Press Release: New Awareness Campaign Spotlights Quality Child Care

Info Available Today On Buses, Light Rail, Transit Sites

For Immediate Release                                                      Contact: William Reinhard, 410.767.0486

Baltimore, MD (September 8, 2014)

The Maryland State Department of Education today launched a targeted transit advertising campaign for Maryland EXCELS, the State's Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System for child care and early education programs.

"Searching for quality child care and early education programs that promote school-readiness has never been easier, thanks to Maryland EXCELS," said Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Lillian Lowery. "The important message to families is that quality matters when they choose an early learning or child care setting. The early years are critical for building social, emotional, thinking, and learning skills. Children with these skills are more likely to succeed, and Maryland EXCELS will help families to identify these high quality programs in their area." 

Maryland EXCELS builds upon the foundation of the State’s rigorous child care licensing requirements and provides the opportunity for child care and early learning programs to demonstrate higher achievements and make ongoing improvements in their program to benefit children and families.

Child care providers and early education programs participating in Maryland EXCELS work to meet standards that reflect nationally accepted indicators of quality and best practices in five progressive quality levels. When a program meets all requirements for one of the five quality levels, their rating is published on the Maryland EXCELS web site in the Find A Program portal and on the Quality Finder mobile App.   

 

The transit ads will appear on Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) vehicles and light rail kiosks in Baltimore City and County and on Montgomery County Ride On buses through October 5. This campaign promotes public awareness of Maryland EXCELS, and will drive families to the web site to find more information, access the Find a Program portal and download the Quality Finder App. 

More information about Maryland EXCELS can be found at www.marylandexcels.org

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