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MSDE proposes licensed outdoor nature‑based child care pilot for 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds
Summary
MSDE presented regulations to license outdoor full‑day, year‑round early care programs for 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds that operate primarily outdoors; the draft sets a 12‑child maximum, two adults required at all times, weather thresholds and initial licensing of five to ten pilot sites.
Dr. Cook (Maryland State Department of Education licensing) presented the Outdoor Nature Based Child Care (Lisonbee) Pilot Program regulations and asked the committee to recommend adoption for the consent agenda. She said the pilot is being implemented pursuant to Code of Maryland Education Article 9.5‑1102 and seeks to license outdoor early care and education programs that operate full‑day year‑round and focus on nature‑based learning for 3‑ and 4‑year‑old children.
Dr. Cook summarized key elements of the proposed pilot: programs would serve children ages 3 and 4 who would be outdoors for the program day (6 to 10 hours), a maximum program capacity of 12 children supervised by two adults at all times, and weather‑based prohibitions on outdoor operation in temperature zones deemed too cold or too hot (a chart was attached to the department materials). Program applicants must provide comprehensive applications that include policies and procedures and accommodations; programs may include an indoor shelter or indoor space for use during inclement weather.
Dr. Cook said MSDE consulted an Outdoor Early Care and Education Workgroup, met with stakeholders beginning in August 2023 and continued through mid‑2024, and took about 45–50 public comments on the proposed regulation. She said some public commenters asked for a lower cold‑temperature threshold (20°F) and for increased program capacity (up to 18 children), but MSDE recommended retaining the original thresholds and a 12‑child capacity to prioritize safety and supervision in mostly outdoor, unbounded settings.
Dr. Cook said the department expects to license about five to ten pilot programs statewide under the statute. She noted licensing staff are participating in national learning communities because Maryland is among the first states to implement a regulated all‑day outdoor early care license and MSDE will use the pilot to inform future rulemaking.
The committee had no additional questions and placed the proposed pilot on the consent agenda for the full board; MSDE will proceed per the statute to implement the pilot and gather data to refine regulations in the future.
