🍂 Giving Thanks! Get a free Amazon Fire when you sign up with Procare 🍂
Get Started

Maryland Child Care Grants, Programs and Services

Whether you are looking to start a child care program in Maryland or are a seasoned owner, there are many resources available to help fund your programs. Each state has a primary agency or organization responsible for subsidizing child care programs. They partner with local child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies and shared services organizations to raise awareness of grant opportunities and support the distribution of funding. They also provide additional programs and services to help you run your business. 

woman and two children wave at a webcam

Maryland Child Care Grants, Programs and Services 

Primary State Agency (Child Care Development Fund)

This primary agency oversees early care and education programs and services in Maryland, and is responsible for subsidizing child care programs through federal and state grants. Visit the Maryland State Department of Education

Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R Agency)

Child Care Resource & Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) are another great resource for assisting child care providers with available grants and funding and other resources. Find your local CCR&R Agency

Shared Services Organizations and NAEYC Regional Affiliates

The community of ECE leaders working to provide services to support sustainable child care programs is growing all the time. Reach out to your local organizations like Maryland Association for the Education of Young Children (MDAEYC) to learn more about their services. 

Champions of Mixed Delivery Monthly Call

The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC) and National Child Care Association (NCCA) and are partnering to offer Champions of Mixed Delivery, a series of monthly check-in calls to share and receive updates about key proposals, coordinate messaging and talking points and share resources for advocacy. View dates and register for a call here.

Maryland Child Care Licensing Requirements

Learn more about Maryland early learning standards: Maryland Department of Education

Learn more about child care licensing requirements in Maryland: Maryland State Department of Education

Maryland Early Childhood Education Quality Ratings, Curriculum and Assessments

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) 

Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. Many states require these quality standards in order to receive grants and additional funding. Learn more at Maryland Excels.

State-Aligned Curriculum

Procare Solutions is partnering with Learning Beyond Paper to provide curriculum to our customers. Procare Early Learning Powered by Learning Beyond Paper is QRIS Maryland EXCELS-approved and provides a 100% digital curriculum and assessments addressing the needs of child care centers, daycares, preschools and early learning teachers. 

ECE state-approved curriculum programs provide consistency, quality assurance, comprehensive development and teacher support, all contributing to a strong educational foundation. Aligning with state-approved ECE curriculum is also essential for securing grant funding and providing high-quality education.

Assessments

Simplify the assessment process and meet Maryland state standards with a unique early childhood assessment framework that makes clarity a key strength of your child care center’s assessments and communications.

Average Cost of Child Care in Maryland

Understanding the cost of child care in Maryland is important for both parents and child care providers. 

Annual Child Care Costs in Maryland
Child care services in Maryland are tremendously costly for families. Infant care in a Maryland child care center costs an average of $18,156 per year.

Child Care Affordability in Maryland

Maryland has some of the most expensive child care costs in the United States and a large discrepancy between the cost of infant care and the cost of care for school-aged kids. The median family here would spend at least 13% of their household income on child care for one child.

View child care costs in other states.

Maryland Professional Development Training Requirements 

In Maryland, it is required that early childhood professionals complete 12 hours of professional development every year based on date of hire. Visit the National Database of Child Care Regulations website to find licensing regulations and requirements in your state. 

Bertelsen Education, a Procare Solutions Company provides IACET-accredited courses that meet state licensing requirements. Visit BertelsenEducation.com to purchase. 

Professional Development Resources

Professional development programs are designed to encourage, support and recognize early childhood professionals seeking to expand their skills to raise the quality of their programs. View a list of professional development resources for child care providers here.