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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]In order to reopen, daycares must file the paperwork to become an EPCC site.  The program works differently, now, though.  The state isn't paying for daycare anymore, and it's open to any families that are working.

And yes, this is true for all of Maryland.  You can't blame Elrich on this one.[/quote]

This couldn’t be anymore incorrect.  Elrich has us in phase 1.  Can’t open up to everyone until Phase 2.  Get your facts straight.[/quote]

Previous poster here.

I think you're confused by the admittedly complicated space of overlapping executive authorities/actions and regulations at the state and local levels.  The first thing I'd recommend is not to read too much into designations of "phase 1" or "phase 2."  The phases provide a framework for expectation setting, but ultimately different businesses and public services will reopen at different times depending on the specific choices that state/local executives make, or based on the decisions of different regulatory agencies.

Child care is (largely) regulated at a state level.  The [url=https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/]Division of Early Childhood[/url] within the state's Department of Education controls child care licensing and regulations.  You can find the reopening requirements for daycares on their website.  Simply put, the "phase 2" executive order at the state level didn't really change anything.  Daycares can still only open up if they've applied under the EPCC program.  Though, that program has been involving. As I said before, the state longer pays for childcare, and now any child care center can apply to reopen.  Regarding who can use them, there's no meaningful difference about who can use them.  Basically, if you're working (or teleworking), then you're allowed to send your kids to an EPCC site, understanding that you're going to pay whatever that center has picked as a rate.

To be clear, technically the state-level regulations don't open up daycares to everyone.  They open to people that are working.  In MoCo, in theory only Phase 1 employees should be working (whatever that means).  In other parts of the state, there may be some "Phase 2" employees working.  But that phase 1 versus 2 designation is basically meaningless for the purpose of childcare.  If you're working, you can use child care (now, whether you *should* be working is a different matter, but tangential to the child care topic).

An interesting thing could happen as we get closer to phase 3.  That's where the state's rough plan said daycares would open somewhat normally, and presumably be the end of the EPCC program.  That's plausibly where there could be a divergence between state and local policies on child care.  I doubt it, though.  I suspect the county will continue to let the state Department of Education call the shots.  That quite likely may be the only area where MoCo moves at the same time as the rest of the state.[/quote]

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