Our daycare told us it was only for people in certain industries that the governor had opened. I’m in a membership group not covered by the regulation. |
At this point I don’t really understand the continuation of the EPCC program, given that the state isn’t paying anymore. It’s just making things confusing for providers and parents. Our DC goes to a nonprofit center and they keep saying they’re waiting on more guidance and that it’s not practical to open until they can serve more than essential workers. But it seems that the parents who would qualify is pretty broad at this point. I suspect maybe they are not telling the whole story but wish they would at least ask the parents if they qualify under the current guidance. |
Well, it really only makes sense if you view it one of two ways. First is virtue signaling- not really trying to do anything useful, just wanting to appear like they are. And second, making the state Superintendent at her word and believing that she honestly thinks one parent should quit her job to stay home with the kids. |
I would think such a pro-business guy like Hogan would recognize that taking that many adults out of the work force would be terrible for the state’s economy! Maybe he’s not as smart as I give him credit for. |
Not really. The ratios for infants/toddlers has always been 4:1, right? So 8 kids and 2 teachers. Pre and post COVID. In my center's case, there will now be far fewer slots for older children. So where a room used to hole 16 kids + 2 teachers, now 8 of those kids gotta go. |
You are correct that this is very confusing for everybody. Unless there is a change, only EPCC daycare centers and homes can be open through phase 3. Any daycare that applies to be EPCC will be approved. Why making everybody jump through hoops? They said it’s for control of who is open and closed. But that doesn’t make sense because they already have control of daycares, but I digress. Daycares fall under the Maryland Department of Education so changes come from the state level. Since we are in phase 2 that means that daycares in Maryland will accept the children of essential employees, nonessential employees returning under phase 1 and nonessential employees returning to work for phase 2. the exceptions are Montgomery county, PG and I believe Baltimore (although I’m not sure if Prince Georges or Baltimore have the same restrictions that Montgomery county has). In montgomery County we are still only under phase 1 which means technically we may only watch essential children and children to phase 1 employees. This was not made clear to daycares so that may be why you have phase 1 and phase 2 employees back in care in Montgomery county. Also, only one parent must fit into that category in order for a child to qualify to return. |
Since it sounds like you're a child care provider, I wanted to point out that federal employees *are* phase 1 employees. They're plausibly even essential employees, but there's little question that federal agencies are allowed to operate during phase 1. |
Yes I am a provider. I didn’t realize that I addressed several employees, my apologies if I confused anybody. In general a lot of people were confused on what essential employees versus nonessential employees meant. Daycares are going by the governors executive order on the definition of essential versus nonessential. |
*federal |
My point was just that the posts here seem to indicate that many providers are goi g with narrower definitions than what is described in the executive orders. Federal employees were the main example. Feds are explicitly listed in the section on essential employees. And certainly federal agencies are covered by phase 1 reopening. If daycares are turning away feds, then they haven't read the executive orders. |
Would you mind linking to where federal employees return under phase 1. The list I have goes by specific profession not “federal”. |
NP. It’s in the executive order. I’m at an agency that can’t telework at all, and they gave us letters to give to childcare facilities, saying we qualify for EPCC services. |
That would’ve made you an essential employee under the original executive order. I’m specifically asking about the poster who said that all federal employees return to work qualify for phase 1. I just read through the executive order but I’ve missed it. Believe me when I say that if it is allowed under phase 1 there are many daycare providers who would love to take their old clients back. |
Look at the executive orders. Not the websites- the executive orders themselves. Federal employees required to work is explicitly listed under essential personnel. Admittedly, you might chose to interpret that narrowly as only including emergency workers. There's no basis for that in the order, but may have been the intent. The second half of this is the phase one reopening. Federal agencies are included in the set of businesses/facilities/organizations that may operate in phase 1. But, it's obviously included in a different way because they were never required to shut down in the first place. |
My friends in California and New England and New Jersey are able to send their kids already, why can't we?! |