Mask requirements in childcare facilities (MD)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DC attends a center in MD. There's been a bit of a kerfuffle because some (presumably vaccinated) parents haven't been wearing masks when dropping kids at the door in the morning (outside). So the director recently sent a reminder saying all parents and kids over 2yo need to stay masked as kids aren't eligible for the vaccine, and that this policy is required by the MSDE Office of Child Care. I've been a little bit irritated about the kids having to continue to wear masks during outside time to begin with but I'm not even sure what she is saying is true. I thought MSDE *recommended* masks from ages 2-5 as tolerated, but never actually required them. I know of several in-home daycares that don't require masks on the kids at all. But now I can't find anything on the MSDE child care website that outlines their mask policy. I'm sure I'm just missing it but does anyone know? I also wonder if it's evolved at all since last spring?

Your director is correct. I work in a Maryland preschool and as much as we don't like the rules, we have to abide by them. We are governed by the MSDE OCC (Maryland State Department of Education Office of Child Care) and still as of TODAY, preschools MUST continue to wear masks indoors. We also have to continue to wear them outside if we cant remain socially distanced. We have emails from our licensing dept. at MSDE that we are not privy to the same rules as the schools, and "they" will let us know if we can also take our masks off after July 1st. Just as you have to follow the rules at YOUR job, we must do the same at ours, and just because some parents don't like the rule doesn't mean we are going to risk OUR license and OUR job and OUR livelihood to cater to people who can't follow rules. We don't like the rules either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no longer a requirement to wear masks outdoors. Maryland only strongly recommends masks between two and five, over five is required. Mo County has recently just aligned themselves with the state so it might be your centers decision to keep masks on the kids.

sorry but this is incorrect information. MSDE OCC is who governs us. We don't have the same rules, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure the child care office can control me as an adult not employed by a business they license. They can control my kid and the teachers, but I wonder about me.

That said, is this the hill you want to die on? Is it worth destroying a relationship with the people who care for your child every day? It’s 60 seconds of drop off. Suck it up and play along with meaningless mask-wearing.

OP here- it's not, if I were to choose a hill to die on right now it would be for letting the kids play outside unmasked. I just wish they would be honest and say it's *their* policy rather than deflect. Either they're deliberately lying or don't understand what the state actually requires.

Really? Why would a center deliberately lie about a MASK POLICY. That just sounds ridiculous. Clearly, they are following the rules put out by their governing body. It sounds like they do understand what the state requires, but you on the other hand, do not. Read up, then complain once they actually do something wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bumping this up- curious if anyone's providers have shifted their mask policy following Hogan's announcement last week? It's been crickets at ours, masks still required inside and out and presumably no change on July 1.....

Child Care center worker here - We reached out about whether or not this applied to us, and OCC said until we hear otherwise from THEM, that we have to continue to wear masks. So as soon as they know, we will know, and then the parents will know.

[Anonymous]

At our center, all parents have to wear masks dropping off or picking up kids outside regardless of your vaccination status.
And, they say that all kids 2 & above need to wear masks by written statement/policy, but my 2 year old is not required to mask per her classroom rule. So, the administration announces something to follow whatever rules by not getting into trouble, but they really are understanding that it is difficult for 2 year old to wear mask, so they kind of exempt it on the side. I am fine with it because I admit that it is difficult for my 2 year old to wear mask and my 4 year old is okay wearing mask full day.

[Anonymous]

My school says no masks outside if it is over 80 degrees. So, that’s until like September given our region’s weather patterns. So relieved. It is so stupid that the only people still wearing masks are the least likely to get ill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC attends a center in MD. There's been a bit of a kerfuffle because some (presumably vaccinated) parents haven't been wearing masks when dropping kids at the door in the morning (outside). So the director recently sent a reminder saying all parents and kids over 2yo need to stay masked as kids aren't eligible for the vaccine, and that this policy is required by the MSDE Office of Child Care. I've been a little bit irritated about the kids having to continue to wear masks during outside time to begin with but I'm not even sure what she is saying is true. I thought MSDE *recommended* masks from ages 2-5 as tolerated, but never actually required them. I know of several in-home daycares that don't require masks on the kids at all. But now I can't find anything on the MSDE child care website that outlines their mask policy. I'm sure I'm just missing it but does anyone know? I also wonder if it's evolved at all since last spring?

Your director is correct. I work in a Maryland preschool and as much as we don't like the rules, we have to abide by them. We are governed by the MSDE OCC (Maryland State Department of Education Office of Child Care) and still as of TODAY, preschools MUST continue to wear masks indoors. We also have to continue to wear them outside if we cant remain socially distanced. We have emails from our licensing dept. at MSDE that we are not privy to the same rules as the schools, and "they" will let us know if we can also take our masks off after July 1st. Just as you have to follow the rules at YOUR job, we must do the same at ours, and just because some parents don't like the rule doesn't mean we are going to risk OUR license and OUR job and OUR livelihood to cater to people who can't follow rules. We don't like the rules either.

With all due respect, are you getting different information from your licensing specialist than what is printed in this document? Because it only says masks are “recommended” for ages 2-4. And that’s totally fine if you want to follow that recommendation, but that’s different than being required to follow a “rule.”

https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/system/files/filedepot/3/covid_guidance_full_080420.pdf

And I’m not understanding about the “they” you are waiting to hear from regarding the change in policy July 1. Didn’t hogan specifically mention child cares in addition to schools?

It’s amazing that everyone seems to be on completely different pages here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure the child care office can control me as an adult not employed by a business they license. They can control my kid and the teachers, but I wonder about me.

That said, is this the hill you want to die on? Is it worth destroying a relationship with the people who care for your child every day? It’s 60 seconds of drop off. Suck it up and play along with meaningless mask-wearing.

OP here- it's not, if I were to choose a hill to die on right now it would be for letting the kids play outside unmasked. I just wish they would be honest and say it's *their* policy rather than deflect. Either they're deliberately lying or don't understand what the state actually requires.

Really? Why would a center deliberately lie about a MASK POLICY. That just sounds ridiculous. Clearly, they are following the rules put out by their governing body. It sounds like they do understand what the state requires, but you on the other hand, do not. Read up, then complain once they actually do something wrong.

The guidance document was posted on the previous page- did you bother to read it?

[Anonymous]

It's a little ridiculous to expect child care providers to ignore strongly worded recommendations from their licensing body and from the nation's public health authority. Anything goes wrong and they will be blamed. The problem is the guidance, which ultimately comes from the CDC, not child care providers (who are not public health experts) following it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a little ridiculous to expect child care providers to ignore strongly worded recommendations from their licensing body and from the nation's public health authority. Anything goes wrong and they will be blamed. The problem is the guidance, which ultimately comes from the CDC, not child care providers (who are not public health experts) following it.

We are at an in-home daycare and masks have never been required for the kids- I know they've been inspected at least once over the last year with no infractions but does this mean they are out of compliance? I'm confused as they are always strictly adhere to licensing requirements. Now I wonder if they slapped masks on the kids for the inspection.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a little ridiculous to expect child care providers to ignore strongly worded recommendations from their licensing body and from the nation's public health authority. Anything goes wrong and they will be blamed. The problem is the guidance, which ultimately comes from the CDC, not child care providers (who are not public health experts) following it.

We are at an in-home daycare and masks have never been required for the kids- I know they've been inspected at least once over the last year with no infractions but does this mean they are out of compliance? I'm confused as they are always strictly adhere to licensing requirements. Now I wonder if they slapped masks on the kids for the inspection.....

In MD it is not required, but it is strongly recommended. MoCo did until recently but I don't know if the licensing inspectors cared. I'm not sure how it was enforced. Our provider is in a County building so I anticipate they will follow whatever guidance there is even if it is not technically required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a little ridiculous to expect child care providers to ignore strongly worded recommendations from their licensing body and from the nation's public health authority. Anything goes wrong and they will be blamed. The problem is the guidance, which ultimately comes from the CDC, not child care providers (who are not public health experts) following it.

We are at an in-home daycare and masks have never been required for the kids- I know they've been inspected at least once over the last year with no infractions but does this mean they are out of compliance? I'm confused as they are always strictly adhere to licensing requirements. Now I wonder if they slapped masks on the kids for the inspection.....

In MD it is not required, but it is strongly recommended. MoCo did until recently but I don't know if the licensing inspectors cared. I'm not sure how it was enforced. Our provider is in a County building so I anticipate they will follow whatever guidance there is even if it is not technically required.

Is Montgomery county still providing separate guidance than the state? This must be so confusing for providers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a little ridiculous to expect child care providers to ignore strongly worded recommendations from their licensing body and from the nation's public health authority. Anything goes wrong and they will be blamed. The problem is the guidance, which ultimately comes from the CDC, not child care providers (who are not public health experts) following it.

We are at an in-home daycare and masks have never been required for the kids- I know they've been inspected at least once over the last year with no infractions but does this mean they are out of compliance? I'm confused as they are always strictly adhere to licensing requirements. Now I wonder if they slapped masks on the kids for the inspection.....

In MD it is not required, but it is strongly recommended. MoCo did until recently but I don't know if the licensing inspectors cared. I'm not sure how it was enforced. Our provider is in a County building so I anticipate they will follow whatever guidance there is even if it is not technically required.

Is Montgomery county still providing separate guidance than the state? This must be so confusing for providers.

No, Montgomery County is now following the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a little ridiculous to expect child care providers to ignore strongly worded recommendations from their licensing body and from the nation's public health authority. Anything goes wrong and they will be blamed. The problem is the guidance, which ultimately comes from the CDC, not child care providers (who are not public health experts) following it.

We are at an in-home daycare and masks have never been required for the kids- I know they've been inspected at least once over the last year with no infractions but does this mean they are out of compliance? I'm confused as they are always strictly adhere to licensing requirements. Now I wonder if they slapped masks on the kids for the inspection.....

In MD it is not required, but it is strongly recommended. MoCo did until recently but I don't know if the licensing inspectors cared. I'm not sure how it was enforced. Our provider is in a County building so I anticipate they will follow whatever guidance there is even if it is not technically required.

I’m not sure licensing inspectors necessarily had the authority to enforce the county reg anyway. I suspect enough providers willingly complied, especially the larger centers, that going after family providers was not really worthwhile.

I imagine some updates guidance will be forthcoming, I’m not sure MSDE was given a lot of advance notice about the change. Older DC’s summer camp dropped the outdoor mask requirement but kept indoors for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a little ridiculous to expect child care providers to ignore strongly worded recommendations from their licensing body and from the nation's public health authority. Anything goes wrong and they will be blamed. The problem is the guidance, which ultimately comes from the CDC, not child care providers (who are not public health experts) following it.

We are at an in-home daycare and masks have never been required for the kids- I know they've been inspected at least once over the last year with no infractions but does this mean they are out of compliance? I'm confused as they are always strictly adhere to licensing requirements. Now I wonder if they slapped masks on the kids for the inspection.....

In MD it is not required, but it is strongly recommended. MoCo did until recently but I don't know if the licensing inspectors cared. I'm not sure how it was enforced. Our provider is in a County building so I anticipate they will follow whatever guidance there is even if it is not technically required.

Is Montgomery county still providing separate guidance than the state? This must be so confusing for providers.

No, Montgomery County is now following the state.

I don't think this is true for childcares and schools, I think the county is still requiring universal masking there. However, I know of camps in the county who got rid of the outdoor mask requirement, so maybe they aren't subject to the county rule?