Sanbridge Early Learning Centers founder Keanna Sanders is expanding free childcare access for qualifying Baltimore families through June, with more slots coming in the fall
Keanna Sanders did not set out to run a childcare empire. She came up through fashion internships, car dealerships, and a tag and title company before a single conversation changed her direction. Today she leads Sanbridge Early Learning Centers, a network of six Maryland locations serving nearly 400 children, with a new downtown Baltimore center opening in the summer. Right now, her focus is on getting more families through the door before free childcare slots close at the end of June.
Free tuition for 3 and 4 year olds
Through the Pre K Expansion Grant and the Blueprint Grant, Sanbridge is offering free tuition to qualifying 3 and 4 year olds in Baltimore. Children attend from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., following a full academic schedule with certified public school teachers and the Frog Street curriculum.
Sanders says the timing matters. “A lot of people have struggled due to administration challenges, like when families were furloughed,” she said. “This program allows our 3 and 4 year olds to attend free. Everybody loves free.”
The program is open to families who meet income eligibility requirements within the 300% threshold. Families experiencing homelessness or unemployment also qualify. To apply, families need a copy of the child’s birth certificate and proof of income such as pay stubs or an offer letter. The child must be 3 years old before September 1st.
Slots are available through June 30, with enrollment reopening in the fall.
From 8 students to nearly 400
Sanders opened her first Sanbridge location in Windsor Mill in 2014 with 8 children and 3 staff members. Growth came through persistence and transportation. In the early days, she was picking up children from across Baltimore to fill her enrollment.
“I was in East Baltimore, West Baltimore, South Baltimore. I was everywhere,” she said. “I was providing transportation and picking children up that maybe lived an hour away just so that I could increase my enrollment.”
Word of mouth followed. By 2018, she had won a contract to open a second location on a community college campus. A third location in Prince George’s County came the same way. Today Sanbridge has sites in Windsor Mill, Rosedale, the CCBC campus in Catonsville, and two Prince George’s County school locations.
More than a childcare provider
Sanders describes Sanbridge as an educational institution, not a babysitting service. Extended hours make it possible for parents working overnight or non traditional shifts to access care, and the centers run a summer enrichment camp for children of all ages once the academic year ends.
“A lot of single moms use those services because they don’t have a grandmother or family members to watch their child,” she said. “That’s where we help out.”
Building beyond Sanbridge
Her long term goal for Sanbridge is a franchise model that she hopes will reach an international scale. She wants to train people within her own organization to own their own locations and offers workshops on business planning and childcare licensing regulations.
“I want to become the world’s leading childcare provider,” she said.
Families interested in the free program can visit www.sanbridgeearlylearningcenter.com for location information and application details.