes, after having enrolled her own 2 year old at DBCC, left her job with Head Start and joined DBCC’s teaching staff.

• 1988
  SUMMER: The University of Maryland at Baltimore approached DBCC about a second location on their campus. Nancy Kramer was undaunted by the dingy maintenance garage on Arch street and plans began! SEPTEMBER: Margo Sipes was hired as DBCC’s Program Director.

• 1989
  SEPTEMBER: University Center was opened in 1989 and has been a model for Infant and Toddler care and education since. It has been toured by planners and architects from across the country.

• 2001
  MARCH: Nancy Kramer retired and Margo Sipes took over as the executive director of DBCC. DBCC continues to provide high quality child care to Baltimore families. Through the support of local foundations, consortium members, and fundraising, over 20% of our children receive financial aid.

• 2006
  SEPTEMBER: DBCC began to collaborate with Baltimore City Schools for our Judy Hoyer Pre-K Program!

• 2010
  AUGUST: The Park Avenue center closes and DBCC is once again housed under one roof, this time on the campus of the University of MD, Baltimore!