EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb1441*
HOUSE BILL 1441
F5, F1 4lr2732
By: Delegate Atterbeary Delegates Atterbeary, Ebersole, Fair, Feldmark,
Grossman, Henson, Mireku –North, Palakovich Carr, Patterson, Roberts,
Vogel, Wells, Wilkins, Wims, Wu, and Young
Introduced and read first time: February 9, 2024
Assigned to: Ways and Means and Appropriations
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 8, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Early Childhood Education – Publicly Funded Prekindergarten Programs – 2
Alterations 3
FOR the purpose of establishing certain requirements for a teacher’s certificate in early 4
childhood education; altering the teaching credentials required for staff of qualified 5
providers for prekindergarten services for purposes of the Prekindergarten Grant 6
Program; repealing certain requirements for county boards of education to ensure 7
that a certain percentage of publicly funded prekindergarten slots are provided by 8
eligible private providers; providing for the goal of the State regarding the proportion 9
of prekindergarten slots offered in each county; altering staff qualifications in 10
eligible prekindergarten programs; requiring county boards to establish an 11
experience–based educator professional development program; requiring the State 12
Department of Education to create a model memorandum of understanding for use 13
by county boards of education for a certain purpose; altering the minimum criteria 14
for a certain memorandum of understanding; authorizing a county board to apply for 15
certain funding to lease space to provide prekindergarten programs; establishing an 16
early childhood educator career ladder for eligible private prekindergarten 17
providers; providing for the purpose and structure of the career ladder; requiring the 18
Department to establish prekindergarten provider hubs; requiring the Department 19
to establish a program to aid eligible prekindergarten providers in meeting certain 20
requirements; requiring the Department to publicize and distribute a certain list of 21
eligible private prekindergarten providers; requiring certain local business agencies 22
to assist private prekindergarten providers in a certain manner; altering certain 23 2 HOUSE BILL 1441
funding timelines for the Child Care Incentive Grant Program and the Maryland 1
Child Care Credential Program to align with certain timelines for prekindergarten 2
programs; and generally relating to publicly funded prekindergarten programs in 3
the State. 4
BY adding to 5
Article – Education 6
Section 6–129, 7–1A–03, 7–1A–04.1, and 7–1A–09 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 9
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – Education 11
Section 7–101.2(b)(1) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Education 16
Section 7–101.2(c) and (d), 7–1A–01, 7–1A–03, 7–1A–04, 7–1A–05, 7–1A–07, 17
7–1A–08, 7–1A–09, 9.5–903, 9.5–904, 9.5–904, 9.5–905, and 9.5–906 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 20
BY repealing 21
Article – Education 22
Section 7–1A–03 23
Annotated Code of Maryland 24
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 25
BY adding to 26
Article – Education 27
Section 7–1A–08 and 7–1A–09 28
Annotated Code of Maryland 29
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 30
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 31
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 32
Article – Education 33
6–129. 34
(A) (1) A TEACHER’S CERTIFICATE IN EAR LY CHILDHOOD EDUCATI ON 35
SHALL BE OF TWO CLAS SES. 36
HOUSE BILL 1441 3
(2) A FIRST–CLASS CERTIFICATE SH ALL REQUIRE AN INDIV IDUAL TO 1
HOLD A BACHELOR ’S DEGREE. 2
(3) A SECOND–CLASS CERTIFICATE SH ALL REQUIRE AN INDIVIDUA L 3
TO HOLD AN ASSOCIATE ’S DEGREE IN EARLY CH ILDHOOD EDUCATION OR CHILD 4
DEVELOPMENT . 5
(B) A TEACHER WHO HOLDS A FIRST–CLASS TEACHER CERTIF ICATE IN 6
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUC ATION SHALL BE COMPE NSATED AT A HIGHER R ATE OF 7
PAY. 8
(C) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN § 7–1A–04 OF THIS ARTICLE, AN INDIVIDUAL 9
SHALL HOLD A TEACHER ’S CERTIFICATE IN EAR LY CHILDHOOD EDUCATI ON TO 10
TEACH FOR AN ELIGIBL E PREKINDERGARTEN PR OVIDER UNDER TITLE 7, SUBTITLE 11
1A OF THIS ARTICLE. 12
7–101.2. 13
(b) (1) There is a grant program known as the Prekindergarten Expansion 14
Grant Program in the State. 15
(c) (1) Except SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION A ND 16
EXCEPT as provided in paragraph (2) PARAGRAPH (3) of this subsection, before approving 17
qualified providers for prekindergarten services to receive a grant under this section, a 18
qualified provider shall certify to the Department that for each classroom funded under 19
this section the provider will: 20
(i) Maintain a student–to–classroom personnel ratio of no more 21
than 10 to 1 with a maximum of 20 children per classroom; 22
(ii) Provide in each classroom at least one teacher [certified in early 23
childhood education by the State] WHO HOLDS AT LEAST A N ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE IN 24
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUC ATION OR CHILD DEVEL OPMENT and at least one teacher’s 25
aide who has at least a high school degree; 26
(iii) Operate an educational program for: 27
1. 5 days per week; 28
2. 180 days per year, in accordance with the public school 29
calendar established by the local school board; and 30
3. A. For half–day programs, at least 2.5 hours per day; 31
or 32
B. For full–day programs, at least 6.5 hours per day; and 33 4 HOUSE BILL 1441
(iv) To receive a grant under this section, meet the requirements of § 1
7–1A–04 of this title. 2
(2) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A 3
TEACHER IN A CLASSRO OM FUNDED UNDER THIS SECTION MUST : 4
(I) HOLD A BACHELOR ’S DEGREE AND BE WORK ING TOWARD A 5
CERTIFICATION FOR TE ACHING IN EARLY CHIL DHOOD EDUCATION ; OR 6
(II) MEET THE REQUIRE MENTS FOR A LEAD TEA CHER UNDER 7
THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR CAREER LADD ER ESTABLISHED UNDER § 8
7–1A–08 OF THIS TITLE. 9
(3) Before approving qualified providers who are Montessori schools or 10
Montessori programs for prekindergarten services to receive a grant under this section, a 11
qualified provider shall certify to the Department that for each classroom funded under 12
this section the provider will: 13
(i) Meet the requirements under paragraph (1)(iii) of this 14
subsection; 15
(ii) Maintain a student–to–classroom personnel ratio of no more 16
than 10 to 1, with a maximum of 20 students per classroom if all of the students are under 17
the age of 5 years; 18
(iii) Maintain a student–to–classroom personnel ratio of no more 19
than 14 to 1, with a maximum of 28 students per classroom if some of the students are at 20
least 5 years old; and 21
(iv) Require a classroom teacher to: 22
1. Hold a bachelor’s degree in any field; and 23
2. Hold a Montessori credential issued by: 24
A. The Association Montessori Internationale; 25
B. The American Montessori Society; or 26
C. A program accredited by the Montessori Accreditation 27
Council for Teacher Education. 28
(d) (1) (i) Beginning in fiscal year 2020 through fiscal year 2025 2029, the 29
Governor shall annually appropriate to the Fund an amount that is at least equal to the 30
total amount of all funds received by the Program in the prior fiscal year. 31 HOUSE BILL 1441 5
(ii) Beginning in fiscal year [2026] 2028 2030, the funds 1
appropriated to the Fund shall be consolidated into the publicly funded full–day 2
prekindergarten program established in Subtitle 1A of this title. 3
(2) The Governor may provide funds to the Department to administer the 4
Program. 5
7–1A–01. 6
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 7
(b) “Cost of quality” means the per–pupil amount provided under § 5–229 of this 8
article. 9
(C) “EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCA TOR CAREER LADDER ” MEANS THE CAREER 10
LADDER FOR PRIVATE P ROVIDER PREKINDERGAR TEN EDUCATORS ESTABL ISHED 11
BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 7–1A–08 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 12
[(c)] (D) “Eligible prekindergarten provider” includes an: 13
(1) Eligible public provider; and 14
(2) Eligible private provider. 15
[(d)] (E) (1) “Eligible private provider” means a community–based early 16
learning program that: 17
(i) Is licensed in the State; 18
(ii) Does not charge more tuition for full–day prekindergarten than 19
the cost of quality; and 20
(iii) Meets the requirements under § 7–1A–04 of this subtitle. 21
(2) “Eligible private provider” includes the Ulysses Currie Head Start 22
Program under § 5–231 of this article. 23
[(e)] (F) “Eligible public provider” means an early learning program that: 24
(1) Is provided by a county board at a public school; and 25
(2) Meets the requirements under § 7–1A–04 of this subtitle. 26
[(f)] (G) “Full–day prekindergarten” means an early learning program with a 27
six and one–half hour school day. 28 6 HOUSE BILL 1441
[(g)] (H) “Prekindergarten program” means an early learning program at an 1
eligible prekindergarten provider. 2
(I) “PREKINDERGARTEN PROVI DER HUB ” MEANS A COORDINATED 3
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ELIGIBLE PREKINDERGA RTEN PROVIDERS AND O THER 4
ENTITIES ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 7–1A–09 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 5
[(h)] (J) “Prekindergarten slot” means the available space for a child to attend 6
a prekindergarten program. 7
[(i)] (K) “Tier I child” means a child: 8
(1) Who is 3 or 4 years old; 9
(2) (i) Whose family income is less than or equal to 300% of the federal 10
poverty level; or 11
(ii) Who is a homeless youth; and 12
(3) Whose family chooses to enroll the child in full–day prekindergarten. 13
[(j)] (L) “Tier II child” means a child: 14
(1) Who is 4 years old; 15
(2) Whose family income is more than 300% but not more than 600% of the 16
federal poverty level; and 17
(3) Whose family chooses to enroll the child in full–day prekindergarten. 18
[(k)] (M) “Tier III child” means a child: 19
(1) Who is 4 years old; 20
(2) Whose family income is more than 600% of the federal poverty level; 21
and 22
(3) Whose family chooses to enroll the child in full–day prekindergarten. 23
[7–1A–03. 24
(a) Except as provided under subsection (b) of this section, a county board shall 25
ensure that: 26
HOUSE BILL 1441 7
(1) Beginning in the 2022–2023 2024–2025 school year, prekindergarten 1
slots provided by eligible private providers shall account for at least 30% 10% of the total 2
prekindergarten slots provided by eligible prekindergarten providers in each county; 3
(2) The proportion of eligible private provider prekindergarten slots in each 4
county increases by 5 10 percentage points every school year, until, in the 2026–2027 5
2028–2029 school year, eligible private provider prekindergarten slots account for at least 6
50% of eligible prekindergarten provider prekindergarten slots in each county; and 7
(3) In each year after the 2026–2027 2028–2029 school year, the 8
proportion of eligible private provider prekindergarten slots in each county shall continue 9
to constitute at least 50% of eligible prekindergarten provider prekindergarten slots in each 10
county. 11
(b) (1) The Department shall issue a waiver from the requirements of this 12
section to a county board if: 13
(i) 1. All families in the county who desire to enroll their eligible 14
children with eligible prekindergarten providers are able to do so; or 15
(ii) 2. After reasonable cross–jurisdictional or regional efforts, 16
there are too few eligible private providers to meet the minimum requirements of this 17
section; AND 18
(II) THE COUNTY BOARD DEMO NSTRATES TO THE 19
DEPARTMENT THAT IT HA S MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO FULLY EMBR ACE THE 20
MIXED DELIVERY SYSTE M, INCLUDING BY ADOPTIN G A MEMORANDUM OF 21
UNDERSTANDING IN ACC ORDANCE WITH § 7–1A–05 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 22
(2) The Department may exclude by annual waiver Tier I children who are 23
3 years old in a county from the calculation under subsection (a) of this section until the 24
2029–2030 2031–2032 school year. 25
(3) The Department may exclude by annual waiver Tier I children who are 26
4 years old in a county from the calculation under subsection (a) of this section until the 27
2026–2027 2028–2029 school year. 28
(4) The Department shall establish waiver application procedures to carry 29
out the provisions of this subsection.] 30
7–1A–03. 31
IT IS THE GOAL OF THE STATE THAT AT LEAST 50% OF THE 32
PREKINDERGARTEN SLOT S PROVIDED IN EACH C OUNTY BE PROVIDED BY ELIGIBLE 33
PRIVATE PROVIDERS BE GINNING IN THE 2027–2028 SCHOOL YEAR . 34 8 HOUSE BILL 1441
7–1A–04. 1
(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, all eligible 2
prekindergarten providers shall include structural elements that are evidence–based and 3
nationally recognized as important for ensuring program quality, including: 4
(i) Beginning in the [2027–2028] 2025–2026 school year: 5
1. [High staff] STAFF qualifications[, including HIGH 6
STAFF QUALIFICATIONS , INCLUDING: 7
1. BEGINNING IN THE 2027–2028 SCHOOL YEAR , 8
ELIGIBLE PUBLIC PROV IDER teachers who, at a minimum, hold: 9
A. State certification for teaching in early childhood 10
education; or 11
B. A bachelor’s degree in any field and are pursuing 12
residency through the Maryland Approved Alternative Preparation Program, which 13
includes early childhood coursework, clinical practice, and evidence of pedagogical content 14
knowledge; and 15
2. Teaching BEGINNING IN THE 2027–2028 SCHOOL 16
YEAR, ELIGIBLE PUBLIC PROV IDER TEACHING assistants who have at least: 17
A. A Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate; or 18
B. An associate’s degree] FOR TEACHERS AND TEA CHING 19
ASSISTANTS AS REQUIR ED UNDER § 7–1A–04.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE; OR 20
C. ON JULY 1, 2027, DOCUMENTED EXPERIENC E OF 21
ACTIVELY PROVIDING S ERVICES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD E DUCATION FOR A MINIM UM 22
OF 15 YEARS FOR AT LEAST 20 HOURS PER WEEK AND 180 DAYS PER YEAR; AND 23
3. BEGINNING IN THE 2025–2026 SCHOOL YEAR , 24
ELIGIBLE PRIVATE PRO VIDER EDUCATORS WHO MEET THE REQUIREMENT S OF THE 25
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUC ATOR CAREER LADDER ; 26
(ii) Professional development for all staff; 27
(iii) A student–to–classroom personnel ratio of no more than 10 to 1 28
in each class; 29
(iv) Class sizes of no more than 20 students per classroom; 30
HOUSE BILL 1441 9
(v) A full–day prekindergarten program; 1
(vi) Inclusion of students with disabilities to ensure access to and full 2
participation in all program opportunities; 3
(vii) For at least 1 year before a student’s enrollment in kindergarten, 4
learning environments that: 5
1. Are aligned with State Early Learning and Development 6
Standards; 7
2. Use evidence–based curricula; and 8
3. Use instruction methods that are: 9
A. Developmentally appropriate; and 10
B. Culturally and linguistically responsive; 11
(viii) Individualized accommodations and supports for all students; 12
(ix) Instructional staff salaries and benefits that are comparable to 13
the salaries and benefits of instructional staff employed by the county board of the county 14
in which the early learning program is located; 15
(x) Program evaluation to ensure continuous program improvement; 16
(xi) On–site or accessible comprehensive services for students; 17
(xii) Community partnerships that promote access to comprehensive 18
services for families of students; and 19
(xiii) Evidence–based health and safety standards. 20
(2) An eligible prekindergarten provider that is a Montessori school or 21
Montessori program shall include all of the structural elements listed in paragraph (1) of 22
this subsection except the following: 23
(i) For staff qualifications, the eligible prekindergarten provider 24
shall employ teachers who: 25
1. Hold a bachelor’s degree in any field; and 26
2. Hold a Montessori credential issued by: 27
A. The Association Montessori Internationale; 28
10 HOUSE BILL 1441
B. The American Montessori Society; or 1
C. A program accredited by the Montessori Accreditation 2
Council for Teacher Education; and 3
(ii) For the student –to–classroom personnel ratio, the 4
prekindergarten provider shall maintain a student–to–classroom personnel ratio of: 5
1. No more than 10 to 1, with a maximum of 20 students per 6
classroom if all of the students are under the age of 5 years; and 7
2. No more than 14 to 1, with a maximum of 28 students per 8
classroom if some of the students are at least 5 years old. 9
(b) In addition to the requirements listed in subsection (a) of this section, an 10
eligible prekindergarten provider shall: 11
(1) If the provider is an eligible private provider, achieve a quality rating 12
level of 3 in the Maryland EXCELS program and publish that quality rating in a publicly 13
available manner, determined by the Department; 14
(2) If the provider is an eligible public provider, achieve a quality rating 15
level of 4 in the Maryland EXCELS program and publish that quality rating in a publicly 16
available manner, determined by the Department; 17
(3) Submit to the Department a plan to achieve a quality rating level 5 in 18
the Maryland EXCELS program within 5 years after becoming an eligible prekindergarten 19
provider; 20
(4) Achieve in accordance with the plan a quality rating level 5 in the 21
Maryland EXCELS program within 5 years after becoming an eligible prekindergarten 22
provider and publish that quality rating in a publicly available manner, determined by the 23
Department; and 24
(5) Except as otherwise provided in § 7–1A–07 of this subtitle, be open for 25
pupil attendance in accordance with § 7–103 of this title. 26
(c) (1) An eligible prekindergarten provider may not engage in explicitly 27
religious activities during school hours. 28
(2) If an eligible prekindergarten provider engages in an explicitly religious 29
activity, the activity shall be: 30
(i) Separate in time and location from any instruction offered by the 31
eligible prekindergarten provider; and 32
(ii) Voluntary. 33 HOUSE BILL 1441 11
(3) (i) An eligible prekindergarten provider shall make reasonable 1
efforts to make the areas where prekindergarten children spend time during school hours 2
as nonsectarian as possible. 3
(ii) An eligible prekindergarten provider may not be required to 4
adopt any rule, regulation, or policy that conflicts with its religious or moral teachings. 5
(4) (i) An eligible prekindergarten provider shall comply with Title VI 6
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title 20, Subtitle 6 of the State Government 7
Article, and not discriminate in student admissions, retention, or expulsion or otherwise 8
discriminate against any student or parent of a student on the basis of race, color, national 9
origin, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. 10
(ii) If a student has a disability, placement of the student shall be 11
based on where the student will be best served. 12
(iii) An eligible prekindergarten provider found to have violated the 13
nondiscrimination requirements under this section: 14
1. May not continue to be an eligible prekindergarten 15
provider; and 16
2. Shall reimburse the Department all public funds provided 17
under this subtitle minus any amount received from the child care scholarship program. 18
(5) Except as provided in § 7–305.1 of this title, an eligible prekindergarten 19
provider may not suspend or expel a child who is enrolled in a prekindergarten program. 20
7–1A–04.1. 21
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 22
INDICATED. 23
(2) “CDA CERTIFICATE” MEANS A CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE 24
CERTIFICATE WITH A P RESCHOOL DESIGNATION ISSUED BY THE COUNCIL FOR 25
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION. 26
(3) “EXPERIENCE–BASED EDUCATOR ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO: 27
(I) HAS DOCUMENTED EXPERI ENCE ACTIVELY PROVID ING 28
SERVICES IN EARLY CH ILDHOOD EDUCATION ; AND 29
(II) DOES NOT HOLD A TEACH ING CREDENTIAL ISSUE D BY THE 30
DEPARTMENT OR CREDENT IAL ISSUED BY AN APP ROPRIATE ORGANIZATIO N. 31
12 HOUSE BILL 1441
(4) “PROGRAM” MEANS AN EXPERIENCE –BASED EDUCATOR 1
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP MENT PROGRAM . 2
(B) (1) TO QUALIFY AS A TEACH ER IN A PREKINDERGAR TEN CLASSROOM 3
PROVIDED BY AN ELIGI BLE PREKINDERGARTEN PROVIDER, AN INDIVIDUAL SHALL : 4
(I) HOLD, AT MINIMUM , AN ASSOCIATE ’S DEGREE IN EARLY 5
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION OR CHILD DEVELOPMENT ; OR 6
(II) 1. FROM JULY 1, 2025, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2027: 7
A. HAVE 9,000 HOURS OF DOCUMENTED EXPERIENCE 8
ACTIVELY PROVIDING S ERVICES IN EARLY CHI LDHOOD EDUCATION ; AND 9
B. ENROLL IN A PROGRAM ; AND 10
2. DEMONSTRATE CONSISTEN T PROGRESS TOWARD 11
COMPLETION OF A CDA CERTIFICATE WITHIN 3 YEARS AFTER ENROLLIN G IN A 12
PROGRAM. 13
(2) TO QUALIFY AS A TEACH ING ASSISTANT IN A P REKINDERGARTEN 14
CLASSROOM PROVIDED B Y AN ELIGIBLE PREKIN DERGARTEN PROVIDER , AN 15
INDIVIDUAL SHALL : 16
(I) HOLD A CDA CERTIFICATE; OR 17
(II) 1. FROM JULY 1, 2025, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2027: 18
A. HAVE 1,500 HOURS OF DOCUMENTED EXPERIENCE 19
ACTIVELY PROVIDING S ERVICES IN EARLY CHI LDHOOD EDUCATION ; AND 20
B. ENROLL IN A PROGRAM ; AND 21
2. DEMONSTRATE CONSISTEN T PROGRESS TOWARD 22
COMPLETION OF A CDA CERTIFICATE WITHIN 3 YEARS AFTER ENROLLIN G IN A 23
PROGRAM. 24
(C) (1) (I) EACH COUNTY BOARD SHA LL ESTABLISH AN 25
EXPERIENCE–BASED EDUCATOR PROFE SSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. 26
(II) THE PURPOSE OF THE PR OGRAM UNDER THIS SUB SECTION 27
IS TO ASSIST EXPERIE NCE–BASED EDUCATORS IN O BTAINING A CDA CERTIFICATE 28
WITHIN A 3–YEAR PERIOD. 29
HOUSE BILL 1441 13
(III) A PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS SUBSECTIO N SHALL 1
OPERATE FROM JULY 1, 2025, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2030. 2
(2) TO QUALIFY FOR A PROG RAM UNDER THIS SUBSE CTION, AN 3
EXPERIENCE–BASED EDUCATOR SHALL : 4
(I) APPLY TO THE PROGRAM BETWEEN JULY 1, 2025, AND 5
JUNE 30, 2027, BOTH INCLUSIVE ; 6
(II) MEET THE WORK EXPERIE NCE REQUIREMENTS FOR A 7
TEACHER OR TEACHING ASSISTANT DESCRIBED UNDER SUBSECTION (B)(1)(II)1 OR 8
(2)(II)1 OF THIS SECTION; AND 9
(III) BE EMPLOYED AS A TEAC HER OR TEACHING ASSI STANT BY: 10
1. AN ELIGIBLE PUBLIC PR OVIDER; OR 11
2. AN ELIGIBLE PRIVATE P ROVIDER LOCATED IN T HE 12
COUNTY UNDER THE JUR ISDICTION OF THE COU NTY BOARD OPERATING THE 13
PROGRAM. 14
(3) A PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS SUBSECTIO N SHALL, AT 15
MINIMUM: 16
(I) PROVIDE A PARTICIPANT WITH INF ORMATION REGARDING 17
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP MENT OPPORTUNITIES I N EARLY CHILDHOOD ED UCATION; 18
(II) PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASS ISTANCE IN WORKING T OWARD 19
THE CDA CERTIFICATE, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE FILLING OUT FORMS , OBTAINING 20
REQUIRED MATERIALS , AND FINDING A TRAININ G LOCATION; AND 21
(III) PAIR EACH PARTICIPANT WITH A MENTOR TEACHE R. 22
(4) A MENTOR TEACHER WHO P ARTICIPATES IN A PRO GRAM UNDER 23
PARAGRAPH (3)(III) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL RECEIVE COMPENS ATION. 24
7–1A–05. 25
(a) (1) Each county board shall enter into a memorandum of understanding 26
with the Department, each eligible private provider participating in publicly funded 27
prekindergarten in the county, and other applicable government agencies. 28
(2) Before executing a memorandum of understanding under this section, 29
each county board shall submit an implementation plan of the proposed memorandum of 30 14 HOUSE BILL 1441
understanding to the Accountability and Implementation Board in accordance with § 1
5–404 of this article. 2
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVE LOP A MODEL MEMORANDUM OF 3
UNDERSTANDING FOR US E BY COUNTY BOARDS O F EDUCATION IN FULFI LLING THE 4
REQUIREMENTS UNDER T HIS SECTION. 5
[(b)] (C) [The] EACH memorandum of understanding shall, AT A MINIMUM , 6
provide for: 7
(1) THE ADOPTION OF AN EA RLY CHILDHOOD EDUCAT OR CAREER 8
LADDER BY ELIGIBLE P RIVATE PROVIDERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 7–1A–08 OF 9
THIS SUBTITLE; 10
(2) Services for children with disabilities; 11
(2) (3) A process by which a parent is able to indicate a preference for 12
eligible prekindergarten providers; 13
(3) (4) The manner for processing the payment of the State share, local 14
share, and family share for each child who is enrolled with an eligible prekindergarten 15
provider; 16
(4) (5) Any agreed upon administrative costs to be retained by an 17
agency that is party to the agreement; 18
(5) (6) The manner in which the parties will meet the requirements of 19
this subtitle; 20
(6) (7) A plan to address racial and socioeconomic integration in 21
prekindergarten classrooms; [and] 22
(7) (8) A METHOD FOR THE COUNT Y BOARD TO DISTRIBUTE A LIST 23
OF ELIGIBLE PUBLIC A ND PRIVATE PROVIDERS IN THE SAME AREA WIT H A PARENT 24
INTERESTED IN ENROLL ING THE PARENT ’S CHILD IN A PREKIND ERGARTEN 25
PROGRAM; 26
(8) (9) FACILITATION OF PEER –TO–PEER ELIGIBLE 27
PREKINDERGARTEN PROV IDER MEETINGS , THROUGH A PREKINDERG ARTEN 28
PROVIDER HUB IF ONE IS ESTABLISHED IN TH E AREA, IN WHICH ELIGIBLE 29
PREKINDERGARTEN PROV IDERS ARE ABLE TO SH ARE BEST PRACTICES I N THE 30
FIELD; AND 31
[(7)] (9) (10) Any other provisions necessary to carry out this subtitle. 32
HOUSE BILL 1441 15
[(c)] (D) A memorandum of understanding under this section shall seek to avoid, 1
to the extent practicable, a disproportionate concentration of students of the same race, 2
ethnicity, disability status, and income within an eligible provider. 3
7–1A–07. 4
(a) (1) The Interagency Commission on School Construction shall prioritize 5
public school construction funding requests for high quality prekindergarten classrooms. 6
(2) The Interagency Commission on School Construction shall consider the 7
availability of private eligible prekindergarten providers when determining priorities 8
under paragraph (1) of this subsection. 9
(b) A county board may partner with the State or the county government to 10
address physical space constraints for eligible prekindergarten providers by utilizing 11
existing available space at a location that is not an eligible prekindergarten provider 12
including: 13
(1) Senior care facilities; or 14
(2) Community centers. 15
(C) A COUNTY BOARD MAY LEA SE SPACE FROM THE CO UNTY TO PROVIDE 16
PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS IN ACCORDAN CE WITH THIS SUBTITL E. 17
(1) A COUNTY BOARD MAY APP LY FOR FUNDING FROM THE CAPITAL 18
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR ASSISTANCE ON RE NOVATIONS TO PUBLIC 19
FACILITIES LEASED AS ELIGIBLE PUBLIC PREK INDERGARTEN PROGRAMS . 20
(2) THE MANAGEMENT OF PUB LIC FACILITIES LEASE D UNDER THIS 21
SUBSECTION SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY O F THE BUILDING OWNER AND NOT 22
THE COUNTY BOARD . 23
7–1A–08. 24
(A) (1) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2025, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 25
ESTABLISH AN EARLY C HILDHOOD EDUCATOR CA REER LADDER FOR ELIGIBLE 26
PRIVATE PROVIDERS . 27
(2) THE EARLY CHILDHOOD E DUCATOR CAREER LADDE R IS FOR 28
TEACHERS AND ASSISTA NT TEACHERS EMPLOYED BY ELIGIBLE PRIVATE 29
PROVIDERS. 30
(3) THE PURPOSE OF THE EA RLY CHILDHOOD EDUCAT OR CAREER 31
LADDER IS TO: 32 16 HOUSE BILL 1441
(I) TRANSFORM EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUC ATION TEACHING 1
INTO A HIGH–STATUS PROFESSION IN THE STATE; 2
(II) ATTRACT HIGH –PERFORMING STUDENTS TO PURSUE THE 3
HIGH–STATUS EARLY CHILDHO OD EDUCATION TEACHIN G PROFESSION; AND 4
(III) RETAIN HIGH–QUALITY EARLY CHILDH OOD EDUCATION 5
TEACHERS WHO GAIN AD DITIONAL RESPONSIBIL ITY, AUTHORITY, STATUS, AND 6
COMPENSATION AS THEY GAIN ADDITIONAL EXPE RTISE. 7
(B) THE EARLY CHILDHOOD E DUCATOR CAREER LADDE R SHALL: 8
(1) ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUC ATORS FOR 9
THEIR WORK; 10
(2) PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHO OD EDUCATORS WITH TH E 11
OPPORTUNITY TO IDENT IFY AND WORK WITH PR EKINDERGARTEN TEACHE RS AND 12
TEACHING ASSISTANTS ; 13
(3) PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHO OD EDUCATORS THE OPP ORTUNITY TO 14
DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE BY PAR TICIPATING IN JOB –EMBEDDED 15
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP MENT; AND 16
(4) COMPENSATE EARLY CHIL DHOOD EDUCATORS AT G REATER 17
RATES AS THEY ADVANC E TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF THE CAREER LADDER . 18
(C) (1) THE LEVELS OF THE CAR EER LADDER ARE AS FO LLOWS: 19
(I) LEVEL ONE IS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING ASSISTANT; 20
(II) LEVEL TWO IS A PREKIN DERGARTEN LEAD TEACH ER; AND 21
(III) LEVEL THREE IS AN EAR LY CHILDHOOD CONSULT ING 22
TEACHER. 23
(2) IN ORDER TO QUALIFY A S AN EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING 24
ASSISTANT, AN EDUCATOR SHALL : 25
(I) 1. HOLD A HIGH SCHOOL DI PLOMA; AND 26
2. ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2027: 27
A. EARN AND MAINTAIN A CHILD DEVELOPMENT 28
ASSOCIATE (CDA) WITH A PRESCHOOL DES IGNATION; OR 29 HOUSE BILL 1441 17
B. HOLD AN ASSOCIATE DEG REE IN EARLY CHILDHO OD 1
EDUCATION OR CHILD D EVELOPMENT ; OR 2
(II) ON JULY 1, 2024, HAVE DOCUMENTED EXPE RIENCE OF 3
ACTIVELY PROVIDING S ERVICES IN EARLY CHI LDHOOD EDUCATION FOR A MINIMUM 4
OF 15 YEARS FOR AT LEAST : 5
1. 20 HOURS PER WEEK ; AND 6
2. 180 DAYS PER YEAR. 7
(3) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (II) OF THIS PARA GRAPH, IN 8
ORDER TO QUALIFY AS A PREKINDERGARTEN LE AD TEACHER, AN EDUCATOR SHALL : 9
1. HOLD AT LEAST A BACHE LOR’S DEGREE IN EARLY 10
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION , CHILD DEVELOPMENT , OR A RELATED FIELD F ROM AN 11
INSTITUTION OF HIGHE R EDUCATION ACCREDIT ED BY AN INSTITUT IONAL 12
ACCREDITING ASSOCIAT ION RECOGNIZED BY TH E U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 13
EDUCATION; 14
2. A. HOLD AT LEAST A BACHE LOR’S DEGREE IN 15
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUC ATION, CHILD DEVELOPMENT , OR A RELATED FIELD F ROM 16
AN INSTITUTION OF HI GHER EDUCATION IN AN OTHER COUNTRY ; AND 17
B. HAVE THAT DEGREE VERI FIED AS COMPARABLE T O A 18
BACHELOR’S DEGREE GRANTED BY AN ACCREDITED INSTIT UTION OF HIGHER 19
EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES BY AN INDEPEND ENT AGENCY AUTHORIZE D TO 20
ANALYZE FOREIGN CRED ENTIALS SELECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT ; 21
3. HOLD A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN A FIELD UNRELATED 22
TO EARLY CHILDHOOD E DUCATION FROM AN INS TITUTION OF HIGHER E DUCATION 23
ACCREDITED BY AN INS TITUTIONAL ACCREDITI NG ASSOCIATION APPRO VED BY THE 24
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; OR 25
4. SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (III) OF THIS 26
PARAGRAPH , ON JULY 1, 2024, HAVE DOCUMENTED EXPE RIENCE OF ACTIVELY 27
PROVIDING SERVICES I N EARLY CHILDHOOD ED UCATION FOR A MINIMU M OF 10 28
YEARS FOR AT LEAST : 29
A. 20 HOURS PER WEEK ; AND 30
B. 180 DAYS PER YEAR. 31
18 HOUSE BILL 1441
(II) IN ORDER TO QUALIFY A S A PREKINDERGARTEN LEAD 1
TEACHER THROUGH ANY PATHWAY OTHER THAN T HE PATHWAY DESCRIBED UNDER 2
SUBPARAGRAPH (I)1 OF THIS PARAGRAPH , AN EDUCATOR MUST ACH IEVE A 3
MINIMUM SCORE ON THE CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT SCORING SYSTEM (CLASS) 4
ASSESSMENT AS SET BY THE DEPARTMENT IN ADDITION TO THE REQU IREMENTS 5
LISTED UNDER SUBPARA GRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH . 6
(III) 1. ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2030, A PREKINDERGARTEN 7
LEAD TEACHER WHO QUA LIFIES THROUGH THE P ATHWAY DESCRIBED UND ER 8
SUBPARAGRAPH (I)4 OF THIS PARAGRAPH SH ALL EARN AN ASSOCIA TE DEGREE IN 9
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUC ATION. 10
2. TEACHERS FROM LEVEL T HREE OF THE CAREER 11
LADDER SHALL MENTOR AND PROVIDE PROFESSI ONAL SUPPORT TO A 12
PREKINDERGARTEN LEAD TEACHER DESCRIBED UN DER THIS SUBPARAGRAP H TO 13
ENSURE THAT THE TEAC HER EARNS A DEGREE W ITHIN THE REQUIRED AMOUN T OF 14
TIME. 15
(IV) IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN STATUS AS A PREKINDE RGARTEN 16
LEAD TEACHER , EACH YEAR A LEAD TEA CHER SHALL COMPLETE AT LEAST 20 17
WORKING HOURS OF PRO FESSIONAL LEARNING A ND DEVELOPMENT IN : 18
1. EARLY CHILDHOOD INSTR UCTION; 19
2. DEVELOPMENTALLY APPRO PRIATE PRACTICE ; AND 20
3. ANY OTHER PROFESSIONA L SKILL AREAS THE 21
DEPARTMENT DETERMINES ARE VALUABLE . 22
(4) IN ORDER TO QUALIFY A S AN EARLY CHILDHOOD CONSULTING 23
TEACHER, AN EDUCATOR SHALL : 24
(I) BE A PREKINDERGARTEN LEAD TEACH ER IN GOOD 25
STANDING; 26
(II) BEGINNING IN THE 2027–2028 SCHOOL YEAR , HOLD EARLY 27
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CERTIFICATION OR BE PURSUING CERTIFICATI ON; 28
(III) BE ABLE TO LEAD OTHER EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUC ATORS 29
IN AN EFFECTIVE AND DISCIPLINED WAY TO I MPROVE THE CURRICULU M AND 30
INSTRUCTION OF PREKI NDERGARTEN STUDENTS ; 31
(IV) DEMONSTRATE THE SKILL S AND KNOWLEDGE TO M ENTOR 32
EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSI STANT TEACHERS AND N EW PREKINDERGARTEN LEAD 33 HOUSE BILL 1441 19
TEACHERS, INCLUDING BY HELPING THEM TO MEET THE EDU CATIONAL AND 1
CERTIFICATION QUALIF ICATIONS NECESSARY T O QUALIFY FOR AND MA INTAIN 2
STATUS ON THE CAREER LADDER; AND 3
(V) SUPERVISE AND SUPPORT PREKINDERGARTEN LEAD 4
TEACHERS, IF PRACTICABLE THROUGH PREKINDE RGARTEN PROVIDER HUB S, IN 5
ONE OR MORE SITES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE DEV ELOPMENTALLY APPROPR IATE 6
INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTI CES FOR PREKINDERGAR TEN STUDENTS . 7
7–1A–09. 8
(A) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH PREKINDERGARTE N 9
PROVIDER HUBS IN CEN TRALIZED AND DIVERSE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE 10
STATE. 11
(2) PREKINDERGARTEN PROVI DER HUBS SHALL BE DE SIGNED TO 12
HELP BRING AS MANY P EOPLE INTO THE STATE’S MIXED PREKINDERGAR TEN 13
DELIVERY SYS TEM AS POSSIBLE . 14
(3) PREKINDERGARTEN PROVI DER HUBS SHALL FORM 15
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN : 16
(I) EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCA TORS ON THE EARLY 17
CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR C AREER LADDER ; 18
(II) CHILD CARE CENTERS LI CENSED UNDER TITLE 9.5, 19
SUBTITLE 4 OF THIS ARTICLE; 20
(III) FAMILY CHILD CARE HOM ES OR LARGE FAMILY C HILD CARE 21
HOMES REGISTERED UND ER TITLE 9.5, SUBTITLE 3 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 22
(IV) ANY OTHER ENTITIES TH AT THE DEPARTMENT 23
DETERMINES WILL AID IN BRINGING ELIGIBLE CHILDREN INTO THE STATE’S MIXED 24
DELIVERY SYS TEM. 25
(4) PREKINDERGARTEN PROVI DER HUBS SHALL COORD INATE 26
SUPPORT AMONG ENTITI ES THAT SERVE CHILDR EN AND THEIR FAMILIE S TO 27
ENSURE THAT THE MAXI MUM NUMBER OF ELIGIB LE CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO BE 28
PLACED IN A PREKINDE RGARTEN SLOT . 29
(B) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO AID 30
ELIGIBLE PREKINDERGA RTEN PROVIDERS IN ME ETING THE REQUIREMEN TS OF 31
THIS SUBTITLE. 32
20 HOUSE BILL 1441
(2) THE PROGRAM SHALL PRO VIDE TO ELIGIBLE PRI VATE 1
PROVIDERS: 2
(I) INFORMATION ON PROFES SIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TE ACHERS AND TEACH ING ASSISTANTS; 4
(II) TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR MEETING REQUIREMENTS TO 5
ENROLL IN CHILD CARE SUPPORT PROGRAMS ; AND 6
(III) ASSISTANCE WITH IMPLE MENTING EARLY CHILDH OOD 7
CURRICULUM STANDARDS . 8
(3) TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 9
PROVIDE PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HIS SUBSECTION 10
THROUGH PREKINDERGAR TEN PROVIDER HUBS . 11
(B) (C) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBL ISH A LIST OF ELIGIB LE 12
PRIVATE PROVIDERS IN EACH LOCAL SCHOOL SY STEM ON ITS WEBSITE AND 13
DISTRIBUTE THE LIST TO THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES A ND ORGANIZATIONS LOC ATED 14
WITHIN THE AREAS IN WHICH THE ELIGIBLE P RIVATE PROVIDERS ARE LOCATED: 15
(I) A LOCAL OFFICE OF ECON OMIC DEVELOPMENT ; 16
(II) THE MARYLAND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 17
CENTER; 18
(III) A LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOA RD; 19
(IV) A LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVE LOPMENT BOARD ; AND 20
(V) A LOCAL OFFICE SUPPORT ING MINORITY AND 21
WOMEN–OWNED BUSINESSES . 22
(2) AN ENTITY OR ORGANIZA TION LISTED UNDER PA RAGRAPH (1) OF 23
THIS SUBSECTION SHAL L, IF APPLICABLE, ASSIST A PRIVATE PRE KINDERGARTEN 24
PROVIDER IN ITS JURI SDICTION WITH: 25
(I) ENROLLING IN BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES FOR WHICH 26
THE PROVIDER QUALIFI ES; AND 27
(II) ADOPTING A BUSINESS P LAN TO HELP THE PROV IDER MEET 28
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBTITLE. 29
HOUSE BILL 1441 21
(3) TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE, ORGANIZATIONS LISTED UNDER 1
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL WORK WITH PREKI NDERGARTEN 2
PROVIDER HUBS TO PRO VIDE SUPPORT. 3
(C) (D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBL ICIZE THE AVAILABILI TY OF 4
PUBLICLY FUNDED PREK INDERGARTEN PROGRAMS TO THE PUBLIC. 5
[7–1A–08.] 7–1A–10. 6
On or before December 1, 2021, and each December 1 thereafter, each county board 7
shall submit the following information, disaggregated by eligible private and eligible public 8
providers, to the Department and the Accountability and Implementati on Board 9
established under Title 5, Subtitle 4 of this article: 10
(1) The number of eligible prekindergarten providers in the county; 11
(2) The number of eligible prekindergarten providers in the county that, in 12
the immediately preceding calendar year, expanded to offer prekindergarten programs that 13
are open for pupil attendance a minimum of 6.5 hours during each school day; 14
(3) The Maryland EXCELS program quality rating level of each eligible 15
prekindergarten provider in the county; 16
(4) The participation rate of all county 3– and 4–year olds in eligible 17
prekindergarten providers established or expanded in accordance with this subtitle, 18
disaggregated by age and tier, if applicable; 19
(5) The number and proportion of eligible prekindergarten providers in the 20
county that are eligible private providers; 21
(6) A measure of school readiness in accordance with § 7–210 of this title; 22
and 23
(7) A demonstration that the expansion of prekindergarten programs in 24
the county gave priority to: 25
(i) Children in areas with limited or no access to quality child care, 26
regardless of family income; 27
(ii) Tier I children; and 28
(iii) Students with disabilities, regardless of family income. 29
[7–1A–09.] 7–1A–10. 7–1A–11. 30
The Department shall adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this subtitle. 31 22 HOUSE BILL 1441
9.5–903. 1
(a) There is a Child Care Incentive Grant Program. 2
(b) The Office may award funding to a child care provider through the program 3
for the purpose of improving the child care provider’s quality of care through the purchase 4
of Office–approved: 5
(1) Materials; 6
(2) Equipment; or 7
(3) Supplies. 8
(c) For each of fiscal years 2022 through [2030] 2032, funding for the program 9
shall increase by 10% over the prior fiscal year. 10
9.5–904. 11
(a) There is a Maryland Child Care Credential Program. 12
(b) An individual may apply to the Office for a staff credential, including a child 13
development associate credential, or an administrator credential under this subsection. 14
(c) If a person pursues, obtains, or already holds an Office–approved credential, 15
the Office may award to the individual: 16
(1) An achievement bonus; 17
(2) A training reimbursement; or 18
(3) A training voucher. 19
(d) (1) The Governor shall appropriate $4,000,000 for the program for fiscal 20
year 2021. 21
(2) For each of fiscal years 2022 through [2024] 2026, funding for the 22
program shall increase by 10% over the prior fiscal year. 23
(3) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPROP RIATE 24
FOR THE PROGRAM AN A MOUNT THAT IS AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE A MOUNT 25
APPROPRIATED IN FISC AL YEAR 2024. 26
HOUSE BILL 1441 23
(4) FOR EACH OF FISCAL YE ARS 2027 THROUGH 2030, THE 1
GOVERNOR SHALL APPROP RIATE FOR THE PROGRA M AN AMOUNT THAT IS AT LEAST 2
EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT APPROPRIATED IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR . 3
9.5–905. 4
(a) There is a Child Care Career and Professional Development Fund. 5
(b) The Office may award funding from the Fund to an individual who has: 6
(1) Obtained at least a level 2 in the Maryland Child Care Credential 7
Program under § 9.5–904 of this subtitle; 8
(2) Documented at least 1 year of experience working with groups of 9
children in an approved setting; [and] 10
(3) Been accepted by an accredited college or university for enrollment in 11
at least one course for credit toward a degree in early childhood education or A related field; 12
AND 13
(4) COMMITTED TO WORK IN AN APPROVED CHILD CA RE SETTING 14
FOR AT LEAST 20 HOURS PER WEEK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME DETERMINED BY T HE 15
OFFICE AFTER COMPLETI NG THE COURSE OF STU DY UNDER SUBSECTION (D)(2) OF 16
THIS SECTION. 17
(C) TO CARRY OUT THE PURP OSE OF THE PROGRAM, AWARDS SHALL BE 18
PRIORITIZED TO THE F OLLOWING APPLICANTS : 19
(1) AN APPLICANT WHO HAS NOT COMPLETED AN Y COLLEGE 20
COURSES FOR CREDIT F ROM AN ACCREDITED CO LLEGE OR UNIVERSITY ; AND 21
(2) AN APPLICANT WHO ATTE NDS OR HAS BEEN ACCE PTED BY AN 22
ACCREDITED COLLEGE O R UNIVERSITY THAT OF FERS NATIVE LANGUAGE OR 23
BILINGUAL COURSEWORK IN EARLY CHILDHO OD EDUCATION OR A RE LATED FIELD. 24
[(c)] (D) An award under this section may only be: 25
(1) Applied toward the cost of: 26
(i) Tuition and fees; or 27
(ii) Textbooks required by a course in which the awardee is enrolled; 28
and 29
24 HOUSE BILL 1441
(2) Used by the awardee for the actual expense of college coursework 1
incurred subsequent to an award toward the completion of: 2
(i) A college degree in early childhood education or a related field; 3
or 4
(ii) Developmental coursework required to meet prerequisites for a 5
degree program in early childhood education or a related field. 6
(E) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 7
IN ACCORDANCE WITH R EGULATIONS ADOPTED B Y THE DEPARTMENT , AN AWARD 8
RECIPIENT SHALL REPA Y THE OFFICE THE FUNDS RECE IVED UNDER T HIS SECTION 9
IF THE RECIPIENT DOE S NOT PERFORM THE SE RVICE OBLIGATION REQ UIRED 10
UNDER SUBSECTION (B)(4) OF THIS SECTION. 11
(2) THE OFFICE MAY WAIVE OR D EFER PAYMENT IF THE RECIPIENT 12
PROVIDES TO THE OFFICE SATISFACTORY E VIDENCE OF EXTENUATI NG 13
CIRCUMSTANCES , INCLUDING ILLNESS OR DISABILITY, THAT PREVENT THE 14
RECIPIENT FROM FULFI LLING THE SERVICE OB LIGATION REQUIRED UN DER 15
SUBSECTION (B)(4) OF THIS SECTION. 16
(F) FOR EACH OF FISCAL YE ARS 2026 THROUGH 2030, THE GOVERNOR 17
SHALL APPROPRIATE FO R THE FUND AN AMOUNT THA T IS AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE 18
AMOUNT APPROPRIATED IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR. 19
9.5–906. 20
(a) The Office shall award a program that participates in the Maryland EXCELS 21
Program a bonus: 22
(1) On initial publication of a quality rating level 1, 2, 3, or 4; 23
(2) On each publication of a higher quality rating level after the initial 24
publication; 25
(3) On initial publication of a quality rating level 5; and 26
(4) Annually on renewal and republication of a quality rating level 5. 27
(b) (1) The Governor shall appropriate in fiscal year 2023 $5,000,000. 28
(2) For each of fiscal years 2024 through [2028] 2030, funding for the 29
program shall increase by 10% over the prior fiscal year. 30
HOUSE BILL 1441 25
(3) FOR EACH OF FISCAL YE ARS 2029 AND 2030, THE GOVERNOR 1
SHALL APPROPRIATE FOR THE PROGRAM AN A MOUNT THAT IS AT LEA ST EQUAL TO 2
THE AMOUNT APPROPRIA TED IN THE PRIOR FIS CAL YEAR. 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 4
1, 2024. 5
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.