Maryland EXCELS Quality Ratings: Participation Data, Levels, and What Child Care Providers Need to Know
Maryland EXCELS Quality Ratings: Participation Data, Levels, and What Child Care Providers Need to Know
Maryland EXCELS Quality Ratings: Participation Data, Levels, and What Child Care Providers Need to Know
Running a child care program in Maryland means balancing quality, enrollment, and the bottom line. Maryland EXCELS, the state's quality rating system for child care, is tied to all three, and most programs already use it: 73% of licensed programs participate, according to the state's June 2026 report. And taking part pays.
A published Level 3, 4, or 5 rating earns higher Child Care Scholarship payments, and the state pays one-time bonuses to programs that publish a rating through June 30, 2027. A published rating also puts you in front of families searching the state's directory. This guide covers where Maryland programs stand, what each level requires, what ratings are worth financially, and the free help available to move up.
There’s more than one way to grow your business. Playground helps streamline all parts of your business for more efficiency and faster growth. Book a free demo to see it for yourself.
How many Maryland child care programs are in Maryland EXCELS?
Maryland EXCELS (Excellence Counts in Early Learning and School Age Care) has awarded ratings from Level 1 to Level 5 since 2013, according to Maryland's Blueprint overview. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) runs it, and it covers child care centers, school-age programs, family child care homes, and public prekindergarten (pre-K). Participation is free, and required to enroll children whose families use the Child Care Scholarship (CCS) – the state program that helps eligible families pay for child care.
As of June 2026, 73% of licensed child care programs in Maryland participate in EXCELS – or 4,825 of 6,642 of the state's center and home-based child care. Centers take part at a higher rate (85%) than family child care homes (65%), and 847 programs statewide hold the top Level 5 rating. The Maryland EXCELS website counted 5,421 participating programs and providers in October 2026.
A rating is "published" once you ask MSDE to make it public in the Find a Program directory, where families can search by program name, rating, location, and program type. Statewide, the published ratings look like this (counts include all program types, including public pre-K):
Rating | June 2025 | June 2026 | Share of June 2026 ratings |
Level 1 | 2,461 | 2,201 | 43.7% |
Level 2 | 431 | 508 | 10.1% |
Level 3 | 1,017 | 1,138 | 22.6% |
Level 4 | 259 | 341 | 6.8% |
Level 5 | 697 | 847 | 16.8% |
Total published ratings | 4,865 | 5,035 | 100% |
Source: Maryland EXCELS monthly data reports for June 2025 and June 2026 (MSDE; archived copies). The "Share of June 2026 ratings" column is our calculation.
By our calculation from the two reports, programs at Levels 3 through 5 grew from 1,973 to 2,326 over those twelve months, an increase of 353 programs (about 18%). Level 5 alone added 150 programs, from 697 to 847. Levels 3 through 5 are the levels that earn higher scholarship payments, covered below.
County patterns differ a lot. Baltimore City (91%) and Garrett County (100%) have the highest participation among licensed programs, while Kent (39%) and St. Mary's (42%) counties have the lowest:
County | Licensed programs | Share participating | Published ratings | Levels 3-5 | Level 5 |
Allegany | 50 | 88% | 55 | 41 | 20 |
Anne Arundel | 531 | 64% | 394 | 175 | 95 |
Baltimore | 870 | 77% | 655 | 286 | 65 |
Baltimore City | 664 | 91% | 589 | 239 | 39 |
Calvert | 117 | 62% | 69 | 28 | 12 |
Caroline | 61 | 54% | 35 | 18 | 8 |
Carroll | 163 | 60% | 111 | 74 | 36 |
Cecil | 87 | 64% | 58 | 31 | 6 |
Charles | 228 | 74% | 179 | 69 | 24 |
Dorchester | 52 | 73% | 41 | 24 | 6 |
Frederick | 398 | 58% | 241 | 114 | 55 |
Garrett | 19 | 100% | 24 | 16 | 11 |
Harford | 282 | 66% | 206 | 103 | 49 |
Howard | 423 | 67% | 284 | 106 | 45 |
Kent | 18 | 39% | 9 | 5 | 4 |
Montgomery | 1,200 | 76% | 894 | 475 | 199 |
Prince George's | 883 | 79% | 772 | 316 | 72 |
Queen Anne's | 75 | 49% | 42 | 17 | 8 |
Saint Mary's | 138 | 42% | 71 | 25 | 14 |
Somerset | 24 | 71% | 19 | 12 | 5 |
Talbot | 47 | 60% | 30 | 12 | 8 |
Washington | 164 | 72% | 141 | 78 | 39 |
Wicomico | 113 | 76% | 89 | 46 | 17 |
Worcester | 35 | 63% | 27 | 16 | 10 |
Statewide | 6,642 | 73% | 5,035 | 2,326 | 847 |
Source: June 2026 MSDE data report (archived copy).
Participation rates are measured against licensed child care programs and do not count public pre-K. The published-ratings columns include public pre-K programs.
What does each Maryland EXCELS level require?
EXCELS scores programs in five areas:
Licensing and compliance
Staff qualifications and professional development
Accreditation and rating scales (outside quality review and classroom assessments)
Developmentally appropriate learning and practice (how you plan and teach)
Administrative policies and practices (business and family-communication practices).
Your overall level is your lowest score across the five areas, so one weak area holds back your whole rating, as the state's legislative scoping evaluation explains.
The table summarizes what a child care center adds at each level, based on the May 2026 center standards. It is a summary, not the full rule set, but the two rules annotated below the table should be considered by first-time participants during planning.
Note that this table specifically refers to center-based care, while home-based care and school-age programs have their own standards on the Maryland EXCELS standards page.
Level | What a center adds at this level (highlights) |
Level 1 | Licensed, open, and operating; staff meet registration requirements; a family handbook or agreement; a positive behavior policy; family conferences offered |
Level 2 | Substantial compliance with child care regulations and no pending enforcement actions; the director and at least 50% of lead staff hold the qualifying Maryland credential (or equivalent training); the director completes MSDE-approved accreditation training; lesson planning guided by Healthy Beginnings or the Maryland Early Learning Standards; a screen time policy (no screen time under age 2); two types of family engagement; family conferences at least once a year; staff meetings at least four times a year; yearly staff evaluations |
Level 3 | A higher credential level; the director visits or talks with an accredited program; a self-assessment (the EXCELS Self-Assessment or the CLASS® classroom observation tool) for at least one classroom per age group; a written program improvement plan; participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) or an ineligibility form; fresh fruits or vegetables at least twice a week; three types of family engagement; monthly staff meetings; written yearly evaluations; a salary scale; transition plans |
Level 4 | Accreditation process started with an MSDE-recognized organization; a CLASS® assessment by an MSDE-approved assessor; curriculum aligned with the Maryland Early Learning Standards; family conferences twice a year; four types of family engagement; signed handbook receipts; employee benefits; whole grains plus fresh fruits or vegetables at least three times a week |
Level 5 | Accreditation awarded and in good standing; an improvement plan for any CLASS® area averaging below 5.00; rotated learning materials; children's input into classroom rules; five types of family engagement; whole grains plus fresh fruits or vegetables at least four times a week; ongoing child assessment such as portfolios and checklists |
Source: 2026 Maryland EXCELS Child Care Center Standards (May 2026), MSDE. Highlights only; see the standards for the full requirements and documentation.
Two important details will help you detail your specific plan if you are considering participation:
Programs at Levels 1 through 3 get one Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) visit every three years, an observation visit that helps you build an improvement plan. Programs at Levels 4 and 5 get a CLASS® assessment instead, which measures the quality of adult-child interactions (see MSDE's professional development page).
The Maryland Child Care Credential Program – which awards the staff credentials which several EXCELS requirements rely on – is not accepting applications from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027. If a missing credential is the only thing holding your program back, ask about an interim rating for the staff credential requirement (called "STF 1" in the online system), described in the toolkit FAQ.
Do higher Maryland EXCELS ratings pay more?
Maryland EXCELS pays out participating child care providers in two separate ways based on how they rank within the program.
Higher Child Care Scholarship payments at Levels 3, 4, and 5
Programs with a published Level 3, 4, or 5 rating receive "tiered reimbursement": an extra payment on top of the regular scholarship payment for each eligible child. It is a percentage of that child's scholarship amount. The extra payment starts with the first service period after you publish, appears as "EXCELS" on your Invoice Detail Report, and you can use it as you choose.
The percentages are on the Maryland EXCELS payments page and in state regulation COMAR 13A.14.06.06 (COMAR is the Code of Maryland Regulations).
Program type and child age | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
Child care center, under 2 | 22% | 37% | 44% |
Child care center, 2 and older | 10% | 19% | 26% |
Family child care, under 2 | 11% | 22% | 29% |
Family child care, 2 and older | 10% | 21% | 28% |
Source: Maryland EXCELS payments page and COMAR 13A.14.06.06(C).
One-time EXCELS bonuses for publishing a rating
Bonuses are flat, one-time payments funded through the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. Between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2027, a program earns one when it publishes a rating for the first time or republishes a Level 4 or 5. No application is needed, and MSDE typically pays within 60 days of publication by check or direct deposit. The amount is flat rather than per child, you can spend it as you choose, and it counts as taxable income, according to the MSDE bonus schedule. These are the fiscal year 2027 amounts:
Level | Center, capacity 1-50 | Center, 51-100 | Center, 101+ | Family child care | Large family child care |
Level 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Level 2 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,000 | $1,800 | $2,000 |
Level 3 | $3,000 | $3,500 | $4,000 | $2,800 | $3,000 |
Level 4 | $4,000 | $6,000 | $9,000 | $3,800 | $4,000 |
Level 5 | $4,500 | $9,000 | $13,500 | $4,300 | $4,500 |
Source: Maryland EXCELS bonus schedule, fiscal year 2027.
Two rules catch providers off guard. A program that publishes a Level 1 and later a Level 3 does not receive a Level 2 bonus, because the bonus is paid only for the rating at which you publish. And a program whose rating stays the same, below Level 4, does not receive another one. MSDE has said it will announce whether bonuses continue after June 30, 2027 if funding is available.
Getting started: Free help with your application and online account
An assigned EXCELS Program Coordinator
Every program accepted into EXCELS is assigned a Program Coordinator who reviews and rates the documents you upload and answers questions by phone and email. Reviews can take up to 30 days, per the program FAQ. If a document falls short, the coordinator leaves a comment beside that item on your dashboard, and new comments show a green flag.
Your coordinator comes with your account at excels.marylandexcels.org. For general questions, email info@marylandexcels.org.
The Maryland EXCELS Toolkit
An online toolkit organized by rating level, with checklists and quick guides for Levels 1 through 3 and tutorials for the online system.
To get the toolkit, visit the Maryland EXCELS Toolkit at marylandexcelstoolkit.org. Technology support is available 24/7 through the Help Desk menu or at 443-872-9250. Documents cannot be faxed or mailed, so everything is uploaded online.
Quality Assurance Specialists (QAS)
Each region has a Quality Assurance Specialist who offers on-site, phone, and email support, plus virtual trainings and work groups. The trainings are approved by MSDE's Office of Child Care and earn Core of Knowledge hours (training hours that count toward required professional development) and a certificate. Your QAS also conducts your CQI visit, and MSDE says your QAS is there to help you reach higher ratings.
Trainings are announced in monthly emails to EXCELS programs, and a QAS can help new participants create an account and take their first steps. To find yours, contact the EXCELS Support Team at info@marylandexcels.org.
Child Care Resource Centers
Maryland's seven regional Child Care Resource Centers belong to the Child Care Resource Network, which Maryland Family Network (MFN) coordinates with MSDE funding. They offer training, technical assistance, business coaching, licensing guidance, and access to child behavior support services. In fiscal year 2025, MFN reports, the network supported 17,754 child care professionals through coaching and technical assistance (MFN's fiscal year 2025 results).
Find your county in the table below, or contact MFN at MCCRNinfo@marylandfamilynetwork.org or (410) 659-7701.
Region | Counties | Center and phone |
Baltimore City | Baltimore City | The Family Tree, (410) 889-2300 |
Central Maryland North | Baltimore, Cecil, Harford | Abilities Network Project ACT, (410) 828-7700 |
Central Maryland South | Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, St. Mary's | Child Resource Connect, Largo (301) 772-8420 or Annapolis (443) 782-5001 |
Eastern Shore | Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester | Eastern Shore Child Care Resource Center, (410) 543-6650 |
Howard County | Howard | Howard County Child Care Resource Center, (410) 313-1940 |
Montgomery | Montgomery County Child Care Support Services, (240) 777-4769 | |
Western Maryland | Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Washington | Child Care Choices, (301) 663-0011 |
Source: Maryland Family Network, Child Care Resource Network (regional center contacts).
How do you apply for a Maryland EXCELS rating, publish it, and renew it?
Apply: Log in at excels.marylandexcels.org, choose "Complete a Program Application," and look up your program with your license number. Applications are reviewed within 30 days, per MSDE's application guide. You can apply as soon as you are licensed or registered, even with no children enrolled, and reach at least Level 1 that way. Some requirements at Level 2 and above depend on enrollment.
Build your evidence: Upload documents for each requirement, and confirm each is your original work or used with the author's permission.
Publish within 12 months of acceptance: State regulations require a request to publish within a year (COMAR 13A.14.14.05), and programs that accept CCS must do so to stay eligible for scholarship payments.
Renew every year: Published ratings are valid for 12 months after publication (see the Must Publish By date on your Program Card). You can submit evidence for a higher level at any time without waiting for renewal.
Be ready for visits: Programs must be available for site visits and for CQI visits or CLASS® assessments.
A rating can also change. It may go up if you submit new evidence, and it can be reduced or removed if accreditation lapses, if your license or compliance status changes, if the program is not in substantial compliance or faces an enforcement action, or if certain complaints are substantiated (injurious treatment, child protection, supervision, or capacity). You can ask for a review in writing within 30 calendar days of a removal, reduction, or denial, under the same regulation.
What paperwork should you have ready for a rating review?
The standards list specific documentation for each requirement. Centers aiming for Levels 3 through 5 should plan to have these on hand:
Staff and credentials: A director and lead staff list, plus credential certificates or equivalent training records
Accreditation and assessment: Accreditation training and interview forms, self-assessment score sheets, CLASS® summary reports, and a written program improvement plan
Learning program: Daily schedules for each age group, a philosophy statement, a learning materials statement, a positive behavior policy, a screen time policy, curriculum and lesson planning statements, recent lesson plans, and a developmental checklist
Family communication: A family handbook, signed handbook receipts, a conference schedule, and records of engagement opportunities offered to families
Operations: Proof of participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) or an ineligibility form, weekly menus from the past month, staff meeting schedules with agendas and sign-in sheets, performance evaluation tools, a staff handbook with signed receipts, a salary scale, and transition plan statements
Licensing records need no upload, because MSDE reviews them directly. Keeping these documents organized in one place, whether in a shared drive or in a child care management system such as Playground, makes the annual renewal much faster than rebuilding the file each time.
Playground maintains all of your documentation for as long as you need or want, available digitally on demand for inspections and reporting. Book a free demo to see how it can help you get and maintain an EXCELS rating, along with the rest of its features built to streamline child care businesses.
Running a child care program in Maryland means balancing quality, enrollment, and the bottom line. Maryland EXCELS, the state's quality rating system for child care, is tied to all three, and most programs already use it: 73% of licensed programs participate, according to the state's June 2026 report. And taking part pays.
A published Level 3, 4, or 5 rating earns higher Child Care Scholarship payments, and the state pays one-time bonuses to programs that publish a rating through June 30, 2027. A published rating also puts you in front of families searching the state's directory. This guide covers where Maryland programs stand, what each level requires, what ratings are worth financially, and the free help available to move up.
There’s more than one way to grow your business. Playground helps streamline all parts of your business for more efficiency and faster growth. Book a free demo to see it for yourself.
How many Maryland child care programs are in Maryland EXCELS?
Maryland EXCELS (Excellence Counts in Early Learning and School Age Care) has awarded ratings from Level 1 to Level 5 since 2013, according to Maryland's Blueprint overview. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) runs it, and it covers child care centers, school-age programs, family child care homes, and public prekindergarten (pre-K). Participation is free, and required to enroll children whose families use the Child Care Scholarship (CCS) – the state program that helps eligible families pay for child care.
As of June 2026, 73% of licensed child care programs in Maryland participate in EXCELS – or 4,825 of 6,642 of the state's center and home-based child care. Centers take part at a higher rate (85%) than family child care homes (65%), and 847 programs statewide hold the top Level 5 rating. The Maryland EXCELS website counted 5,421 participating programs and providers in October 2026.
A rating is "published" once you ask MSDE to make it public in the Find a Program directory, where families can search by program name, rating, location, and program type. Statewide, the published ratings look like this (counts include all program types, including public pre-K):
Rating | June 2025 | June 2026 | Share of June 2026 ratings |
Level 1 | 2,461 | 2,201 | 43.7% |
Level 2 | 431 | 508 | 10.1% |
Level 3 | 1,017 | 1,138 | 22.6% |
Level 4 | 259 | 341 | 6.8% |
Level 5 | 697 | 847 | 16.8% |
Total published ratings | 4,865 | 5,035 | 100% |
Source: Maryland EXCELS monthly data reports for June 2025 and June 2026 (MSDE; archived copies). The "Share of June 2026 ratings" column is our calculation.
By our calculation from the two reports, programs at Levels 3 through 5 grew from 1,973 to 2,326 over those twelve months, an increase of 353 programs (about 18%). Level 5 alone added 150 programs, from 697 to 847. Levels 3 through 5 are the levels that earn higher scholarship payments, covered below.
County patterns differ a lot. Baltimore City (91%) and Garrett County (100%) have the highest participation among licensed programs, while Kent (39%) and St. Mary's (42%) counties have the lowest:
County | Licensed programs | Share participating | Published ratings | Levels 3-5 | Level 5 |
Allegany | 50 | 88% | 55 | 41 | 20 |
Anne Arundel | 531 | 64% | 394 | 175 | 95 |
Baltimore | 870 | 77% | 655 | 286 | 65 |
Baltimore City | 664 | 91% | 589 | 239 | 39 |
Calvert | 117 | 62% | 69 | 28 | 12 |
Caroline | 61 | 54% | 35 | 18 | 8 |
Carroll | 163 | 60% | 111 | 74 | 36 |
Cecil | 87 | 64% | 58 | 31 | 6 |
Charles | 228 | 74% | 179 | 69 | 24 |
Dorchester | 52 | 73% | 41 | 24 | 6 |
Frederick | 398 | 58% | 241 | 114 | 55 |
Garrett | 19 | 100% | 24 | 16 | 11 |
Harford | 282 | 66% | 206 | 103 | 49 |
Howard | 423 | 67% | 284 | 106 | 45 |
Kent | 18 | 39% | 9 | 5 | 4 |
Montgomery | 1,200 | 76% | 894 | 475 | 199 |
Prince George's | 883 | 79% | 772 | 316 | 72 |
Queen Anne's | 75 | 49% | 42 | 17 | 8 |
Saint Mary's | 138 | 42% | 71 | 25 | 14 |
Somerset | 24 | 71% | 19 | 12 | 5 |
Talbot | 47 | 60% | 30 | 12 | 8 |
Washington | 164 | 72% | 141 | 78 | 39 |
Wicomico | 113 | 76% | 89 | 46 | 17 |
Worcester | 35 | 63% | 27 | 16 | 10 |
Statewide | 6,642 | 73% | 5,035 | 2,326 | 847 |
Source: June 2026 MSDE data report (archived copy).
Participation rates are measured against licensed child care programs and do not count public pre-K. The published-ratings columns include public pre-K programs.
What does each Maryland EXCELS level require?
EXCELS scores programs in five areas:
Licensing and compliance
Staff qualifications and professional development
Accreditation and rating scales (outside quality review and classroom assessments)
Developmentally appropriate learning and practice (how you plan and teach)
Administrative policies and practices (business and family-communication practices).
Your overall level is your lowest score across the five areas, so one weak area holds back your whole rating, as the state's legislative scoping evaluation explains.
The table summarizes what a child care center adds at each level, based on the May 2026 center standards. It is a summary, not the full rule set, but the two rules annotated below the table should be considered by first-time participants during planning.
Note that this table specifically refers to center-based care, while home-based care and school-age programs have their own standards on the Maryland EXCELS standards page.
Level | What a center adds at this level (highlights) |
Level 1 | Licensed, open, and operating; staff meet registration requirements; a family handbook or agreement; a positive behavior policy; family conferences offered |
Level 2 | Substantial compliance with child care regulations and no pending enforcement actions; the director and at least 50% of lead staff hold the qualifying Maryland credential (or equivalent training); the director completes MSDE-approved accreditation training; lesson planning guided by Healthy Beginnings or the Maryland Early Learning Standards; a screen time policy (no screen time under age 2); two types of family engagement; family conferences at least once a year; staff meetings at least four times a year; yearly staff evaluations |
Level 3 | A higher credential level; the director visits or talks with an accredited program; a self-assessment (the EXCELS Self-Assessment or the CLASS® classroom observation tool) for at least one classroom per age group; a written program improvement plan; participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) or an ineligibility form; fresh fruits or vegetables at least twice a week; three types of family engagement; monthly staff meetings; written yearly evaluations; a salary scale; transition plans |
Level 4 | Accreditation process started with an MSDE-recognized organization; a CLASS® assessment by an MSDE-approved assessor; curriculum aligned with the Maryland Early Learning Standards; family conferences twice a year; four types of family engagement; signed handbook receipts; employee benefits; whole grains plus fresh fruits or vegetables at least three times a week |
Level 5 | Accreditation awarded and in good standing; an improvement plan for any CLASS® area averaging below 5.00; rotated learning materials; children's input into classroom rules; five types of family engagement; whole grains plus fresh fruits or vegetables at least four times a week; ongoing child assessment such as portfolios and checklists |
Source: 2026 Maryland EXCELS Child Care Center Standards (May 2026), MSDE. Highlights only; see the standards for the full requirements and documentation.
Two important details will help you detail your specific plan if you are considering participation:
Programs at Levels 1 through 3 get one Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) visit every three years, an observation visit that helps you build an improvement plan. Programs at Levels 4 and 5 get a CLASS® assessment instead, which measures the quality of adult-child interactions (see MSDE's professional development page).
The Maryland Child Care Credential Program – which awards the staff credentials which several EXCELS requirements rely on – is not accepting applications from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027. If a missing credential is the only thing holding your program back, ask about an interim rating for the staff credential requirement (called "STF 1" in the online system), described in the toolkit FAQ.
Do higher Maryland EXCELS ratings pay more?
Maryland EXCELS pays out participating child care providers in two separate ways based on how they rank within the program.
Higher Child Care Scholarship payments at Levels 3, 4, and 5
Programs with a published Level 3, 4, or 5 rating receive "tiered reimbursement": an extra payment on top of the regular scholarship payment for each eligible child. It is a percentage of that child's scholarship amount. The extra payment starts with the first service period after you publish, appears as "EXCELS" on your Invoice Detail Report, and you can use it as you choose.
The percentages are on the Maryland EXCELS payments page and in state regulation COMAR 13A.14.06.06 (COMAR is the Code of Maryland Regulations).
Program type and child age | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
Child care center, under 2 | 22% | 37% | 44% |
Child care center, 2 and older | 10% | 19% | 26% |
Family child care, under 2 | 11% | 22% | 29% |
Family child care, 2 and older | 10% | 21% | 28% |
Source: Maryland EXCELS payments page and COMAR 13A.14.06.06(C).
One-time EXCELS bonuses for publishing a rating
Bonuses are flat, one-time payments funded through the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. Between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2027, a program earns one when it publishes a rating for the first time or republishes a Level 4 or 5. No application is needed, and MSDE typically pays within 60 days of publication by check or direct deposit. The amount is flat rather than per child, you can spend it as you choose, and it counts as taxable income, according to the MSDE bonus schedule. These are the fiscal year 2027 amounts:
Level | Center, capacity 1-50 | Center, 51-100 | Center, 101+ | Family child care | Large family child care |
Level 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Level 2 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,000 | $1,800 | $2,000 |
Level 3 | $3,000 | $3,500 | $4,000 | $2,800 | $3,000 |
Level 4 | $4,000 | $6,000 | $9,000 | $3,800 | $4,000 |
Level 5 | $4,500 | $9,000 | $13,500 | $4,300 | $4,500 |
Source: Maryland EXCELS bonus schedule, fiscal year 2027.
Two rules catch providers off guard. A program that publishes a Level 1 and later a Level 3 does not receive a Level 2 bonus, because the bonus is paid only for the rating at which you publish. And a program whose rating stays the same, below Level 4, does not receive another one. MSDE has said it will announce whether bonuses continue after June 30, 2027 if funding is available.
Getting started: Free help with your application and online account
An assigned EXCELS Program Coordinator
Every program accepted into EXCELS is assigned a Program Coordinator who reviews and rates the documents you upload and answers questions by phone and email. Reviews can take up to 30 days, per the program FAQ. If a document falls short, the coordinator leaves a comment beside that item on your dashboard, and new comments show a green flag.
Your coordinator comes with your account at excels.marylandexcels.org. For general questions, email info@marylandexcels.org.
The Maryland EXCELS Toolkit
An online toolkit organized by rating level, with checklists and quick guides for Levels 1 through 3 and tutorials for the online system.
To get the toolkit, visit the Maryland EXCELS Toolkit at marylandexcelstoolkit.org. Technology support is available 24/7 through the Help Desk menu or at 443-872-9250. Documents cannot be faxed or mailed, so everything is uploaded online.
Quality Assurance Specialists (QAS)
Each region has a Quality Assurance Specialist who offers on-site, phone, and email support, plus virtual trainings and work groups. The trainings are approved by MSDE's Office of Child Care and earn Core of Knowledge hours (training hours that count toward required professional development) and a certificate. Your QAS also conducts your CQI visit, and MSDE says your QAS is there to help you reach higher ratings.
Trainings are announced in monthly emails to EXCELS programs, and a QAS can help new participants create an account and take their first steps. To find yours, contact the EXCELS Support Team at info@marylandexcels.org.
Child Care Resource Centers
Maryland's seven regional Child Care Resource Centers belong to the Child Care Resource Network, which Maryland Family Network (MFN) coordinates with MSDE funding. They offer training, technical assistance, business coaching, licensing guidance, and access to child behavior support services. In fiscal year 2025, MFN reports, the network supported 17,754 child care professionals through coaching and technical assistance (MFN's fiscal year 2025 results).
Find your county in the table below, or contact MFN at MCCRNinfo@marylandfamilynetwork.org or (410) 659-7701.
Region | Counties | Center and phone |
Baltimore City | Baltimore City | The Family Tree, (410) 889-2300 |
Central Maryland North | Baltimore, Cecil, Harford | Abilities Network Project ACT, (410) 828-7700 |
Central Maryland South | Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, St. Mary's | Child Resource Connect, Largo (301) 772-8420 or Annapolis (443) 782-5001 |
Eastern Shore | Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester | Eastern Shore Child Care Resource Center, (410) 543-6650 |
Howard County | Howard | Howard County Child Care Resource Center, (410) 313-1940 |
Montgomery | Montgomery County Child Care Support Services, (240) 777-4769 | |
Western Maryland | Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Washington | Child Care Choices, (301) 663-0011 |
Source: Maryland Family Network, Child Care Resource Network (regional center contacts).
How do you apply for a Maryland EXCELS rating, publish it, and renew it?
Apply: Log in at excels.marylandexcels.org, choose "Complete a Program Application," and look up your program with your license number. Applications are reviewed within 30 days, per MSDE's application guide. You can apply as soon as you are licensed or registered, even with no children enrolled, and reach at least Level 1 that way. Some requirements at Level 2 and above depend on enrollment.
Build your evidence: Upload documents for each requirement, and confirm each is your original work or used with the author's permission.
Publish within 12 months of acceptance: State regulations require a request to publish within a year (COMAR 13A.14.14.05), and programs that accept CCS must do so to stay eligible for scholarship payments.
Renew every year: Published ratings are valid for 12 months after publication (see the Must Publish By date on your Program Card). You can submit evidence for a higher level at any time without waiting for renewal.
Be ready for visits: Programs must be available for site visits and for CQI visits or CLASS® assessments.
A rating can also change. It may go up if you submit new evidence, and it can be reduced or removed if accreditation lapses, if your license or compliance status changes, if the program is not in substantial compliance or faces an enforcement action, or if certain complaints are substantiated (injurious treatment, child protection, supervision, or capacity). You can ask for a review in writing within 30 calendar days of a removal, reduction, or denial, under the same regulation.
What paperwork should you have ready for a rating review?
The standards list specific documentation for each requirement. Centers aiming for Levels 3 through 5 should plan to have these on hand:
Staff and credentials: A director and lead staff list, plus credential certificates or equivalent training records
Accreditation and assessment: Accreditation training and interview forms, self-assessment score sheets, CLASS® summary reports, and a written program improvement plan
Learning program: Daily schedules for each age group, a philosophy statement, a learning materials statement, a positive behavior policy, a screen time policy, curriculum and lesson planning statements, recent lesson plans, and a developmental checklist
Family communication: A family handbook, signed handbook receipts, a conference schedule, and records of engagement opportunities offered to families
Operations: Proof of participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) or an ineligibility form, weekly menus from the past month, staff meeting schedules with agendas and sign-in sheets, performance evaluation tools, a staff handbook with signed receipts, a salary scale, and transition plan statements
Licensing records need no upload, because MSDE reviews them directly. Keeping these documents organized in one place, whether in a shared drive or in a child care management system such as Playground, makes the annual renewal much faster than rebuilding the file each time.
Playground maintains all of your documentation for as long as you need or want, available digitally on demand for inspections and reporting. Book a free demo to see how it can help you get and maintain an EXCELS rating, along with the rest of its features built to streamline child care businesses.
Jaclyn is a data journalist and CFP™ who evaluates trends in the childcare industry and wider economy. She has previously worked for publications including CNET, SmartAsset, Bizfluent, AZCentral and Chron, and as a research consultant for NAPCO Media. Her insights are often cited by publications including Bloomberg, CNBC, Business Insider, Fox News, USA Today, The Hill and more. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from The College of New Jersey.
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