Maryland is providing a huge economic bump for child care programs in the state! As part of the transformative Blueprint for Maryland’s Future landmark legislation, the Maryland State Department of Education is distributing $5 million in bonuses to eligible Maryland EXCELS child care programs.
Eligible programs will receive bonuses ranging from $1,000 to $13,500 to spend on classroom materials and furnishings that improve the quality of care they provide children and families in their local community. Bonus amounts depend on the type of child care program, the quality rating, and the program’s capacity. Bonuses are available until June 30, 2024.
Are you one of the lucky ones to receive this funding bonus? Congratulations! With this new funding, you may be rife with questions about how to get the most out of your Bonus dollars. You may be asking yourself questions like, are there any restrictions on how you can spend your funding? What makes you eligible for the Maryland EXCELS bonus? And how often can you receive funding during the disbursement timeframe?
With over 50 years of experience in early childhood education, Kaplan is here to answer those questions and more. We want to help you provide children with the high-quality education they deserve and families with a child care program they can trust. Read this article to learn more about the Maryland EXCELS Bonuses and how to use this funding opportunity to enhance your early childhood program.
What are Maryland EXCELS Bonuses?
Maryland EXCELS is a voluntary program for licensed child care and early education programs. These programs are committed to continuous quality improvement by meeting standards that exceed the state’s child care licensing requirements.
As part of the transformative Blueprint for Maryland’s Future landmark legislation, the Maryland State Department of Education will distribute $5 million in bonuses to help these programs enhance the quality of child care and education they deliver to children and families in Maryland.
As a recipient of this bonus, you can expect to receive funding between $1,000 and $13,500 for your program's materials, furnishings, and staff salaries.
What types of programs are eligible to receive Maryland EXCELS Bonuses?
To receive Maryland EXCELS bonuses, your program must comply with all Maryland EXCELS regulations, including participating in scheduled Continuous Quality Improvement visits. Starting July 1, 2023, and ending on June 30, 2024, programs will receive bonuses whenever they accomplish the following:- Publish any quality rating for the first time
- Re-publish a quality rating of 4 or 5
How much bonus funding could I receive with Maryland EXCELS Bonuses?
The amount of funding you will receive with a Maryland EXCELS Bonus depends on the type of program you operate, your quality rating, and your program capacity. The charts below indicate bonus funding for specific program types:
|
Quality Rating |
Child Care Center Capacity 1-50 |
Child Care Center Capacity 51-100 |
Child Care Center Capacity 101+ |
|
Fiscal Year 24 Bonuses |
Fiscal Year 24 Bonuses |
Fiscal Year 24 Bonuses |
|
|
1 |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
|
2 |
$2,000 |
$2,500 |
$3,000 |
|
3 |
$3,000 |
$3,500 |
$4,000 |
|
4 |
$4,000 |
$6,000 |
$9,000 |
|
5 |
$4,500 |
$9,000 |
$13,500 |
|
Quality Rating |
Family Child Care |
Large Family Home |
|
Fiscal Year 24 Bonuses |
Fiscal Year 24 Bonuses |
|
|
1 |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
|
2 |
$1,800 |
$2,000 |
|
3 |
$2,800 |
$3,000 |
|
4 |
$3,800 |
$4,000 |
|
5 |
$4,300 |
$4,500 |
What can I purchase with Maryland EXCELS Bonuses?
There are no regulations or guidelines that dictate how you spend your Maryland EXCELS Bonus. Past recipients were able to use their funding for the following:- Hiring new qualified staff members to enhance the educational experiences of children in the classroom
- Increasing staff wages so they feel appreciated and supported
- Classroom cubbies to improve classroom organization and storage
- Carpeting and classroom rugs to make the classroom feel warm and inviting
- Blocks and other manipulatives for classroom learning centers
- Children’s books that build the foundations of early literacy
- Art supplies that allow children to think creatively and experiment with different artistic materials
- Innovative technology products that make learning interactive and fun
