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Program Description

  Early Childhood Services

Early Childhood Services (ECS) serves children from birth to age five with services that support families, early care and education programs, and the community. The program administers the Federally mandated Infants and Toddlers Program (ITP) in collaboration with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), the County's Resource and Referral Center (R&R) which is part of the statewide R&R Network for support of high-quality child care and the early education workforce, the State Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Project (IECMH), and the County Child Care in Public Space Program (CCIPS). ECS oversees several contractual services including community-based pre-kindergarten, home visiting, and family support.

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Program Contacts

Contact Lori Garibay-Aquino of the HHS - Children, Youth and Family Services at 240-777-1223 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 FY24Actual FY25Estimated FY26Target FY27Target FY28
Number of families authorized to receive a childcare subsidy 11,8089331,0001,0001,000
Percent of WPA subsidy utilized 279%93%92%92%92%
Percent of families who report that the subsidy enabled them to access quality child care 388%89%95%95%95%
Percentage of families completing surveys that are satisfied with the service 496%94%95%95%95%
Number of children served by the Infants and Toddlers program 54,1383,9534,0324,1124,195
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 654%54%50%50%50%
Percent of regulated family child care programs that hold a quality of care rating of at least 3 out of 5 in Maryland EXCELS 728%30%33%33%33%
1  The significant drop in the number of families between FY24 and FY25 is primarily due to several factors. 1) The State of Maryland significantly expanded the income eligibility criteria for its Child Care Scholarship in December 2024, absorbing some families who would have come to Working Parents Assistance (WPA). 2) Due to funding constraints, WPA instituted a waitlist on September 9, 2024, for children aged 6+ years old who were not receiving WPA. 3) Due to funding constraints, WPA phased out its Supplemental vouchers for children of all ages. Estimates for future years assume flat funding.
2  This metric shows how much of the total value of vouchers approved for FY25 was paid to providers. The large increase between FY24 and FY25 is due to two factors: 1) the institution of a quarterly administrative review process that has the program call providers when they do not invoice for multiple months to encourage them to invoice or provide explanation as to why they are not invoicing, and 2) updating records to release voucher funds when providers will not invoice, typically reflecting a child has exited their care, never enrolled, or has their costs covered in full through the Maryland Child Care Scholarship.
3  This measure is based on the 200 survey responses received in FY25 out of the 767 surveys distributed. 95% projections reflect the program's satisfaction target.
4  This measure is based on the 200 survey responses received in FY25 out of the 767 surveys distributed. 95% projections reflect the program's satisfaction target.
5  The number of enrolled children decreased between FY24 and FY25. This is likely a continuation of the pattern of enrollment returning to historic levels seen as recently as FY22, because the proportion of children found eligible and provided services are the same as in previous years. Projections assume 2% growth.
6  Data are based on the latest EXCELS rating center-based child care programs between July 2024 and June 2025. Credentialing may restart in FY26, which has historically affected programs' ability to achieve/maintain an EXCELS rating of 3+. The exact date of the credentialing rollout and effect on programs in FY26 are unclear, but the expectation is approximately half will maintain a 3+ rating.
7  Data are based on the latest EXCELS rating family child care programs between July 2024 and June 2025. Credentialing may restart in FY26, which has historically affected programs' ability to achieve/maintain an EXCELS rating of 3+. The exact date of the credentialing rollout and effect on programs in FY26 are unclear, but the expectation is approximately 1/3 will maintain a 3+ rating.
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Program Budget Changes

FY27 Recommended ChangesExpendituresFTEs
FY26 Approved1479496949.33
Reduce: Child Development Associate Training Reimbursements and Foreign Degree Equivalency Requests to the Level of Spending -120000.00
Reduce: Funding for Child Care Support Services Trainings-250000.00
Multi-program adjustments, including negotiated compensation changes, employee benefit changes, changes due to staff turnover, reorganizations, and other budget changes affecting multiple programs.70162091.70
FY27 Recommended2177417851.03