The Child Care Career and Professional Development Fund (CCCPDF) is a tuition assistance program for child care providers to obtain a college education at participating colleges/universities in Maryland. Funding is available for child care providers to earn a college degree in the following areas:
- Early Childhood Education
- Child Development
- Elementary Education
- Special Education
The fund does not reimburse participants as the payments are made directly to the college or university. MSDE will notify applicants of whether or not they have received fund approval.
CCCPDF Grant Application Guide
Relevant Resources
- Application (Online submission only-Maryland OneStop)
- 5 Easy Steps to Submit an Application on Maryland OneStop
- CCCPDF Application Checklist IMPORTANT: (*CCCPDF Application Checklist must be signed by the participating college Coordinator before submitting to MSDE.*)
- CCCPDF-Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
- CCCPDF Pamphlet
- List of Participating Colleges
***NEW*** FUNDING NOW AVAILABLE FOR MASTER'S DEGREE
Application Due Dates
- First-time applications are due by March 1.
- Continuation applications are due by June 30.
- Transfer applications (students transferring from a participating 2-year college to a participating 4-year university) due by June 30
First-time applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority is given to applicants who have not yet completed any college courses for credit from an accredited college or university.
CCCPDF
CCCPDF applicants must meet the following requirements to receive funds (COMAR 13A.14.09):- Work in a licensed child care center or be a registered family child care provider in Maryland and work at least 10 hours per week
- Fulfill entrance requirements at the participating college of your choice
- Have at least one year of documented experience working with groups of children in an approved setting
- Maintain employment in child care in Maryland while participating in the Program
- Participate in professional development
- Agree to complete the child care service requirement in Maryland for at least 20 hours per week after completion of the degree and/or withdrawal from the fund
- Maintain at least a 2.50 cumulative GPA from the point of first entering the Program
Eligible candidates must:
Step 1: Contact the participating college of your choice using the list of Participating Colleges.
Step 2: Once accepted into the college of your choice, meet with the CCCPDF Coordinator at the college in which you were accepted. The Coordinator must review for completion and sign the application checklist before the application is submitted to MSDE. Applications that have not been reviewed by the Coordinator will be returned.
Step 3: Submit a completed CCCPDF application with the required documentation to the Office of Child Care -- Workforce Advancement Branch.
Fund recipients are required to complete the Service Commitment as stated in COMAR 13A.14.09.08. Upon acceptance of the Fund, the recipient commits continuing employment at least 10 hours per week as a provider in an approved child care facility for a period of time which is the shortest of:
(a) 1 month for each college credit successfully completed;
(b) 2 years for a completed associate degree;
(c) 4 years for a completed bachelor's degree; or
(d) 2.5 years for a completed master's degree.