Malyka Myada is one of more than 45,000 Maryland parents who rely on the state’s child care scholarship program. The financial support allows her to afford safe, educational care for her three children — something she says would otherwise be out of reach.
Thanks to the scholarship, Myada pays around $540 a month for care for her two children, ages 3 and 1. Without the aid, her monthly bill would be over $2,000. Her newborn, just one month old, will also be eligible for full-time care once he turns eight weeks old, since his siblings are already enrolled at the Greenway Learning Center in Greenbelt.
“The scholarship helps, but it still feels like paying rent,” said Myada, a 24-year-old single mother. “But at least I know my kids are in a safe, good place.”
However, as of May 1, new families hoping to access the program have been put on hold. Due to a surge in enrollment and rising costs, Maryland has temporarily frozen new applications for the scholarship program. Families can still apply but will be placed on a waiting list. State officials expect to reopen enrollment by September, when the number of recipients is projected to drop to 40,000.
The freeze worries child care providers and early education advocates. Patti Smith, director of the Greenway Learning Center, says if the freeze continues, centers like hers could be left with vacant spots as older children move on to public prekindergarten or kindergarten.
“We hope the freeze melts this summer,” Smith said. “Early learning starts in infancy. When they crawl, they’re building muscle strength and developing fine motor skills.”
Program Growth and Budget Strain
Maryland’s scholarship program has grown rapidly in recent years. The state expanded eligibility to include families earning up to $112,000 per year for a household of four.
Sarah Neville-Morgan, the assistant state superintendent for the Division of Early Childhood at the Maryland State Department of Education, said enrollment has more than doubled — from 21,000 in 2023 to over 45,000 today.
The rapid growth, while celebrated, also triggered budget concerns. The program’s $270 million annual budget may not be enough to cover all current recipients. Still, the state has committed to adding $100 million to next year’s budget.
“That’s something to celebrate,” Neville-Morgan said. “It shows that Maryland is truly investing in its children.”
She acknowledged that not all states prioritize early childhood education in the same way. “We’ve seen proposed federal budgets that don’t support children and families,” she said. “We’re fortunate to live in a state that does.”
But even with funding increases, the enrollment freeze remains a point of frustration for educators.
“It’s terrible,” said Evelyn Owens, a mentor teacher who has worked at Downtown Baltimore Child Care for 40 years. “What about the parents who need that scholarship now? Early childhood education is so important.”
Inside the Classroom
On a recent Thursday, Owens and fellow teacher Keonna Akoma led a class of about 15 prekindergarten students in a range of activities designed to build skills and confidence.
Akoma sat with 5-year-old Anthony Johnson on the classroom carpet, helping him construct a large box from magnetic tiles. When she reached to place a red tile on top, Anthony giggled and hid inside the structure.
Nearby, four children wearing blue aprons washed utensils in a sudsy water table. Upstairs, three girls played in a pretend kitchen stocked with toy food, dolls, and child-sized furniture.
In the woodworking area, Zane Romero and Kaia Downs, both age 5, used real hammers and nails under supervision.
During group time, the class gathered on the carpet to sing. Emmeline Calahan Montanez, 5, tugged on Owens’ shirt.
“I never got a turn,” she said.
Owens gently corrected her: “You did get a turn.”
Emmeline smiled and walked over to join the group.
Pre-K Expansion and Future Plans
Nikeiha Wallace, director of the center, said the class represents their first group of prekindergarten students under Maryland’s new mixed-delivery system. The system is part of the state’s broader education reform plan, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which expands pre-K offerings in both public schools and private child care centers.
The Downtown Baltimore Child Care center currently has 67 children, two of whom receive child care scholarships.
According to the center’s website, tuition ranges from nearly $2,400 per month for infants to $1,800 for older children. Wallace said the scholarship makes high-quality education more accessible.
“That $1,800 is one of our lowest rates,” she said. “With the scholarship, parents can afford better care.”
As for Myada, she hopes the support will help her build a better future. She wants to return to school for a cosmetology license and is currently looking for flexible, part-time work. To bring in income, she delivers for DoorDash and StubHub.
“I want to build a career and be more stable for my kids,” she said. “Having the scholarship is a big step toward that.”
