MSDE Announces Child Care Provider and Child Care Employee Bonus Program

Friday, October 28, 2022 - 3:00pm

Maryland State Department of Education Announces Child Care Provider and Child Care Employee Bonus Program

Grant Program Provides $16 Million in Bonuses and Support to Eligible Providers and Their Employees

BALTIMORE, MD (October 28, 2022) – The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) today announced the Child Care Provider and Employee Bonus Program. This program, established in Chapter 594 of 2021 (HB 1100), requires MSDE to distribute $16 million to child care providers to provide bonuses to those eligible child care providers and members of their respective staff on a first-come, first – serve basis as required by the law. Designed to help uplift and sustain the child care community, the bonuses recognize the contributions of existing child care workers and new hires into the child care field, and also support child care recruitment and hiring.

The $16 million in this program is divided by law into three categories: MSDE will allocate $10 million for $1,000 bonuses for existing employees and $4 million for new hires. The remaining $2 million will be distributed as $500 hiring assistance bonuses to providers to support the cost to recruit and hire, as well as help support the first month’s salary of new employees. All employees eligible to receive these bonuses must either be credentialed or in the process of being credentialed by the Maryland Child Care Credential Program.

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