Find the answers to your most commonly asked questions about Maryland EXCELS.
Q. What is Maryland EXCELS?
A. Maryland EXCELS is the state’s quality rating and improvement system for licensed child care and early education programs that meet nationally recognized quality standards. Maryland EXCELS rates the quality of child care and early learning programs on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 as the highest rating. To be eligible for Child Care Scholarship reimbursement, the child care program must be participating in Maryland EXCELS.
Q. I submitted my Maryland EXCELS Application. What happens next?
A. When you submit your application, you are now participating in Maryland EXCELS. In 2 to 4 weeks, you will receive notification that your account has been created, you have been assigned a Program Coordinator, and you may begin working in the system.
Q. Who do I call if I need help?
A. There are many people available to assist you with Maryland EXCELS. You may contact your assigned Program Coordinator (PC), your regional Quality Assurance Specialist (QAS), or your local Child Care Resource and Referral Center (CCRC). Technology Support is also available 24/7. For more information on where to get help, please visit the Maryland EXCELS website and access the Support Contact Information.
Q. What do I do if I don’t have an email address?
Email is an important and necessary tool for programs participating in Maryland EXCELS. There are many free email services. You can try one of these to get started, or find another one that works best for you:
Q. Can I fax or mail my documents?
A. We are unable to accept documents sent as a fax or through the mail. Technical assistance is available to help you submit your evidence to the Maryland EXCELS online system. You may also contact your Quality Assurance Specialist.
Q. Can I participate if my program was licensed one month ago?
A. Yes, you can participate in Maryland EXCELS as soon as your program is licensed or registered. When you receive your license or registration from your regional licensing office, you can register to participate immediately and begin accepting children whose families are eligible for Child Care Scholarship.
Q. Can I participate if I have a license but currently have no children enrolled in my program?
A. Yes, you can participate in Maryland EXCELS without children enrolled in your program as long as you are a licensed or registered child care program.
Q. What does it means to participate in Maryland EXCELS?
A. Participating in Maryland EXCELS means that your program is committed to continuous quality improvement by working to meet standards that exceed the state’s licensing requirements. This continuous improvement process includes evaluating your program with feedback from families and staff, and making improvements to increase the quality of the services you provide.
Q. Why should I participate in Maryland EXCELS?
A. All programs participating in Maryland EXCELS demonstrate a commitment to quality improvement. As an added benefit and a way of supporting the effort to improve quality, Maryland EXCELS participating programs have access to a variety of resources such as:
- Increased Child Care Scholarship reimbursement at published Levels 3, 4, and 5
- Access to incentives, bonuses, and funds from MSDE’s Accreditation Support Fund and Quality Incentive Grants
- Discounts from various vendors and organizations
- Free advertising on the Maryland EXCELS Find a Program directory
- Technical assistance and support, online and face-to-face
- Professional development opportunities
Q. Am I required to participate in Maryland EXCELS?
A. No. You are not required to participate in Maryland EXCELS unless you wish to enroll a child whose family is eligible for Child Care Scholarship. To receive reimbursement through the Child Care Scholarship Program, you must be a Maryland EXCELS participant.
Q. Can I participate if I have a Letter of Compliance?
A. Yes. Any licensed or registered child care program that is open and operating is eligible to participate in Maryland EXCELS.
Q. What internet browsers are acceptable?
A. We recommend using Mozilla Firefox 
or Google 
on a desktop computer. You can download and install these browsers for free.
Q. How do I contact Technology Support Help Desk?
A. You may contact Technology Support Help Desk 24/7 by selecting Help Desk from the top menu bar or calling 443-872-9250.
Q. What kind of help does Technology Support Help Desk offer?
The Technology Support Help Desk is available 24/7 to support programs with computer-related issues, including error messages from the online system.
Q. I submitted all of my documents. Am I done?
A. After you select, “Save and Submit”, your Program Coordinator reviews the documentation to determine whether it meets the requirement for the criteria. If your documentation meets the requirements, your Program Coordinator will mark the item as “Met”.
If your documentation does not meet the criteria, your Program Coordinator will follow-up with you using the Comment feature in Maryland EXCELS. The comments will explain the revisions or additions that might be needed to meet the requirements. You may revise and resubmit any documentation that does not meet the criteria.
It is important to log into your Maryland EXCELS account after submitting documents and make sure you read and respond to any comments your Program Coordinator may have left for you. New comments are easily identified by a green flag next to the criteria item on your dashboard.
Q. Does my published rating ever expire?
A. Yes. Published quality ratings expire one year from the date of publication. Your expiration date is available on your Maryland EXCELS Program Card(s). Look for the “Must Publish By” date.
You may submit updated documentation at any time to achieve a higher quality rating. You need not wait until your rating is about to expire.
If you have questions, your Program Coordinator is available to help.
Q. I published my rating. Will it change?
A. Your rating may change if:
- Your program submits evidence and achieves a higher Maryland EXCELS rating.
- Your program’s accreditation status changes.
- Your program’s license and compliance status changes in a way that impact the Maryland EXCELS standards.
Q. Will I receive a certificate when I publish my Maryland EXCELS rating?
A. Once your Maryland EXCELS rating is published, a certificate is available from your Program Menu. To access, download, and print your program’s certificate:
- Log into the system
- Select the program menu icon
- Select Certificate
Q. How can families find information about my program on the Maryland EXCELS’ website?
A. When you publish your program’s Maryland EXCELS Quality Rating, information about your program becomes available on the Maryland EXCELS public website. To view or direct families to this information, visit www.marylandexcels.org and select “Find a Program”. You and families can search by program name, Quality Rating, location, program type, or additional achievements.
Q. I have heard about tiered reimbursement and the EXCELS payments. How do I receive these funds?
A. Tiered Reimbursement or EXCELS payments are an additional Child Care Scholarship payment that exceeds the payment rate of individual vouchers. Tiered Reimbursement funds can be used at your discretion. The additional payment is calculated based on a program’s published Maryland EXCELS quality rating, age of child, and the program type. You can qualify to receive these payments by publishing a Quality Rating 3, 4, or 5 in Maryland EXCELS and accepting children with Child Care Scholarship vouchers in your program.
Q. Who should I contact if I have questions about Child Care Scholarship or reimbursements?
A. You may contact contact Child Care Scholarship Central at 1-877-227-0125.
Q. Is it true that I must participate in Maryland EXCELS if I want to accept a child whose family receives Child Care Scholarship vouchers?
Yes, participation in Maryland EXCELS is required if your program wishes to accept Child Care Scholarship reimbursement.
Q. What is the connection between Licensing and Maryland EXCELS?
A. Maryland EXCELS builds upon the foundation of the State’s rigorous child care licensing requirements. Licensing history is included as one component of the Maryland EXCELS standards. All programs participating in Maryland EXCELS must be licensed or registered, open, and operating. At higher ratings in the License and Compliance (LIC) content area, the Maryland EXCELS standards look at enforcement actions, non-compliance and license status. Maryland EXCELS provides the opportunity for programs to demonstrate achievements that exceed state licensing requirements.
For the LIC content area, most participants will not need to upload any documentation. Inspection reports and licensing information will be reviewed via the Child Care Administrative Tracking System (CCATS) and the Electronic Licensing Inspection System (ELIS).
Q. Where can I find my most recent licensing inspection report?
A. Your Licensing Specialist provides you with an emailed copy of your inspection report. You may request a paper copy be mailed to you. If you need a new copy of your inspection report, please contact your Licensing Specialist.
The Maryland Child Care Credential Program is not accepting applications July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. If the program is unable to meet the requirements of STF 1 (including equivalent training options) because the Maryland Child Care Credential Program is not currently operating, and STF is the only content area preventing the program from reaching a higher quality rating, review these frequently asked questions. You may also contact your Program Coordinator or Quality Assurance Specialist for assistance.
Q1: How can programs increase their Maryland EXCELS quality ratings without the Child Care Credential Program?
Programs that are unable to obtain the required STF 1 documentation may have an interim STF 1 rating applied to the program’s online profile if STF is the only content area preventing the program from reaching a higher quality rating. When all other requirements have been met, the program may submit STF 1 with a comment saying that they are unable to obtain the required staff documentation.
Q2: STF 1 is the only subcategory where I have not achieved a level 2 (or 3) rating. Can I submit it for review without documentation?
If you have equivalent training documentation that would enable you to meet the requirements of STF 1 at level 2 (or 3), please upload that and submit it for review. Expired Child Care Credential certificates and a number of other options may be used to meet the requirements of levels 2 and 3.
If you do not have any of the documentation that can be used to meet the requirements of STF 1 at level 2 (or 3) and have achieved level 2 (or 3) ratings in all other subcategories, you may submit STF 1 for review with a comment saying that you are unable to obtain the required staff documentation. An interim STF 1 rating will be applied.
Q3: STF 1 is the only subcategory where I have not achieved a level 4 (or 5) rating. Can I submit it for review without documentation?
If you have equivalent training documentation that would enable you to meet the requirements of STF 1 at level 2 or level 3, we encourage you to upload and submit that and add a comment saying that you are unable to obtain the documentation required at levels 4 and 5. An interim STF 1 rating will be applied.
If you do not have any of the documentation that can be used to meet the requirements of STF 1 at any level and have achieved level 4 (or 5) ratings in all other subcategories, you may submit STF 1 for review with a comment saying that you are unable to obtain the required staff documentation. An interim STF 1 rating will be applied.
Q4: What happens if the Child Care Credential Program is reinstated?
If the Child Care Credential Program is reinstated, the Maryland State Department of Education will provide a timeline for individuals to resume participation. Maryland EXCELS will reinstate the requirements of STF 1 in a way that aligns with this timeline.
Q. My program is currently seeking accreditation. Should we wait until that process is complete before participating in Maryland EXCELS?
A. There is no need to wait. You can work in both programs at the same time. Keep in mind that when your program is accredited by an organization recognized by MSDE, many Maryland EXCELS criteria will automatically be met when you upload your current accreditation certificate or letter.
Q. I am already in Maryland EXCELS and want to become accredited. Now what?
The first step is to decide which accrediting organization will be best for your program. Visit the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Early Childhood Development website for information on the accrediting organizations recognized by MSDE.
You can also contact your local Quality Assurance Specialist or your local Child Care Resource Center for information on accreditation. Quality Assurance Specialists can provide the Maryland Program Accreditation Orientation presentation to you and your staff.
Q. Accreditation costs too much money. Is it worth it?
A. Meeting the highest standards of quality is worth it for the children and families in your program. Child care centers, school age programs, and public prekindergarten programs are eligible to pursue Maryland Program Accreditation, which is free of cost.
MSDE provides financial support for programs through the Accreditation Support Fund. For more information about funding opportunities and how to apply, visit the Maryland State Department of Education – Early Childhood Development website.
Q. Our program wants to pursue Maryland EXCELS and we want to become accredited. Which should we do first?
A. Where you begin is your choice. Should you choose to work towards Accreditation first, many Maryland EXCELS criteria are met when your program achieves accreditation by an organization recognized by MSDE. You only need to upload your current accreditation certificate or letter. Should you choose to work towards a Maryland EXCELS rating first, many of the criteria will help you achieve your goal of becoming accredited. You can also choose to work in both programs at the same time.
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. 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. However, lesson planning for all ages enrolled must be guided by Healthy Beginnings and/or the Maryland Early Learning Standards. In Levels 4 & 5, programs must implement a curriculum that aligns with the Maryland Early Learning Standards.
* Note that the standards and requirements regarding curriculum do not apply to school age programs.