Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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Maryland program

Help paying for child care (Child Care Scholarship)

Help paying for care at a participating child-care program. Maryland's Child Care Scholarship has a continuing waiting list.

What it is

Help paying for care at a participating child-care program. Maryland's Child Care Scholarship has a continuing waiting list.

Your child or another child at home may need care during treatment. The scholarship pays part of the cost while a parent works or studies and income is under the line. Awards are limited right now, so joining the list does not mean help soon.

Eligibility rules
  • Income up to about $7,836 a month for three people or $9,328 for four to start. Once you are on the program the line is higher, so a pay rise does not end it straight away.
  • An approved activity is required. These income figures are annual, not monthly.
  • Care can be for the sick child or a sibling, usually under 13. A new award needs a parent working, studying or in training; if you already have one, a period of family or medical leave does not end it. Limited awards resumed in July 2026 but there is still a waiting list.
What you get
  • A scholarship toward eligible child-care costs.
  • A review for the waiting list when an immediate award is unavailable.
What the help covers
  • A scholarship pays toward eligible care. Your award sets any program copayment, which can be zero for families receiving TCA or SSI. The child-care program can explain any separate tuition gap or permitted fee.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask the Child Care Scholarship Program which activities qualify and how its waiting list works.
  2. Have household income information and your work, study or care arrangements ready.
  3. If you decide to apply, ask for the family contribution and approved care details before relying on the award.

Maryland State Department of Education · 1-877-227-0125 · Official page ↗

After you apply
  • A waiting list remains after limited awards resumed July 1, 2026. Families experiencing homelessness have a separate award route when all other rules are met. The program confirms the current process and whether a place is available.
Good to know

Being at the bedside does not count as work or study. If no parent is working, ask the hospital social worker about practical sibling care instead.

Other details
  • The Maryland State Department of Education program line is 1-877-227-0125.
Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could a child-care scholarship fit our family's work and care arrangements? How long might we wait and what would we still pay, and could you help us decide whether to join the list?”

Why I’m asking: Our child or another child at home may need reliable care during treatment.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

The social worker can help check approved activity, remaining costs and the waiting list before the family decides whether to pursue a scholarship.

Your social worker

The hospital social worker can write about the family's situation.

The care team

Records and letters when the application asks for them.

Who decides
The Maryland State Department of Education.
Ask the agency
“Could this scholarship fit our family, and would you help us weigh the waiting list and remaining costs before deciding?”

How to apply

First step: The social worker can help check approved activity, remaining costs and the waiting list before the family decides whether to pursue a scholarship.

  1. The social worker can help check approved activity, remaining costs and the waiting list before the family decides whether to pursue a scholarship.
  2. Ask whether caring for a child in hospital counts as an approved activity.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: The social worker can help check approved activity, remaining costs and the waiting list before the family decides whether to pursue a scholarship.

What to gather

  • Annual household income
  • The other children's details
  • The name of a participating child care provider

How long: Awards are limited. Expect a wait.

What a yes looks like

An award specifies covered care, any program contribution and its dates; the care business itemizes any remaining permitted charges.

What a no looks like, and the next move

Ask where you are on the waiting list and what would move you up.

Watch out

  • The social worker can help check approved activity, remaining costs and the waiting list before the family decides whether to pursue a scholarship.
  • The published scale is annual income, not monthly.
  • Whether sitting with a hospitalised child counts as an approved activity was not established. Ask.

Dates that change this

2026-07-01: From July 1, 2026 the state began awarding scholarships to a small number of families from a continuing waiting list. This is not a full reopening.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

A scholarship toward child care. The published annual income scale runs from $76,117 for two people to $147,756 for six.

  • $76,117/year — Initial annual income scale, household of 2
  • $94,026/year — Initial annual income scale, household of 3
  • $111,936/year — Initial annual income scale, household of 4
  • $129,846/year — Initial annual income scale, household of 5
  • $147,756/year — Initial annual income scale, household of 6

Covers: A scholarship toward the cost of child care at a participating provider

What it costs the family: Some families, including qualifying TCA or SSI recipients, have no program contribution. The award calculation and separate provider charges determine total remaining costs.

The eligibility facts, as published

Income
The published initial annual scale, sizes 2 to 6
Activity
New awards require an approved activity; the program must confirm whether bedside caregiving qualifies. An existing award has separate continuing-eligibility protections during time-limited family or medical leave.
Status
A waiting list continues after limited awards resumed July 1, 2026. Families experiencing homelessness have a separate award route when the remaining rules are met.

The trap: This is not an open programme. Awards resumed for a small number of families in July 2026, and there is a continuing waiting list. Get on the list rather than expecting an award.

Where I read this

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