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Child Care Scholarship Program Briefing 02.04.2026 39 Early Childhood Education Programs Child Care Credential The Child Care Credential recognizes individual child care providers who increase their qualifications beyond the requirements of state licensing and registration regulations and CCS provider requirements. The program temporarily ended in FY 2025 and is currently being reestablished through an MOU with the University of Maryland. State funding in FY 2026: $5.7 million About the child care credential: • Offers recognition of achievement based on a provider’s professional development or education, years of experience, and professional activities across 6 staff credential levels, and 4 administrator levels. • Providers are eligible to receive financial assistance for ongoing professional development through training reimbursement and training vouchers. Vouchers and reimbursements: • Training reimbursements are issued upon completion of a training when an individual submits evidence of successful completion to MSDE. • Vouchers are issued before a training takes place, and can be used to attend conferences or complete training or coursework at community colleges.