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Child Care Scholarship Program Briefing 02.04.2026 20 Key Policies What is the State Median Income (SMI)? • The state median income (SMI) is the midpoint of all household incomes in Maryland. This means that half of all households have income above the median income, and half have income below the median income. • The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) Program uses SMI to determine eligibility for program services. SMI is generally thought of as a better indicator for economic vulnerability than the Federal Poverty Guidelines when comparing incomes within a state because it takes the state’s cost of living and other economic factors into account. • SMI varies based on household size. • The SMI for a household with 1 adult and 1 child (2 people) is $101,489. • The SMI for a household with 2 adults and 2 children (4 people) is $149,249. • The CCS Program uses the SMI estimates published by the Administration for Children and Families for use in Federal Fiscal Year 2025. Income eligibility thresholds at initial application are set at 75% of SMI. Families may continue to receive CCS benefits if their income increases if it remains below the federal maximum of 85% of SMI.