[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6297103,"mediaKeyId","2511278-4f5cc3ff7838e3f9dcf7181e95e323da","parentId",2511278,"title","MSDE outlines criteria, timelines for FY26 pre‑K expansion and Maryland ExCELS changes","audioSeconds",1377,"startMs",321824,"endMs",1699210,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2511278-4f5cc3ff7838e3f9dcf7181e95e323da&start=321&end=1699","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2511278-4f5cc3ff7838e3f9dcf7181e95e323da/thumbnail_321824.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6297103/Maryland/MSDE-outlines-criteria-timelines-for-FY26-preK-expansion-and-Maryland-ExCELS-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297103-fc192b0fc7a42285f37d80af0c8cf8ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137203&Signature=HwlkhnRLHuqKcmBhXNbhXSJuH9T604i6Z9jXGSIrJA37W1DtJrKdUrGisKPb92RgUJfaHQIv1UhO1aSQj6Vrxd8s66dDO9LFfUxbX9nWS~OPsqgxuQ7bLO~FNampBuzJTV~3~bBZ9hjTSrQhZ1PJTvY3hjnWvN5EbkP~O3b85ansG19U87gnbVYeiIXM5ghyjATJu0TP~KH276f23g606wgGOKsWjNHaJkgH2V-eESmC0bEAQfIs6DCco5usJ~3r-~gaE7Kxb-1xgt8UsS4njVuRI2i3of8JJMTcHL68V1ApDycBPdMGgDtNTuyrTDKIBH0CQkMygKDO8esjwqucwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MSDE TV","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","Maryland Department of Education officials told the State Board of Education’s Education Transformation Finance Committee on Feb. 1 that the FY26 pre‑kindergarten expansion grant will require participating programs to be published at a minimum Maryland ExCELS quality rating of 3 and to submit a five‑year plan to reach and maintain a quality rating of 5.

The briefing, presented by Jenna Smith (co‑interim assistant state superintendent, Division of Early Childhood), Tara Phillips (co‑interim assistant state superintendent and executive director, Division of Early Childhood) and Dr. Nikia Washington (prekindergarten and mixed delivery program manager), described eligibility rules for LEAs and private providers, application timing and planned changes to Maryland ExCELS intended to reduce duplicative evidence collection.

Why it matters: the pre‑K expansion grant is the state’s primary tool to broaden access to high‑quality prekindergarten under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. MSDE staff said changes to Maryland ExCELS and accreditation timelines are intended to help more community programs qualify for funding and reduce administrative burden on providers.

MSDE described the pre‑K expansion grant as a competitive, annually administered opportunity open to local education agencies (LEAs), licensed private providers and Head Start programs that supplement federally funded slots. The grant targets 3‑ and 4‑year‑old students from families with household incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level. Officials said eligibility requires that a program be participating in Maryland ExCELS and hold at least a published quality rating of 3 at application; LEAs may publish at level 4 and must demonstrate a plan to reach level 5 within five years.

Dr. Washington summarized the mixed delivery model the Blueprint promotes, noting it “provides choices for families” by permitting public providers (LEAs) and private providers (licensed childcare centers, family childcare homes, Head Start and other non‑LEA settings) to participate. She said a joint policy from the Accountability and Implementation Board and the State Board encourages public providers to prioritize tier‑1 4‑year‑olds while private providers are encouraged to serve tier‑1 3‑year‑olds and tier‑2 and tier‑3 4‑year‑olds.

On application mechanics, MSDE said the FY26 pre‑K expansion application must be submitted through a new online system and that a paper version will remain available as a reference. Officials said the application window typically opens in January–February and is open for 45 days; applications will be scored and reviewed on a rolling basis to accelerate notifications. Jenna Smith told the committee: “We have an anticipated release date of the state board meeting in February.”

Providers must submit the application with goals and objectives, budget documentation, proof of Maryland ExCELS rating and lead/assistant teacher credentials. For private providers, MSDE will conduct a license‑check before final awards to verify there have been no serious health or safety violations in the prior year, staff said. Programs funded through pre‑K expansion must remain in good standing — including compliance with licensing and fiscal guidelines — to retain funds.

Maryland ExCELS and accreditation: MSDE staff explained Maryland ExCELS is the state’s quality rating and improvement system with published ratings 1–5. The department accepts national and Maryland accreditation pathways as evidence of higher quality; accredited programs can publish at level 5. Officials noted an administrative change made in May 2024 that extended Maryland accreditation cycles from three years to five years to reduce administrative burden on providers.

Jenna Smith and Dr. Washington said MSDE plans to recommend revisions to Maryland ExCELS quality indicators to reduce the number of indicators and the amount of evidence programs must submit, and to better align Maryland ExCELS with Maryland and recognized national accreditation standards. Staff said those proposals will go to MSDE leadership and the board and then be available for public comment during FY26.

Board members asked for additional data and materials MSDE agreed to provide in future briefings: a crosswalk illustrating how Maryland ExCELS, Maryland accreditation and pre‑K grant requirements align; FY23 participation figures (the slides shown to the committee omitted FY23); geographic mapping of quality‑rated programs to show coverage relative to tier‑1 students; and trend data to assess whether the expansion grants are increasing access over time.

What changed, and what remains: officials said the department has already eased two burdens — the accreditation cycle extension and the online application — and is pursuing indicator reduction and alignment. They emphasized that accreditation and Maryland ExCELS remain separate systems that can reduce duplicated documentation when pathways are applied; for example, accredited evidence may satisfy corresponding ExCELS indicators without separate submission. They did not announce any formal regulatory changes; the recommendations will proceed through MSDE leadership and a public comment process.

MSDE also said it will provide technical assistance office hours and stakeholder sessions to support applicants through the new online submission process and encouraged prospective applicants to use the Maryland ExCELS readiness toolkits and program‑improvement resources when preparing applications.

The committee did not take a formal vote on any policy during the presentation. MSDE staff characterized the proposed changes as internal alignment and administrative simplifications to be presented for board consideration and public feedback.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Education Transformation & Finance Committee Meeting | Tuesday, February 11, 2025 | 4 pm - 5:30 pm","oneSentenceSummary","Maryland Department of Education officials told the State Board of Education’s Education Transformation Finance Committee on Feb. 1 that the FY26 pre‑kindergarten expansion grant will require participating programs to be published at a minimum Maryland ExCELS quality rating of 3 and to submit a five‑year plan to reach and maintain a quality rating of 5.","taxTitle","Maryland Department of Education, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",79256,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6297098,"MSDE staff report $3.46B in pandemic relief use; tutoring and staffing largest spending areas",1408,3696600,5104640,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2511278-4f5cc3ff7838e3f9dcf7181e95e323da&start=3696&end=5104","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2511278-4f5cc3ff7838e3f9dcf7181e95e323da/thumbnail_3696600.jpg","/articles/6297098/Maryland/MSDE-staff-report-346B-in-pandemic-relief-use-tutoring-and-staffing-largest-spending-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297098-623dbb2d95faba2af8eaeb618015a6b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137203&Signature=Hjd3Qz4v4fwO0qXo9V9pqpxgHBHWTS6LHb9tbG5RL9sGr8Zuki34BTcWRuBOXYV26WIcmJx343O-BcVrvNJomx78iADh97NYVHyStnuwjcozuk~7NyabqQuIeovOE0Ubfdj3--kLWyJCQQCsAZd-8AOF5386lXiMpO86BNtfwaZjJLcjCftr-abrq2va6eVyWCUjnBI6Y7uZz0YM35jiN4RUOo~W8YCMQPUxCd6OeG9g87oAc~WYMRlW6PXbEeRa3kWQJ9aoZzAoHjTbE9Wg9pkxqFi9tTnjSPpCX5IJktfFRv2MjvOpJogqWS2SDWXNdTO~wy1qQkRCtcmODr41Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Maryland Department of Education officials told the State Board’s Education Transformation Finance Committee on Feb. 1 that the department and local education agencies received about $3.464 billion in COVID‑relief education funds and that, as of Feb. 1, 2025, 84.3% of federal funds available in fiscal 2024 had been spent.

The update, delivered principally by Donna Gunning with assistance from Christian Tullor, reviewed how federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) tranches — CARES, CRRSA and ARP — and state fiscal relief funds were allocated and used, and provided a breakdown of spending categories, objects and selected program details, including the Maryland LEADS state set‑aside.

Why it matters: the briefing detailed how large pandemic relief sums were directed to tutoring, summer learning, technology and staffing and explained remaining balances, late‑liquidation approvals, and the department’s work to reconcile and clean federal grant accounting.

Big picture and timing: MSDE said the total reported to the committee included roughly $3.0 billion distributed through U.S. Department of Education ESSER formula programs plus additional funding routed through the governor and state/local fiscal relief funds. MSDE reported that LEAs are permitted to liquidate obligated funds under approved late‑liquidation requests through March 2026; the department had set some internal deadlines (for example, June 2025) for use of particular line items.

Spending priorities and amounts: presenters said the largest single use of funds was for tutoring and extended learning, supported through summer school, after‑school programs and contracted tutoring; summer school payments covered four summers (2020–2024) in varying degrees across LEAs. MSDE also said 36% of ESSER spending falls in “salaries and wages” objects overall, with instructional salaries and wages representing the largest slice within that object; the department clarified that a portion of salary spending included stipends and retention bonuses as well as substitutes for social‑distancing and extended learning. A department official summarized: “The use of these funds for permanent positions was minimal.”

Category and object detail: MSDE presented spending broken out by 13 statutory categories (instructional salaries/wages; student personnel; student health services; operations and maintenance; etc.) and then by objects (salaries/wages; contractual services; supplies; equipment; other). Contractual services was the second‑largest object, reflecting purchases of learning management systems, intervention program contracts and IT contracts. The “other supplies and materials” object included staff and student devices, peripherals and materials to support career and technical education at home.

Maryland LEADS: MSDE said it used the state set‑aside (the 10% reserved from ESSER CRRSA and ARP) to award $173.9 million in Maryland LEADS competitive grants across seven strategy areas. The department said partner organizations received subawards; MSDE reported that many remaining balances in LEADS awards are approved for late liquidation and largely tied to Grow Your Own tuition support, staff support and retention efforts and Science of Reading instructional purchases.

Fiscal cleanup and drawdowns: Gunning told the committee the department completed a large cleanup of federal grant accounting for 2019–2025, tying state reporting to federal reporting systems; she reported 91% of the federal funds that had been spent had been drawn down (reimbursed) from the U.S. Department of Education. MSDE said it expects LEAs to fully expend remaining balances but cautioned that invoice amounts lower than anticipated can leave unused balances that cannot be repurposed.

Board questions and follow‑up requests: board members asked about the evidence of effectiveness for tutoring and other interventions, geographic distribution of remaining balances and the degree to which spending maps to current strategic priorities. MSDE said federal reporting collections include counts of students served by tutoring and that staff would return with additional data and options to analyze links between spending and outcomes. The committee also asked MSDE to provide more granular cross‑cuts showing how ESSER spending aligns with MSDE strategic initiatives.

No formal votes were taken. MSDE said the team will continue reconciling older federal grants (2014–2018) and provide additional reporting to the committee on the effectiveness and distribution of funded activities.","Maryland Department of Education officials told the State Board’s Education Transformation Finance Committee on Feb. 1 that the department and local education agencies received about $3.464 billion in COVID‑relief education funds and that, as of Feb. 1, 2025, 84.3% of federal funds available in fiscal 2024 had been spent.","actionData","errors"]

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MSDE outlines criteria, timelines for FY26 pre‑K expansion and Maryland ExCELS changes

MSDE staff report $3.46B in pandemic relief use; tutoring and staffing largest spending areas