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News & Updates
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Enhanced Child Care Support and Teacher Retention Award (ECSTRA) Retention Bonus Program
Young children thrive when they have stable and engaging relationships with their caregivers. Yet child care providers struggle to pay their staff a living wage, which contributes to the alarmingly high turnover rates in child care settings. The Enhanced Child Care Support and Teacher Retention Award (ECSTRA) Program seeks…
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Bonus Payments for Eligible Maryland Excels Child Care Providers
Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Provides $5 Million in Bonus Awards On October 20, 2022, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) announced the distribution of bonuses to child care programs participating in Maryland EXCELS that demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement in their early education programs. As part of the…
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Applications Open for Child Care Capital Support Fund
The Maryland Department of Commerce announced that applications are now open for the Child Care Capital Support Revolving Loan Fund, which was passed during the most recent General Assembly session. The fund will operate in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and provide no-interest loans for capital…
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Your voice can shape the future of Maryland education
Calling All Maryland Residents with or without school-age children: Take our Strategic Planning Survey to help shape the future of Maryland schools! The State Board & MSDE invite MD residents to complete our Strategic Planning Survey, which will help guide the implementation of our strategic plan to shape the State’s…
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Maryland Expands Child Care Scholarship Program to Provide Affordable Child Care to More Families
New Rate Changes and Reimbursement Rates Benefit Families and Providers The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) announced today the expansion of its Child Care Scholarship Program’s eligibility requirements and value to support more parents in paying for the high cost of child care. MSDE has raised the income requirements…
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Tips for Choosing Quality
Are you looking for child care? If so, this short video series from Maryland EXCELS is for you. Learn about the most important how-tos for choosing a quality early education program in Maryland. Then you’ll be ready to select the right program for your child through the Maryland EXCELS…
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Governor Hogan Announces $50 Million For Additional Child Care Stabilization Grants
On January 17th, Governor Larry Hogan announced that the State of Maryland will provide an additional $50 million in grant funding to support child care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Child care is one of our most essential services, and keeping facilities open and available to parents with minimal disruption…
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3 Ways to Help Young Children Respect and Accept Diversity
Encouraging friendships and social interactions among all the diverse young children in your classroom is more important than ever. Studies show that the roots of bullying take hold in early childhood, during the critical first years of attitude development. The message is clear: To reduce the high incidence of bullying…
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Build a Support System to Give Your Children What They Need
Life happens fast, and with young children, it’s common to have a busy schedule. It is often difficult to find time for oneself. Building a good support system this year can help you manage your life, care for yourself, and give your children what they need. A support system includes…
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MSDE Announces Second Round of Child Care Stabilization Grant Applications
Additional $125 Million in Funding Provided by American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 for Eligible Child Care Programs The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) announced today that it will open the application window for the second and final round of Child Care Stabilization Grants on January 3, 2022. MSDE…
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Is it open?
Holiday, severe weather, and emergency closing policies vary from one child care program to the next. Quality child care programs have written policies and procedures that explain how the program handles different types of closings. Be sure you are able to see which days the program…
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Play, Baby, Play
Again. Again! Again!!! Babies and toddlers love, love, love their playtime. And they very often love to engage in the very same kind of play – time and again. This can be fun for you… but sad to say, it can also easily turn into a boring routine. After all,…