Thoughts on MD EXCELS (for centers)

[Anonymous]

How do you think a parent should interpret an EXCELS rating? For example if you are comparing a center that is rated a 2 vs a 4, how much should the parent take that rating into account vs their own subjective observations?

[Anonymous]

I believe that the EXCELS rating takes many years for the school to get to the full points, so I would not hold that against any school. Trust your gut.

[Anonymous]

A higher EXCELS rating means that a program has put forth a bigger effort to complete a number of state-sponsored requirements for a higher program rating. It does, roughly, indicate higher quality, as the program is meeting higher standards. But a program who hasn't met the standards yet can also be providing a decent quality program. A challenge to higher program ratings that some programs face are the level of qualifications of their staff: a program needs a certain proportion of its staff to have college degrees to meet higher EXCELS levels.

An EXCELS level 5 program is running a very professional program that has jumped through many hurdles and gotten accredited with a state or national accrediting organization like NAEYC.

From the MD EXCELS brochure:

"Maryland EXCELS rates the quality of child
care and early learning programs on a scale of
1 to 5, with 5 as the highest rating. Programs
demonstrate their competence in these areas:
Staffing and Professional Development,
Accreditation and Program Improvement,
Developmentally Appropriate Practice,
and Administrative Policies and Practices.
Programs with ratings 1 through 4 are meeting
standards above the minimum licensing
requirements and are committed to improving
the quality of the services they provide to
children and families.

Level Five programs meet the highest
benchmarks in the Maryland EXCELS system
and are state or nationally accredited."

https://www.marylandexcels.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Guide_to_Child_Care_-Maryland_EXCELS.pdf