Provide Child Care
To become a child care provider you first need to decide if you want to open a business in your home or if you want to create a center-based business. Below is a definition of each type of business:
- Family Child Care – You may provide care for up to 8 children in your home
- Large Family Child Care – You may care for up to 12 children in your home
- Child Care Center – You may provide care in a facility outside of your home that is zoned to be used as a child care center. The number of children you serve is dependent upon the square footage of the building.
Anyone who is interested in starting a child care business in a home or center is required to take the face-to-face orientation training. Please contact the Office of Child Care Regional Licensing Office to schedule the Orientation Training.
To prepare for your orientation session, you may wish to view the online orientation preview. This does not replace the face-to-face orientation session you are required to attend at your Regional Office of Child Care.

Health & Safety
-
New Child Care Portals for Families and Providers
Child Care Portals The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has recently introduced new online portals for both Child Care Scholarship families and providers, which are designed to enhance and simplify various processes related to the Child Care Scholarship (CCS) program. Here’s a summary of the key information provided in…
-
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…
-
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…
Tuesday Tidbits is a bi-weekly email sent to licensed child care providers with news, announcements, updates, deadline reminders, and other time-sensitive messages.
