Want to Learn More?

Visit us online at

www.marylandexcels.org

Download the free mobile app at the Apple Store or Google Play.

Visit the Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Early Childhood Development website at http://earlychildhood. marylandpublicschools.org

A Quality Rating System

to Recognize Excellence

in Early Childhood and

School-Age Programs

www.marylandexcels.org

Maryland EXCELS is a Quality Rating and Improvement System that:

• Recognizestheaccomplishmentsofearlychildhoodandschool-ageprograms;

• Providesinformationtofamiliesonchoosingqualitycareandeducation;and

• Articulatestothepublicthelevelofqualityinearlyeducationandschool-agechildcareprograms.

MarylandEXCELSawardsratingsthroughfiveprogressivequalitylevelsthatdefineapathwaytoexcellence.WhenaprogramjoinsMarylandEXCELS,theprogramhasmadeacommitmenttocontinuousqualityimprovement.ThisratingsystemhelpsMarylandachievethefollowinggoals:

• Torecognizechildcareandearlyeducationprogramsthatprovidehigh-qualityexperiencesforchildren;

• Toencourageprogramstoincreasethelevelofqualitytheyprovideandtodefineapathwaytohelpthemachieveexcellence;

• Toprovidefamilieswithinformationandchoicesabouthigh-qualityearlychildhoodandschool-agecareoptions.

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Why is high-quality child care and early education so important?

Childrenwhodowellinschooltypicallydowellinlife.Childrenwhoarepreparedwhentheystartschoolaremorelikelytodowellthroughouttheirschoolcareers.High-qualitychildcarehelpschildrengainessentialskillstheyneedtobesuccessfullearnerssuchas:

• Social,emotionalandcommunicationskills;

• Pre-literacyandbasicmathematicalskills

andconcepts;and

• Anawarenessoftheirenvironmentandtherolesofthepeopleinit.

How do families choose child care or other early education programs?

Therearemanyvariablesthatimpactchildcarechoicesforfamilies.Thecost,locationandhoursofoperationarebasicconsiderations–butjustasimportantisthequalityofcare.High-qualitychildcareandearlyeducationensuresthat:

• Childrenareinasafe,healthyanddevelopmentallyappropriateenvironment;

• Thestaffiswell-trained,promotespositiveinteractionsandisresponsivetotheneedsofallchildren;and

• Learningopportunitiesareavailableforallchildrenbaseduponcurriculumplanningthatincludeschildren’sinterestsandskills,andwithactivitiesthatwillhelppreparethemforKindergartenandbeyond.

Whileeveryfamilydeservesthesequalitiesinanearlyeducationorchildcareprogram,it’snotalwayseasytotellwhetheraprogramprovidesthem.Thereforechildcareandearlyeducationprograms–whethertheyarebasedinacenter,ahomeorapublicschool–needwaystodescribethemselvestofamilies,topaintapictureofthequalityservicestheyprovide.

How does Maryland EXCELS help early childhood and child care programs?

MarylandEXCELS:• Recognizesthequalityworkprogramsare

alreadyoffering;

• ProvidesfreemarketingsothatfamilieslookingforchildcarecanlocateMarylandEXCELSprogramswithamobileapporwebsite;

• Offerspersonalizedtechnicalsupportstoachievehigherratingsandimprovethequalityandmarketprofileofprograms;and

• Helpsyouachieveyourgoalofprovidingthehighest-qualitycarepossibletothechildrenyouworkwitheveryday.

How does Maryland EXCELS help families?

MarylandEXCELShelpsfamiliesby:

• Providinginformationonservicesthatmeettheindividualneedsofyourchild;

• Helpingyoufindandchooseahigh-qualitychildcareprograminyourarea;and

• ImprovingthequalityofchildcareandearlyeducationthroughoutMarylandbyofferingparticipatingprogramsincentivesandsupportsthatencourageandrewardthemfortheirparticipationandforincreasingtheirqualitylevelrating.

www.marylandexcels.org

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