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Child Care Scholarship Program Details

Child Care Scholarship Program

General Info - Statewide Registration

The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) (formerly known as Child Care Subsidy) Program provides financial assistance with child care costs to eligible working families in Maryland. The program is managed through a centralized vendor -- Child Care Subsidy Central (CCS Central).

Families take the scholarship to a child care provider that participates in the Maryland EXCELS program. The scholarship is a signed agreement between the State, provider and parent. The scholarship is returned to CCS Central for processing. The family is responsible for paying the State assigned co-payment directly to their child care provider. Once the child begins care, the child care provider submits an invoice for payments and is then reimbursed for the scholarship portion of the payment by the State.

Families in the following income categories may be eligible for a Child Care Scholarship: (Updated May 23, 2022):

Family SizeInitial Income Scale *
Maximum IncomeContinuation Income Scale **
Maximum Income

	Table used for new applications	Table used for Changes/Redeterminations
2	$61,222	$73,899
3	$75,627	$91,287
4	$90,033	$108,675
5	$104,438	$126,063
6	$118,843	$143,451
7	$121,544	$146,712
8	$124,245	$149,972
9	$126,946	$153,232
10	$129,647	$156,492
11	$132,348
12	$135,049

* Initial Income Scale - families without an active child care scholarship - family income must be below Initial Income Scale

** Continuation Income Scale - families with at least one active child care scholarship - family income must be below Continuation Income Scale

1 - 30 day s Approval time $0.00 Application cost 30 - 60 minutes Average completion time

Obtaining the Registration

Ready to get your registration? - Steps, Requirements, and Documents

The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) application (PDF)
Verification of work/training activity and income

Most recent four (4) weeks of consecutive pay stubs
Proof of identity (i.e. driver’s license, birth certificate, government-issued identification, etc.)
Proof of approved activity (i.e. work, school, or job training)
Proof of all other income
Proof of address (i.e. utility bill, lease, etc.)

Apply for the MSDE Child Care Scholarship Program

Scholarship Application Form (PDF) Complete the form

Agency/Contact

Registration Issuer - Information

Who issues the registration?