Maryland
Working families in Maryland need accessible, affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities for their children.
Currently, federal and state early learning programs reach thousands of young children and their families in Maryland. But too many working families in Maryland are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Maryland economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
In the state, 70% of children have all available parents participating in the workforce, while the average cost of care is $25,321 a year (or $2,110 per month).
More than 17,000 children ages 5 and under have child care costs subsidized through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), or 13% of those eligible. The average copay with a CCDBG subsidy is $26 a month.
7.5K children receive care, learning, nutrition, and other services at no cost through Early Head Start/Head Start (or 9% of those eligible for Early Head Start and 21% of those eligible for Head Start).
And 146.7K working families have the cost of their child care offset through the Child + Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC).
However, many working parents still struggle to access affordable, quality child care, which costs the state’s economy an estimated $3.3 billion each year in lost earnings and productivity.
Maryland: In The Headlines
Maryland ranks among worst states for child care affordability
WMAR | January 27, 2026
Parents already know child care is expensive, and a new study puts a number on just how wide the gap has become.
Early Head Start serves low-income Howard County families
The Baltimore Banner | September 24, 2025
According to the Maryland Family Network, around 1,100 kids live below the poverty line in Howard County. Since 2013, the Community Action Council has enrolled 3,500 children in Head Start programs.
Bipartisan Fix for Child Care Crisis
The Southern Maryland Chronicle | oCTOBER 14, 2025
The Child Care Modernization Act would reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which helps low-income families access child care amid record-high prices for full-time day care.
Maryland Resources & News
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