Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Judith P. Hoyer Enhancement Grants?

The Judith P. Hoyer Enhancement Grants are important components of the Judith P. Hoyer Early Child Care and Education Enhancement Program enacted in May 2000. Specifically, the grants provide funds to Maryland’s local school systems and to state-regulated private providers of early child care and education services.

Local school systems use grant funds to purchase early childhood education and family support services from nationally- or state-accredited vendors. State-regulated, private providers use the grants to obtain and maintain national or state program accreditation. Funds may be used for professional development activities which increase competency and appropriate credentialing among staff.

Regardless of whether a program is public or private, the grants support a system of consistent, quality early childhood education.

What are the benefits of the Judith P. Hoyer Enhancement Grants?

The Enhancement Grants:

• Increase the number of children who are cared for within stimulating environments that are conducive to developmental growth and school readiness.
• Improve families’ needs for quality early care and education.
• Provide professional growth opportunities for staff working with young children.
• Increase public recognition of and access to quality programs.

What types of enhancement grants are available?

Two types of enhancement grants are available:

• Private Provider Enhancement Grants
• Local School System Enhancement Grants

Private Provider Enhancement Grants

Grants are awarded to state-regulated, private providers of early child care and education services, such as center-based and family child care, Child Care Resource Centers, and colleges. Staff training organizations that are approved by the Department of Human Resources/Child Care Administration (DHR/CCA) are also eligible to receive Enhancement Grants. These organizations work with private providers to help them complete national or state program accreditation.

Enhancement Grant funds may be used to pay for:

• Tuition to colleges
• Books for classes
• Monetary incentives for staff who have completed identified course work
• Professional and staff development activities
• Salary enhancements
• Equipment and educational materials
• Project evaluation
• Application fee for program or center accreditation

How have some private providers used these funds?

Child Steps Learning Center, Inc. received an enhancement grant to improve its program in Baltimore City’s Remington community. Funds pay for senior staff members to attend training at Villa Julie College to earn Child Development Associate (CDA) credentialing. In addition, aides will work toward their CDA by attending training at the Baltimore City Child Care Resource Center. By June 2002, Child Steps Learning Center intends to obtain program accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Salisbury State University received a grant to provide technical and mentoring support to help five family child care providers acquire program accreditation from the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC). The University also provides tuition funds to 13 senior staff members from three local child care centers. These staff members can earn college credits from Salisbury State University or Wor-Wic Community College. They can also receive 18 months of training toward their CDA from the Lower Shore Child Care Resource Center. The University will also assist the three centers in completing the MSDE state accreditation process by June 2002.

Local School System Enhancement Grants

These grants help local school systems establish full-day (defined as 7-12 hours per day), all-year, quality early child care and education programs. Grants may also be used to expand early childhood education services. Specifically, local school systems can request funds to:

• Provide before - and after-care services for public schools, pre-schools, pre-kindergarten, or kindergarten programs.
• Increase the number of pre-kindergarten or kindergarten programs that are open all-day and year-round.
• Expand early childhood education services for half-day kindergarten programs.
• In combination with early childhood education services, provide family support programs that promote parental involvement in their young children’s learning.

How have local school systems used these funds?

Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) is using enhancement funds with two nationally accredited child care centers to provide comprehensive pre-kindergarten services in selected Title 1 attendance areas. The Hagerstown Community College Children's Center and Surrey Child Care Center provide on-site, half-day pre-kindergarten in combination with all-day, year-round child care on site. At both centers, workshops for parents and joint professional development activities for child care and public school staff are offered.

What is the process for applying for and Enhancement Grant?

Institutions should submit a competitive grant application in response to a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the Maryland State Department of Education. For more information contact:
Dorothy P. Giersch
Judy Hoyer Program Initiative Coordinator
Maryland State Department of Education
200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Telephone: 410-767-8182
E-mail: dgiersch@msde.state.md.us