90TP0153

Maryland Preschool Development Birth Through Five (PDG-B-5) - Maryland’s Preschool Development Grant B-5 (PDG B-5) funds will accelerate the momentum caused by the state’s investment of over $300 million in the past two years to strengthen the ECE system—primarily through the Child Care Scholarship Program and the Blueprint for MD’s Future, including Prekindergarten (PreK) expansion and family resource hubs supporting high-impact activities that expand access to high-quality ECE.

MD will launch an early childhood integrated data dashboard and develop a strategic roadmap to align with the state’s Blueprint and MSDE’s strategic vision.

MD will use PDG B-5 funds to:

(1) Reconcile fragmented elements into a unified system by (1A) aligning ECE workforce advancement pathways, (1B) supporting the development of a centralized PreK enrollment portal, and (1C) expanding the MD EXCELS Find A Program tool to better reflect quality across the full mixed-delivery system and increase transparency and family access;

(2) Expand program availability and sustainability by (2A) transforming child care resource centers into regional shared services and resource hubs that connect to licensing and quality supports, (2B) redesigning MD EXCELS to emphasize instructional quality through Classroom Assessment Scoring System® (CLASS) and LENA Grow, and (2C) integrating high-quality instructional materials into EXCELS and PreK through a one-time curriculum review; and

(3) Align and share information and data systems by (3A) modernizing MD’s Criminal Justice Information System to enable child care background check portability, (3B) improving the child care licensing portal for enhanced functionality and sustainability, and (3C) embedding user-centered design into MSDE’s ECE systems.

Maryland State Department Of Education

THE GOALS OF ALL PDG B-5 GRANTS INCLUDE: 1. UPDATING THEIR STATEWIDE BIRTH TO FIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND RELATED STRATEGIC PLAN TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS. 2. IMPROVING THE QUALITY, COORDINATION, COLLABORATION, AND ALIGNMENT OF AN INTEGRATED BIRTH THROUGH 5 EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION MIXED DELIVERY SYSTEM. 3. REACHING UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS AND INCREASING THEIR ACCESS TO ECE PROGRAMS BY MEANS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COORDINATED APPLICATION, ELIGIBILITY AND ENROLLMENT SYSTEM. 4. SUPPORTING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE THROUGH ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND AND SUPPORT FOR GAINING CREDENTIALS AND DEGREES. 5. INCORPORATING APPROACHES THAT PROMOTE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, STAFF, AND PROVIDERS. 6. SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE TRANSITIONS FOR CHILDREN B-5. 7. INCREASING PARENT KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS ALONG WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL PARENT LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT. 8. IMPROVING B-5 DATA COLLECTION, INTEGRATION, AND USE.

93.434 - Every Student Succeeds Act/Preschool Development Grants

Office of Grants Management (OGM) [HHS - ACF]

Office of Child Care (OCC) [HHS - ACF]

Maryland United States

State-Wide

FY 2025 Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) Systems-Building Grant (HHS-2025-ACF-ECD-TP-0016)