Push to Pre-K

 

Maryland’s Division of Early Childhood is committed to your success, and our Pre-K Specialists are ready to walk you through every step of the process. Join us to take your child care program to the next level!

Are you a child care provider looking to expand your business?

Do you want access to the State prekindergarten funding?

Are you seeking guidance on how to meet the requirements for the Pre-K grants?

Yes, look no further! Push to Pre-K is for you. Expand your child care services and simplify the grant application process with Push to Pre-K!

Join the Office of Early Learning and Instruction for a Push to Pre-K informational session! Click your type of program to register for an upcoming session or watch the recording of a past session.

Family Child Care Programs  – [Recording] [Presentation]

Head Start Programs – [Recording] [Presentation]

Child Care Centers – [Recording] [Presentation]

Spanish-Speaking Providers – [Recording/En Español] [Presentation] (Select Español by clicking the globe on the bottom right corner of the recording.)

Faith-Based Child Care Programs – [Recording] [Presentation]

 

 

Push to Pre-K

Access State Pre-K Grant Funding with Expert Support

Push to Pre-K is a voluntary initiative from the Division of Early Childhood that builds capacity by reducing barriers to pre-k funding and supporting child care providers interested in securing funding through the State Pre-K Expansion Grant.

The grant provides funding for local school systems and private providers (family child care providers, child care centers, Head Start programs, and faith-based programs) to administer high-quality prekindergarten and school readiness services throughout the State for children and their families in alignment with The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

Make the grant application process easier with Push to Pre-K! MSDE Pre-K Specialists will walk you through each step of the application process so that you can obtain funding for your facility’s Pre-K program.

Push to Pre-K participants can find technical assistance, coaching, and other types of support while reviewing grant requirements. Topics covered by this initiative include:

 

Grant Eligibility Requirements

Local Education Agencies (LEAs) or qualified vendors (as defined in COMAR (13a.06.02) and private providers (including, Head Start, Center Based, and Family Child Care programs) who:

  • hold a valid license or registration (if a private provider).
  • have not incurred any serious health or safety violations.
  • rated at level 3, 4, or 5 in Maryland EXCELS.

More eligibility details

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the funding per slot?

The funding per prekindergarten student for FY 2026 will be $14,473 per full-day slot for three-year-olds and four- year-olds from families earning up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and up to $14,473 per slot for Head Start program applicants.

Answers to more questions

 

Staffing a Pre-K Program

Teacher high fiving pre-k student

Meeting the Lead Teacher Qualifications

Lead teachers in prekindergarten classrooms must meet the requirements of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and relevant statutes.

To qualify as a lead teacher one of the following requirements must be met:

Teacher helping young learner

Qualified Teacher Registry

Meet your CCCPDF service commitment requirement in a child care program that has been awarded Pre-K Expansion Grant funding. Child care businesses across Maryland are actively seeking qualified Lead Teachers.

Signup to be placed on a qualified teacher registry.

Teacher walking in hallway with young students

Submit a Job Opening

Submit your open lead teacher positions through our form and gain direct access to a pool of qualified professionals with degrees in early childhood or related fields. Streamline your hiring process, reduce recruitment time, and find the dedicated, highly trained educators your Pre-K program needs!

More information about State Pre-K grants: