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Landmark legislation will help parents earn, children learn

Sunday Star - 3/26/2018

BALTIMORE - The Maryland General Assembly has enacted a significant victory for early care and education in more than a decade. After years of neglect, and with Maryland under increasing scrutiny from the federal government, "Education - Child Care Subsidies - Mandatory Funding Levels" (SB 379/HB 430) will raise the state's low child care subsidy rates. Low-income working parents across Maryland will gain significant help in finding and paying for safe, quality child care. The legislation was spearheaded by Sen. Nancy King (D-Montgomery Co.) and Del. Adrienne Jones (D-Balt.), with support from Sen. Ed Kasemeyer (D-Balt./Howard Cos) and Del. Maggie McIntosh (D-Balt. City), committee chairmen.

Working families participating in the program (whose income eligibility is capped at $29,990 for a family of three) have been forced to choose among the cheapest 10 percent of child care options in their communities. Thanks to the subsidy rate, increases required by this legislation, these families soon will gain access to up to 60 percent of child care programs near where they live or work. The rates will rise gradually in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to reach that level.

While Maryland's Child Care Subsidy Program has ranked at or very near the bottom of all 50 states, this landmark legislation will bring Maryland closer to achieving the "equal access" to care for families required by federal law. The last time child care subsidy rates were increased significantly in Maryland was in 2007.

Advocates in Annapolis have worked tirelessly on this issue so that children can receive higher quality care while their parents pursue their own employment and education goals. The legislation also provides an incentive for more child care providers (mostly small business owners) to serve subsidy-eligible families, and it gives a particular boost to those programs providing care in Maryland's lowest-income communities.

Advocates also commend Gov. Larry Hogan for eliminating the Child Care Subsidy Program wait list, effective Feb. 1, and for his promise to give a modest subsidy rate increase beginning in July. These actions have buoyed hopes that the legislation just enacted will win the governor's support, as well.