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

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.