Reply to Expanded MD child care class sizes

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Montgomery County Will Not Be Moving to Phase 3 for Child Care Programs

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles reminded child care providers that Montgomery County is not moving to Phase 3 for child care programs. On Thursday Oct. 1, Governor Larry Hogan and Superintendent for the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Karen Salmon announced updated guidelines for child care programs allowing programs to serve up to 20 three- and four-year-old children in a room with a ratio of one teacher to 10 students and up to 30 school-age students with a ratio of one teacher to 15 students.

Montgomery County will not make this change and will continue to review the recent updates to provide more thorough guidance to child care providers that are affected. Montgomery County made the decision not to proceed based on the data that show sustained levels of community transmission and a continued high percentage of new cases in the zero to 19-year-old age group. This means that child care centers, family providers, letter of compliance programs and other entities licensed under the MSDE Office of Child Care, including school-age care in the county will remain at the levels currently in place.

Child care providers are reminded that they must continue to adhere to the State and local requirements for the wearing of face coverings, physical distancing of six feet, and sanitizing of hands, shared equipment and facilities. These precautions are critical as the County works to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

For the latest Reopening Montgomery updates, visit the County’s website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCountyMD.

Put the “count” in Montgomery County! Be sure to complete the Census online, by phone, or by mail. It’s safe, confidential, easy, and important. #2020Census #EveryoneCountsMCMD [/quote]

This is so disingenuous. The county's order doesn't say anything about phase 2 versus 3 in the executive order. It just says to follow state guidance. So until and unless the county releases a new executive or health order, there's nothing stopping child care centers in MoCo from fully reopening.[/quote]

I am a daycare. Can you explain this a little bit better to me? I thought we were under the Maryland state of education licensing and control. When Covid hit I was surprised that Montgomery county was following its own set of regulations and I have been following those. Are you telling me that I can just do what the state is telling me I can operate? I am operating at half capacity and my clients want to return but I didn’t think I was allowed to take them.[/quote]

What did they point you to? As I said before, the county's executive order simply tells daycares to follow state guidance. There are no references to capacity limits, nor am I aware of any other health order they would place capacity limits on child care centers.

I don't think MoCo's DHHS is actually paying attention to what's in the orders.[/quote]

I just got this email:

In response to the governors announcement announcing updated guidelines for child care programs MSDE sent a letter on October 9 to all regulated child care alerting our community all programs will return to COMAR regulation on November 30. Montgomery County however, has announced at this time child care programs would not be following the State's return to full capacity due to sustained levels of community transmission and a continued high percentage of new cases in the 0-19 year-old age group. Montgomery County will continue to review the recent updates to provide more thorough guidance to those facilities affected.

PLEASE BE ADVISED...At this time, Montgomery County child care centers, family child care homes, letter of compliance programs and other entities licensed under MSDE Office of Child Care, including school age care, will remain at a maximum of 15 people in a classroom or home.
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I just don't understand how they can legally do this- is the county taking over regulation of childcare centers?[/quote]

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