A Baltimore-based Non-profit Organization is reshaping early childhood education by connecting Johns Hopkins University School of Education Graduate students with local child care centers in need of enrichment and advanced educational programming, creating enhanced learning opportunities for young children across the region.
Blue Hatchlings, Inc. has rolled out its “Early Advantage Program,” which places graduate students from the Johns Hopkins University School of Education in child care centers throughout Baltimore. The Program addresses a critical need for advanced educational services in early childhood settings while providing practical experience for future educators.
The initiative represents a unique approach to improving educational outcomes for young children by leveraging the expertise and training of top-tier JHU, School of Education Graduate-level students. Through structured placements, these students bring research-based teaching methods and innovative educational activities directly into child care environments where children spend their formative years.
Specifically, its "Early Advantage Program," works to match the Graduate Students to targeted child care centers in their areas of need through Bluehatchlings.com. The Program established by Michael Baturin, and independently operated by Blue Hatchlings, Inc., delivers Mandarin, Spanish and other language programming, reading lessons, STEM and other enhanced, early education programming to child care centers in the greater JHU community.
Child care centers participating in the program gain access to emerging educators who bring fresh perspectives and current pedagogical approaches to early childhood education. And the graduate students, trained in the latest educational theories and practices at Johns Hopkins, work directly with children to implement enhanced learning activities that go beyond traditional child care offerings.
And the pilot operation was a resounding success. The year culminated in over fifteen child care centers signed on for enhanced, educational programming for the 2025-26 academic year, an impressive outgrowth from its successful pilot program.
Blue Hatchlings, Inc. was formed in Baltimore, Maryland in 2023 at Johns Hopkins University, borne out of a need for efficient, cost effective and academically enriching, child care and day care services and resources in the JHU community and the greater Baltimore area
Sprung at Johns Hopkins University, it was initially formed in contemplation of bridging these gaps by providing day care resources and the pursuit of an on-site day care, from which Baturin formed Blue Hatchlings, Inc. and developed it into a comprehensive, user friendly, resource hub. From there, Baturin expanded Blue Hatchlings to include a viable, enhanced education service. These initiatives currently serve the greater Baltimore area and the greater JHU community along with research services developed by Joyce Chung and a Mentorship partnership with Johns Hopkins University, Graduate School of Education’s Dr. Mark Trexler.
The end result is that Blue Hatchlings, Inc., provides an innovative approach to both filling the gaps in child care capacity and child care generally, and access to enhanced early education in urban and rural communities, specifically in college and university towns. All parties benefit from the collaborations and the strategic partnerships, which can ultimately serve as a business model ready to scale in large metro areas.
This multifaceted approach exemplifies how partnerships between higher education institutions and community organizations can create innovative solutions to educational challenges. By connecting the academic expertise of Johns Hopkins with the practical needs of Baltimore's child care centers, the program establishes a model for improving early childhood education through collaborative community engagement.
As the organization continues to expand its reach, its comprehensive approach to supporting children, families, and child care providers positions it as a vital, symbiotic resource in Baltimore's early childhood education landscape. The combination of direct educational services, information resources, and practical support tools creates a framework for sustained improvement in early childhood outcomes throughout the region.
