Maryland expands accreditation cycle to five years for child care programs

The Education Transformation & Finance Committee Meeting held on February 11, 2025, focused on key updates regarding accreditation processes and quality ratings for educational programs in Maryland. The meeting, which took place from 4 PM to 5:30 PM, included discussions on the implications of extending accreditation periods and the impact of compliance issues on program ratings.

One significant topic addressed was the change in accreditation duration from three years to five years for Maryland programs. This adjustment aims to reduce the administrative burden on institutions, allowing them to focus on maintaining quality rather than repeatedly undergoing the accreditation process. Stakeholders had requested this change to align Maryland's accreditation cycle with national standards, which typically feature longer durations.

The committee clarified that while the accreditation is valid for five years, Maryland Excel's ratings must be renewed annually. Programs are required to demonstrate ongoing compliance with their accrediting organizations to maintain their quality ratings. If a program encounters severe licensing compliance issues, it could jeopardize its accreditation status. Specifically, if a program has open non-compliances during the accreditation process, it will not receive accreditation until those issues are resolved.

Additionally, the committee discussed how Maryland Excel ratings are affected by compliance inspections. Programs that receive citations during inspections may see their ratings lowered until the issues are addressed and the citations age out after 12 months. This system encourages continuous quality improvement while providing a structured timeline for addressing compliance issues.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing evaluation of these processes to ensure that educational programs in Maryland continue to meet high standards of quality and compliance. The committee plans to follow up on these discussions in future meetings, emphasizing the importance of maintaining educational excellence across the state.