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Budget Year / Version:
FY 26
RECOMMENDED
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Program Description

  Early Childhood Services

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Program Contacts

Contact Oscar Mensah of the HHS - Children, Youth and Family Services at 240-777-3850 or Deborah Lambert of the Office of Management and Budget at 240-777-2794 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

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Program Performance Measures

Program Performance MeasuresActual FY23Actual FY24Estimated FY25Target FY26Target FY27
Percent of regulated center-based child care programs that hold a quality of care rating of at least 3 out of 5 in Maryland EXCELS 240%54%64%60%60%
Number of children served by the Infants and Toddlers program 14,3114,1384,2124,3004,388
Percent of regulated family child care programs that hold a quality of care rating of at least 3 out of 5 in Maryland EXCELS 312%28%38%35%35%
Showing 1 to 3 of 3 entries
1  The slight decrease from FY23 to FY24 in enrollment appears to signal that program participation is stabilizing after COVID. Projections assume two percent growth.
2  The large increase in child care programs holding a 3+ EXCELS rating between FY23 and FY24 is due primarily to three factors: 1. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) discontinued its credentialing program, which removed a professional development hour requirement that childcare providers often struggled to meet; 2. MSDE continues to offer financial incentives to programs that increase their EXCELS rating; and 3. Full staffing of the Early Childhood Services (ECS) quality enhancement team allows for substantial support to Montgomery County childcares who want to improve their quality.
3  The large increase in child care programs holding a 3+ EXCELS rating between FY23 and FY24 is due primarily to three factors: 1. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) discontinued its credentialing program, which removed a professional development hour requirement that childcare providers often struggled to meet; 2. MSDE continues to offer financial incentives to programs that increase their EXCELS rating; and 3. Full staffing of the ECS quality enhancement team allows for substantial support to Montgomery County childcares who want to improve their quality.
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Program Budget Changes

FY26 Recommended ChangesExpendituresFTEs
FY25 Approved$13,488,40846.33
Enhance: Five Early Childhood Services Positions Previously Funded by Early Care and Education NDA to Consolidated Local Implementation Grant (CLIG)$535,7815
Replace: Maryland Family Network Grant Reduction with General Funds $175,3401.45
Replace: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Grant Reduction with General Funds$130,8881.4
Multi-program adjustments, including negotiated compensation changes, employee benefit changes, changes due to staff turnover, reorganizations, and other budget changes affecting multiple programs.$464,552-4.85
FY26 Recommended$14,794,96949.33