Q. My program does not discriminate based on disability. Why doesn’t our statement meet the requirements for inclusion?
A. The law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, and disability. It is a good idea to inform families and staff of your commitment to fair and equitable practices.
An inclusion policy is different than an anti-discrimination policy. An inclusion policy outlines your program’s policies and procedures for enrolling and meeting the individualized and special health care needs of each and every child.
Inclusion means inviting all children to participate in a child care program and intentionally planning for ways to help each and every child be successful, regardless of his or her ability level.
Q. I do not have money to buy a new curriculum. Are funds available to help with this?
A. Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) provides many funding opportunities.
Programs may seek funding for State-recommended curricular resources for children birth to age 3 for content-area specific curricula and for comprehensive curricula for 3, 4, and 5 year-old children through the outreach work of civic organizations (such as the Lions Club, Rotary Club, and the Knights of Columbus).
Licensed child care programs pursuing Maryland Program Accreditation may apply for funds through the Accreditation Support Fund. The Accreditation Support Fund for Maryland Program Accreditation assists licensed child care centers with the cost of instructional materials associated with pursuing Maryland Program Accreditation. Eligible programs may also apply for funding through MSDE’s Child Care Quality Incentive Grant.
Q. What is an IFSP or IEP?
A. Individualized Family Service Program (IFSP) and Individual Education Program (IEP) are formal and legal documents that provide guidelines for the services and individual needs of children with disabilities. An IFSP is written for a child, usually from birth through age 2 while an IEP is usually written for a child from age 3 through 21.
Q. Can I use any curriculum that I choose?
A. Programs are not required to use a specific curriculum to achieve Maryland EXCELS Quality Ratings 1, 2, and 3. The Maryland Early Learning Standards define key aspects of development and learning. As such, it is best practice to select from Maryland’s recommended list of curricula. While implementation of recommended curricula is required at Level 5, other curricula resources may be used at lower levels. To access the current recommended list of curricula, visit the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Early Childhood Development website.
* Note that the standards and requirements regarding curriculum do not apply to school age program.