Announcements
MSDE has received a federal Race To the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant under a program that is co-managed by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Maryland is one of only nine states awarded the grant. Click here for details about the grant award.
NOTE: The Maryland EXCELS program now has its own home page on the DECD website – click here!
New! Maryland EXCELS Video - Learn how Maryland’s new Quality Rating and Improvement System, Maryland EXCELS, supports the needs of families and recognizes the accomplishments of high-quality early childhood and school-age programs. Maryland EXCELS opens for statewide participation on July 1, 2013. Click here to download a video about Maryland EXCELS!
NEW! The MSDE Division of Early Childhood Development has completed a draft of the Early Learning Standards for the Social Foundations Domain. Click here for information about the draft standards and how to submit comments on them. Comments will be accepted through May 15th.
NEW! The MSDE Division of Early Childhood Development has completed the MSDE Standards for Implementing Quality School-Age Child Care Programs. Click here to go to a Division blogsite where you can review the instrument and provide feedback.
Join the Division of Early Childhood’s List Serve to receive notifications of Partners Newsletter publication, child care licensing regulation changes and important notices for the early childhood and school-age child care community at http://listsrv.msde.state.md.us. Select "EARLY CHILDHOOD" from the list and follow the instructions to subscribe.
Online Child Care Licensing Inspection Findings - MSDE has an online child care licensing inspection results site – www.CheckCCMD.org! The site offers detailed compliance findings from child care licensing inspections conducted since January 2011, as well as links to a wide range of information about early care and education in Maryland.
Register your program at Let’s Move! Child Care and do your part to create a healthier Maryland. “The risk of obesity starts early in life. Over half of obese children become overweight by the age of 2, and approximately one in five children are overweight or obese by their 6th birthday.” – The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity. Get the support you need to give the children in your care a healthier start. Click here to register.
On January 20, 2012, the MSDE Division of Early Childhood Development presented its 1st Early Childhood Research Forum on the Towson University campus. Click here to read all about this unique and energizing event.
The MSDE Division of Early Childhood Development (DECD) has finalized its 3-year