Maryland Freezes New Enrollments in Child Care Scholarship Program Amid Surging Demand

Beginning May 1, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) will pause new enrollments for its Child Care Scholarship (CCS) Program, citing a sharp rise in participation and limited funding capacity. The temporary measure is being implemented to manage the program’s sustainability while ensuring uninterrupted support for families already receiving benefits.

Since early 2023, the CCS Program has seen an 87% increase in demand, with more than 21,000 additional children enrolling in just over two years. This surge has significantly strained available funding. Families who are currently enrolled will continue to receive benefits as long as they remain eligible and complete required recertification processes. Payments to child care providers for these children will also continue without change.

Applications for the scholarship program will still be accepted during the freeze. However, new applicants will be placed on a waitlist and approved for scholarships only as funding becomes available. This measure allows the MSDE to manage application flow while remaining transparent about future availability.

The enrollment freeze applies only to publicly funded scholarship recipients. Families paying for child care privately are not affected and can still enroll with providers who accept private payments. To support both providers and families, the MSDE plans to distribute resources explaining the freeze and will issue ongoing updates about the program’s status.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the Maryland State Department of Education press release.

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