Child Care Scholarship Program

Registration in the Child Care Scholarship (CCS) Family Portal is required for all new or existing families. Click here to register at family.childcareportals.org

Applying for a Child Care Scholarship is quicker and easier than ever!

The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) (formerly known as Child Care Subsidy) program helps eligible families in Maryland pay for high-quality child care and early education programs. The program is managed through a centralized vendor -- Child Care Scholarship Central 2 (CCS Central 2).

The new Fast Track Child Care Scholarship application process shortens your wait to three (3) business days to get help with child care expenses and 60 days of child care assistance while your Child Care Scholarship application is processed, if you are eligible!

If eligible, Scholarships are available for:

• a child who is younger than 13, or
• an individual 13-19 years old who has a qualifying disability.​

To be eligible for the CCS Program, you must be:

• A Maryland resident who is working/employed, in an approved training program or attending school. For families where both parents live within the same household, both parents must meet all eligibility requirements.
• A recipient of Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or within CCS income guidelines (see below).
• Willing to have your child immunized to Maryland state standards or provide documentation supporting Exemption from Immunization.
• Willing to provide proof that each child needing child care is a citizen of the United States or a qualified alien. (Provide a Birth Certificate for each child or documentation that certifies the child's status.) NOTE: Parents ARE NOT required to be citizens of the United States.
• Willing to provide proof of identity for all members within the household composition. (Proof of identity for the parent can be any form of a government issued document. The birth certificate or immigration status documentation can serve as proof of identity for each child in the household composition.)
• Willing to provide a Photo I.D. (Only required of the head of households.)

How to Apply

To apply for a Child Care Scholarship, you must submit an application through the Child Care Scholarship Family Portal as described below.

Step 1: Go to the Child Care Scholarship Family Portal and create an account. Click on “Register for a New Account” and enter your information. (If you need help with the registration process, view the Learn How to Register instructions.)

Step 2: Fill out and complete the short, fast-track online Scholarship application and submit your two (2) documents:

1. Proof of employment or enrollment in training/school
2. Proof of residency (i.e. utility bill, lease, etc.)

Step 3: Your fast track application will be processed within three (3) business days by CCS Central 2.

Step 4: If you are eligible, a temporary, 60-day Scholarship will be issued to assist with the cost of child care while we process your full application. We will ask for additional information and documentation to see if you are eligible for a 52-week Scholarship. If you provide the additional information and documentation within 15 days of submitting your fast track application, we will let you know if you are eligible for a 52-week Scholarship before your temporary Scholarship expires.

Families in the following income categories may be eligible for a Child Care Scholarship

Initial Income Scale*

Maximum Annual Income

Effective 5.23.2022

Continuation Income Scale**

Maximum Annual Income

Effective 4.22.2024

* Initial Income Scale – applies to families without an active child care scholarship, customers submitting a Fast-Track initial application for a 60-Day Scholarship and customers submitting a Fast-Track Full “Redetermination Application” along with all documents for an “initial” full evaluation of all documents required for continued child care scholarship services beyond the 60-Day fast-track eligibility - family income must be below Initial Income Scale

**Continuation Income Scale – families that have already received at least 52-weeks to 24 months of child care services, they have at least one active child care scholarship that has not expired at the time of submitting a new Child Care Scholarship Application for continued services - family income must be below Continuation Income Scale

To apply, full a full, 52-week Scholarship, a family must submit the following to CCS Central 2 within 15 days of approval for a fast-track application:

• The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) application
• Verification of income
• To complete the application you MUST send in the information listed for all household members. This includes you, and your spouse or your child’s other parent living in your household. 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.)

  

  Once the CCS application is approved, the following Scholarship Forms may be needed for continued services and to report changes:

  • Application Forms
  • Change Forms
  • Appeal Forms
  • Provider Forms
  • DHS and other public agency forms
  • Informal Provider Forms

  Additional Scholarship documents

  • Required Documents
  • Customer Handout
  • Fluctuation of Income
  • Provider Handout
  • Graduated Income
  • Temporary Break in Activity
  • Children with Disabilities and/or Special Needs Rate Request Form (currently being updated to be released September 30, 2024)
  • Scholarship Invoice Payment Timeline
  • Scholarship Rates

  CCS Central 2 processes Child Care Scholarship applications and Provider Payments. Here's how to contact CCS 2 - CLICK HERE!

  

  Child Care Scholarship Customer Support

  Open Office Hours

  September 24, 2024	May 20, 2025
  October 8, 2024	June 10, 2025
  November 19, 2024	July 15, 2025
  December 17, 2024	August 19, 2025
  January 14, 2025	September 16, 2025
  Februart 18, 2025	October 21, 2025
  March 18, 2025	November 18, 2025
  April 25, 2025	December 16, 2025

  Attendance Audit: How to Avoid Having to Pay Back Money

  Slid eshow

  How does Child Care Scholarship Program work?

  

  • The scholarship rate -- the part of the child care costs that the State is paying for the family
  • The family co-payment -- the amount that the family is required to pay according to State regulation

  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 2 for processing. The family is responsible for paying the State assigned co-payment and any amount not covered by the Scholarship 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.

  Application

  

  When you apply for a Child Care Scholarship, you must submit:

  • Submit an application to CCS Central 2 using the Child Care Family Portal
  • Verification of your wages/salary (Proof of income) – the most recent four weeks of pay stubs or a letter from your employer describing your work schedule and gross salary (before taxes and other deductions)
  • Verification of training or school attendance with days and hours of activity
  • Proof of identity for all household members -- a valid unexpired U.S. passport, a birth certificate, a valid driver’s license, or a current photo ID card
  • Proof of address -- apartment or house lease; electric, gas, water, or phone bill
  • If you are a student, proof of enrollment
  • Proof that your child or children have met the Maryland State Immunization requirements

  Download additional information here (PDF).

  Priorities for Service

  

  The top priorities to receive the Child Care Scholarship are:

  • Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) applicants or recipients who are working, in job training, or in public school.
  • Families who have received TCA at any time during the last six months.
  • Income eligible families who are not receiving TCA, but are in public school, working, or in training to lead to employment.
  Scholarship System

  

  There are three kinds of scholarships:

  • Temporary scholarship -- a 60-day scholarship that can be used for care provided by a Maryland registered family home or Maryland licensed child care center
  • Full, formal scholarship -- can be used for care provided by a Maryland registered family home or Maryland licensed child care center
  • Informal scholarship -- can be used for care provided by a relative in the relative’s home or child’s home and a non-relative in the child’s home.

  

  The family co-payment is the amount that the family pays for child care and is an amount assigned by the State. The amount of the co-payment for each child decreases if families are receiving scholarships for more than one child. Families eligible for Temporary Cash Assistance and Supplemental Security Income have a $0 co-payment. Many child care facilities charge an additional amount to families -- this is called an additional fee and is the difference between the amount they charge any family, the reimbursement amount and the State assigned co-pay. Payment information should be clearly addressed in any provider contract.

  CONTACT CCS CENTRAL 2

  CCS Central 2 Office Hours:
  8:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Need help in your home language? Call CCS Central 2 at 877-227-0125 and ask for a Translator.

  Families - Submit applications online at:

  For questions about your Child Care Scholarship application or payments, complete the form below:

  CCS Central 2 - 1-877-227-0125

  Child Care Provider Portal:

  Submit invoices to:

  Provider Portal Helpdesk

  Email Informal Provider documentation to:

  Child Care Scholarship Providers - Child Care Scholarship Provider Inquiry

  January 9, 2024 Portal Sessions (Recordings)

  If we don’t stand up for children, then we don’t stand for much. (From childrensdefense.org/​)