Register

American Rescue Plan Townhall

with the MSDE Division of Early Childhood

Join this virtual public forums to share your recommendations for how to allocate the historic investments into Early Childhood Care and Education made possible through the American Rescue Act.

The MSDE Division of Early Childhood invites you to attend one of the online public forums to share your recommendations for how to allocate the historic investments into Early Childhood Care and Education made possible through the American Rescue Act.

In response to the urgent need to address the child care system crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 public health emergency, Congress passed and President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, which included nearly $15 billion in supplemental Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) Discretionary funds to states, territories, and tribes to support child care.  Maryland received $193 million of these supplementary funds. Together with the $309 million in ARPA stabilization grants, this is an important opportunity for the state to address the child care crisis and rebuild toward a stronger system.

The Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Early Childhood invites stakeholders and interested individuals to participate in one of three Virtual Town Halls to discuss the needs of the child care community and how best to allocate this historic investment.  Federal guidance for the ARPA CCDF Discretionary Supplemental Funds can be found here: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/policy-guidance/ccdf-acf-im-2021-03. Lead agencies may use supplemental funds for any activities allowable under the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act and CCDF regulations.  These activities are not restricted to responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency. In addition, the Federal guidance encourages states to use funds in a way that allows parents equal access to high quality child care, supports the developmental and learning needs of children, meets parents’ employment needs and child care preferences, and supports a professionalized workforce that is fairly and appropriately

compensated for the essential skilled work that they do.

Please join us at one of our Virtual Town Halls by registering below.  You may also send written comments to earlychildhood.msde@maryland.gov by August 31, 2021.  We look forward to engaging in conversation with you.

      Monday, August 23, 2021 from 2:00pm-4:00pm

       Wednesday, August 25, 2021 from 7:00pm-9:00pm

         Saturday, August 28, 2021 from 9:00am-11:00am

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL REGISTRATION

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