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Child-care provider warns Maryland board that EXCELS policy will cost pre-K seats; state releases FY26 pre-K expansion grant
Summary
A Frederick County child-care owner told the State Board that a drop in her Maryland EXCELS rating — tied to non-preK-related licensing violations — will force her to lose 40 public pre-K seats and cost jobs. MSDE staff announced the FY26 pre-K expansion grant application is live and explained eligibility and Maryland EXCELS requirements.
A Frederick County child-care owner told the State Board on Feb. 20 that Maryland EXCELS rules tied to licensing violations outside pre-K programs will cause her program to lose 40 state-funded pre-K seats and force layoffs.
Cindy Webb, who said she owns two child-care centers that have served Frederick County since 2007, told the board her program’s EXCELS rating dropped from Level 5 to Level 1 after two licensing violations that were unrelated to her pre-K program. Webb said the timing of the drop makes her ineligible for the upcoming pre-K expansion grant cycle and that the resulting loss of 40 seats and four teachers could end her ability to operate.
“I 100% believe in accountability and policies that are fair and helpful,” Webb said. She asked the board to recommend a fair EXCELS policy for community-based pre-K providers that is equitable with how public schools are treated under the EXCELS framework.
MSDE staff and state officials explained the pre-K expansion grant process during the meeting. The Department released the FY26 pre-K expansion grant application the same day; applications must be filed electronically. MSDE said eligible applicants include local education agencies, Head Start programs, licensed private providers that participate in Maryland EXCELS, and family child-care homes that meet licensing and rating requirements. Programs rated at Level 3, 4 or 5 are eligible for pre-K grant funding; MSDE officials said programs may apply with a plan to reach higher ratings over a multi-year period.
Maryland EXCELS participation is voluntary but many quality-linked funding streams depend on published ratings. MSDE staff said approximately 70 percent of licensed child-care programs participate in EXCELS and about 34 percent of participating programs had published ratings at Level 3 or above as of Jan. 15, 2025.
Ending: Webb’s testimony highlighted provider concerns about how licensing enforcement and EXCELS interactions can affect access to publicly funded pre-K seats. MSDE staff said they are offering targeted technical assistance and outreach for Head Start and family providers and that the FY26 grant is now available online.
