I bet all daycares in MoCo open June 22nd

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland is sort of in a weird place right now with daycare. Basically z anyone can use the daycares that are open right now. But, the room size restrictions probably make some daycares unprofitable. That also means there's a shortage of availability at some places.

I think this new status quo will be maintained through the summer. More daycares will open up over the next couple weeks, which might help with availability a little bit

Right. I asked one of DD’s teachers about whether the EPCC thing is done or not today and she said, “It sort of is and sort of isn’t. It’s pretty confusing, but given the 50% capacity limit we have, there are definitely going to be parents who aren’t going to have spots once workplaces start opening up more.”

Oh — one more thing. She said that, since they have to limit each room to 10 people (kids and teachers), the existing childcare ratios mean there are more spots for older kids than younger ones. My 3 year old can be in a room with 9 kids and 1 teacher, but an infant room can’t have a 9 to 1 ratio.

So the restrictions screw over the parents of younger kids more than older kids.

That’s not accurate, at least at my daycare. Every infant parent who wants a spot will get it because the current ration of 6 to 2 is less than 10 people. I contrast, older kids current have 24 kids with 2 or three adults. That will have to go to 9 kids to 1 adult. So, if all families with older kids want a spot, only slightly more than 1/3 will get one - in contrast to every infant family.

15 now instead of 10 per the news today.

Will Elrich attempt to override? I hope not.

Montgomery county is still under phase 1 which (to the best of my knowledge) still means 10 people. But maybe it does not apply! We are completely in the dark about this and equally as confused. We have not had any communication from the state or anybody about this. We found out at the same time the rest of Maryland did, watching the press conference and that had very murky answers.

I know this is an important issue for many people here. I will do some research and come back with answers this afternoon.

That's not clear yet. I think we'll have to wait and see what the Department of Education puts out. And then maybe have to see what, if anything, the county releases on child care.

The 10-person-limit for childcare was a state rule that was part of the EPCC program. With EPCC ending, and state childcare regulations moving to 15-people, it seems like county childcare would also move to 15 people unless the county takes an explicit step to limit that.

And to be clear, the 10-person social gathering limit in the county executive order doesn't apply here. Child care is not a " social, community, recreational, leisure, [or]
sporting" gathering or and event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland is sort of in a weird place right now with daycare. Basically z anyone can use the daycares that are open right now. But, the room size restrictions probably make some daycares unprofitable. That also means there's a shortage of availability at some places.

I think this new status quo will be maintained through the summer. More daycares will open up over the next couple weeks, which might help with availability a little bit

Right. I asked one of DD’s teachers about whether the EPCC thing is done or not today and she said, “It sort of is and sort of isn’t. It’s pretty confusing, but given the 50% capacity limit we have, there are definitely going to be parents who aren’t going to have spots once workplaces start opening up more.”

Oh — one more thing. She said that, since they have to limit each room to 10 people (kids and teachers), the existing childcare ratios mean there are more spots for older kids than younger ones. My 3 year old can be in a room with 9 kids and 1 teacher, but an infant room can’t have a 9 to 1 ratio.

So the restrictions screw over the parents of younger kids more than older kids.

That’s not accurate, at least at my daycare. Every infant parent who wants a spot will get it because the current ration of 6 to 2 is less than 10 people. I contrast, older kids current have 24 kids with 2 or three adults. That will have to go to 9 kids to 1 adult. So, if all families with older kids want a spot, only slightly more than 1/3 will get one - in contrast to every infant family.

15 now instead of 10 per the news today.

Will Elrich attempt to override? I hope not.

Montgomery county is still under phase 1 which (to the best of my knowledge) still means 10 people. But maybe it does not apply! We are completely in the dark about this and equally as confused. We have not had any communication from the state or anybody about this. We found out at the same time the rest of Maryland did, watching the press conference and that had very murky answers.

I know this is an important issue for many people here. I will do some research and come back with answers this afternoon.

One more thing. I can't stress enough that you take any informal materials that are simply posted the website with a grain of salt. They don't carry the force of law. Look at the executive orders and official communications with regulatory arms of the county.

The county executive is not a reliable source of information regarding his own executive orders. As of last Friday he was still claiming we were under a "stay-at-home" order, which hasn't been true since the 6-1-2020 executive order.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland is sort of in a weird place right now with daycare. Basically z anyone can use the daycares that are open right now. But, the room size restrictions probably make some daycares unprofitable. That also means there's a shortage of availability at some places.

I think this new status quo will be maintained through the summer. More daycares will open up over the next couple weeks, which might help with availability a little bit

Right. I asked one of DD’s teachers about whether the EPCC thing is done or not today and she said, “It sort of is and sort of isn’t. It’s pretty confusing, but given the 50% capacity limit we have, there are definitely going to be parents who aren’t going to have spots once workplaces start opening up more.”

Oh — one more thing. She said that, since they have to limit each room to 10 people (kids and teachers), the existing childcare ratios mean there are more spots for older kids than younger ones. My 3 year old can be in a room with 9 kids and 1 teacher, but an infant room can’t have a 9 to 1 ratio.

So the restrictions screw over the parents of younger kids more than older kids.

That’s not accurate, at least at my daycare. Every infant parent who wants a spot will get it because the current ration of 6 to 2 is less than 10 people. I contrast, older kids current have 24 kids with 2 or three adults. That will have to go to 9 kids to 1 adult. So, if all families with older kids want a spot, only slightly more than 1/3 will get one - in contrast to every infant family.

15 now instead of 10 per the news today.

Will Elrich attempt to override? I hope not.

Montgomery county is still under phase 1 which (to the best of my knowledge) still means 10 people. But maybe it does not apply! We are completely in the dark about this and equally as confused. We have not had any communication from the state or anybody about this. We found out at the same time the rest of Maryland did, watching the press conference and that had very murky answers.

I know this is an important issue for many people here. I will do some research and come back with answers this afternoon.

That's not clear yet. I think we'll have to wait and see what the Department of Education puts out. And then maybe have to see what, if anything, the county releases on child care.

The 10-person-limit for childcare was a state rule that was part of the EPCC program. With EPCC ending, and state childcare regulations moving to 15-people, it seems like county childcare would also move to 15 people unless the county takes an explicit step to limit that.

And to be clear, the 10-person social gathering limit in the county executive order doesn't apply here. Child care is not a " social, community, recreational, leisure, [or]
sporting" gathering or and event.

So where does the county executive order override the governors executive order? When we moved from emergency personnel only to phase 1 employees it was not phased in at the same time from Montgomery county as it was for the rest of the state.

[Anonymous]

If MoCo takes a different approach on this it’s going to be a mess- daycares are regulated at the state level. This isnt as simple as delaying things like stores and restaurants opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If MoCo takes a different approach on this it’s going to be a mess- daycares are regulated at the state level. This isnt as simple as delaying things like stores and restaurants opening.

That’s what I have been saying all along. Montgomery county already did take a different approach and It is confusing and it’s a mess. Licensing is not sending us information. We have to scour the Internet and look for answers on our own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MoCo takes a different approach on this it’s going to be a mess- daycares are regulated at the state level. This isnt as simple as delaying things like stores and restaurants opening.

That’s what I have been saying all along. Montgomery county already did take a different approach and It is confusing and it’s a mess. Licensing is not sending us information. We have to scour the Internet and look for answers on our own.

State licensing? Or does the county have its own licensing?

I'd urge you to contact your delegates/state senators if you can't get information from the state licensing. Or if you're waiting on something from the county, your county council member. They need to be made aware that the guidance is still confusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland is sort of in a weird place right now with daycare. Basically z anyone can use the daycares that are open right now. But, the room size restrictions probably make some daycares unprofitable. That also means there's a shortage of availability at some places.

I think this new status quo will be maintained through the summer. More daycares will open up over the next couple weeks, which might help with availability a little bit

Right. I asked one of DD’s teachers about whether the EPCC thing is done or not today and she said, “It sort of is and sort of isn’t. It’s pretty confusing, but given the 50% capacity limit we have, there are definitely going to be parents who aren’t going to have spots once workplaces start opening up more.”

Oh — one more thing. She said that, since they have to limit each room to 10 people (kids and teachers), the existing childcare ratios mean there are more spots for older kids than younger ones. My 3 year old can be in a room with 9 kids and 1 teacher, but an infant room can’t have a 9 to 1 ratio.

So the restrictions screw over the parents of younger kids more than older kids.

That’s not accurate, at least at my daycare. Every infant parent who wants a spot will get it because the current ration of 6 to 2 is less than 10 people. I contrast, older kids current have 24 kids with 2 or three adults. That will have to go to 9 kids to 1 adult. So, if all families with older kids want a spot, only slightly more than 1/3 will get one - in contrast to every infant family.

15 now instead of 10 per the news today.

Will Elrich attempt to override? I hope not.

Montgomery county is still under phase 1 which (to the best of my knowledge) still means 10 people. But maybe it does not apply! We are completely in the dark about this and equally as confused. We have not had any communication from the state or anybody about this. We found out at the same time the rest of Maryland did, watching the press conference and that had very murky answers.

I know this is an important issue for many people here. I will do some research and come back with answers this afternoon.

That's not clear yet. I think we'll have to wait and see what the Department of Education puts out. And then maybe have to see what, if anything, the county releases on child care.

The 10-person-limit for childcare was a state rule that was part of the EPCC program. With EPCC ending, and state childcare regulations moving to 15-people, it seems like county childcare would also move to 15 people unless the county takes an explicit step to limit that.

And to be clear, the 10-person social gathering limit in the county executive order doesn't apply here. Child care is not a " social, community, recreational, leisure, [or]
sporting" gathering or and event.

So where does the county executive order override the governors executive order? When we moved from emergency personnel only to phase 1 employees it was not phased in at the same time from Montgomery county as it was for the rest of the state.

I'm not sure what you're asking.

Montgomery County's Executive Order 067-20 from May 15 didn't address child care, so I always assumed then that the state childcare provisions stood by default. (otherwise, no child care providers would have been able to reopen, including those serving essential personnel)

That changed with the subsequent executive order. Sort of. Executive Order 070-20 explicitly addressed child care, but basically just repeated what the state Department of Education was doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MoCo takes a different approach on this it’s going to be a mess- daycares are regulated at the state level. This isnt as simple as delaying things like stores and restaurants opening.

That’s what I have been saying all along. Montgomery county already did take a different approach and It is confusing and it’s a mess. Licensing is not sending us information. We have to scour the Internet and look for answers on our own.

While there's a licensing office in Montgomery County, I believe they are state employees, not county employees.

[Anonymous]

MSDE is providing this clarification on child care operating procedures in Maryland. All parents are now eligible to access child care services. All child care providers may reopen, as long as they follow all health department protocols listed on the MSDE website and adhere to class size restrictions. In order to reopen, providers must contact their licensing specialist and complete a Child Care Verification of Reopening form.

Class sizes in child care centers are now expanded to a maximum of 15 individuals per classroom with a ratio of no more than 1:14 for three and four year-olds. This is a temporary relaxing of the regulations. Family child care programs are limited to no more than 8 children at one time and no more than 15 persons total including residents. Family child care programs may serve different children on different days. They may also serve up to 8 children at one time in the evening and on weekends. All child care programs must continue to adhere to group size allowed for by age in licensing regulations.

Please continue to review our FAQs and resources on our website at https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/.

Thank you for your continued service as essential persons providing child care for Maryland’s families.

( this was copied and paste from the division of early childhood) Facebook page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MoCo takes a different approach on this it’s going to be a mess- daycares are regulated at the state level. This isnt as simple as delaying things like stores and restaurants opening.

That’s what I have been saying all along. Montgomery county already did take a different approach and It is confusing and it’s a mess. Licensing is not sending us information. We have to scour the Internet and look for answers on our own.

While there's a licensing office in Montgomery County, I believe they are state employees, not county employees.

Correct. The PP sounds confused- if you are waiting on information from county licensing, you'll be waiting a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MSDE is providing this clarification on child care operating procedures in Maryland. All parents are now eligible to access child care services. All child care providers may reopen, as long as they follow all health department protocols listed on the MSDE website and adhere to class size restrictions. In order to reopen, providers must contact their licensing specialist and complete a Child Care Verification of Reopening form.

Class sizes in child care centers are now expanded to a maximum of 15 individuals per classroom with a ratio of no more than 1:14 for three and four year-olds. This is a temporary relaxing of the regulations. Family child care programs are limited to no more than 8 children at one time and no more than 15 persons total including residents. Family child care programs may serve different children on different days. They may also serve up to 8 children at one time in the evening and on weekends. All child care programs must continue to adhere to group size allowed for by age in licensing regulations.

Please continue to review our FAQs and resources on our website at https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/.

Thank you for your continued service as essential persons providing child care for Maryland’s families.

( this was copied and paste from the division of early childhood) Facebook page

Thank you. I think one thing that perplexes me a bit about this is that, while 15 allows greater flexibility than 10, why not just go with the approved ratios at this point. I'm not really understanding how 1 teacher in charge of 14 3yos is a preferred situation over the normal 2 teachers with 20 3yos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MoCo takes a different approach on this it’s going to be a mess- daycares are regulated at the state level. This isnt as simple as delaying things like stores and restaurants opening.

That’s what I have been saying all along. Montgomery county already did take a different approach and It is confusing and it’s a mess. Licensing is not sending us information. We have to scour the Internet and look for answers on our own.

While there's a licensing office in Montgomery County, I believe they are state employees, not county employees.

Correct. The PP sounds confused- if you are waiting on information from county licensing, you'll be waiting a long time.

No, I meant information from licensing from the state. No information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MSDE is providing this clarification on child care operating procedures in Maryland. All parents are now eligible to access child care services. All child care providers may reopen, as long as they follow all health department protocols listed on the MSDE website and adhere to class size restrictions. In order to reopen, providers must contact their licensing specialist and complete a Child Care Verification of Reopening form.

Class sizes in child care centers are now expanded to a maximum of 15 individuals per classroom with a ratio of no more than 1:14 for three and four year-olds. This is a temporary relaxing of the regulations. Family child care programs are limited to no more than 8 children at one time and no more than 15 persons total including residents. Family child care programs may serve different children on different days. They may also serve up to 8 children at one time in the evening and on weekends. All child care programs must continue to adhere to group size allowed for by age in licensing regulations.

Please continue to review our FAQs and resources on our website at https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/.

Thank you for your continued service as essential persons providing child care for Maryland’s families.

( this was copied and paste from the division of early childhood) Facebook page

Thank you. I think one thing that perplexes me a bit about this is that, while 15 allows greater flexibility than 10, why not just go with the approved ratios at this point. I'm not really understanding how 1 teacher in charge of 14 3yos is a preferred situation over the normal 2 teachers with 20 3yos.

Stop trying to use common sense!

This definitely sounds like a situation where the health department arbitrarily picked 15 person room limits, and the Department of Education didn't bother to suggest something marginally different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MoCo takes a different approach on this it’s going to be a mess- daycares are regulated at the state level. This isnt as simple as delaying things like stores and restaurants opening.

That’s what I have been saying all along. Montgomery county already did take a different approach and It is confusing and it’s a mess. Licensing is not sending us information. We have to scour the Internet and look for answers on our own.

While there's a licensing office in Montgomery County, I believe they are state employees, not county employees.

Correct. The PP sounds confused- if you are waiting on information from county licensing, you'll be waiting a long time.

No, I meant information from licensing from the state. No information.

The announcement was just made yesterday. While it would have been nice if they had the detailed updated information ready at the time if the announcement, I expect it will be released soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MoCo takes a different approach on this it’s going to be a mess- daycares are regulated at the state level. This isnt as simple as delaying things like stores and restaurants opening.

That’s what I have been saying all along. Montgomery county already did take a different approach and It is confusing and it’s a mess. Licensing is not sending us information. We have to scour the Internet and look for answers on our own.

While there's a licensing office in Montgomery County, I believe they are state employees, not county employees.

Correct. The PP sounds confused- if you are waiting on information from county licensing, you'll be waiting a long time.

No, I meant information from licensing from the state. No information.

The announcement was just made yesterday. While it would have been nice if they had the detailed updated information ready at the time if the announcement, I expect it will be released soon.

Maybe. The problem now is going to be the county, unless the county stops providing conflicting information.