Quality Rating 5: Environment
Next Steps
Check your document one more time as you prepare to upload it to the Maryland EXCELS System.
Step 1: Check your document
Check your documentation and be sure you include:
- Your philosophy statement that describes:
- How your environment is developmentally appropriate for the children enrolled
- How your program welcomes children of all abilities into your program
- How your program balances child-initiated and teacher-directed activities throughout the day
- How your program plans and delivers activities that reflect the children’s interests, primary languages, and cultural backgrounds
- Your daily schedule (DAP 6.5)
Step 2: Save your document
Use a file name you can find easily when you upload it to the system (example: philosophy-statement.docx).
Use any one of these formats:
- Typed electronic version of your philosophy statement and daily schedule (examples: Microsoft Word, PDF)
- Scanned versions of your philosophy statement and daily schedule (examples: PDF, PNG, JPG)
- Digital image of your philosophy statement and daily schedule (examples: JPG, PNG, PDF)
Step 3: Upload your document (DAP 1.5)
Log into the Maryland EXCELS System to upload your program’s philosophy statement and daily schedule.
