Anonymous wrote:So, I was wrong. Montgomery County's reaction to the state reopening all daycares is to block all new daycares from reopening until further notice.

https://conta.cc/37wfh48

But just until we go to phase 2, right? Which in theory may be next week? Stupid, but if it’s a week delay I can deal with it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP! Is MDSE the county? So are they saying that next week when stage 2 opens in MoCo they willLet all families use daycares (not just essential workers and those originally allowed in stages 1 and 2) and use the new 15/room ratio from the state?

MSDE= Maryland state department of education

Again there is massive confusion because we are not regulated by each county, only by the state but we are following the county’s phased opening.

Thanks! Does this mean that the county has coordinated with them and this is where they landed? Or is the county health dept still saying only stage 2 workers from the original plan can get care in stage 2? Thank you again!

I have no clue, sorry. We are not told any of this information.

So, I was wrong. Montgomery County's reaction to the state reopening all daycares is to block all new daycares from reopening until further notice.

https://conta.cc/37wfh48

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP! Is MDSE the county? So are they saying that next week when stage 2 opens in MoCo they willLet all families use daycares (not just essential workers and those originally allowed in stages 1 and 2) and use the new 15/room ratio from the state?

MSDE= Maryland state department of education

Again there is massive confusion because we are not regulated by each county, only by the state but we are following the county’s phased opening.

Thanks! Does this mean that the county has coordinated with them and this is where they landed? Or is the county health dept still saying only stage 2 workers from the original plan can get care in stage 2? Thank you again!

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP! Is MDSE the county? So are they saying that next week when stage 2 opens in MoCo they willLet all families use daycares (not just essential workers and those originally allowed in stages 1 and 2) and use the new 15/room ratio from the state?

MSDE= Maryland state department of education

Again there is massive confusion because we are not regulated by each county, only by the state but we are following the county’s phased opening.

Thanks PP! Is MDSE the county? So are they saying that next week when stage 2 opens in MoCo they willLet all families use daycares (not just essential workers and those originally allowed in stages 1 and 2) and use the new 15/room ratio from the state?

I'm back with an update with an official email (emphasis is mine):

"MSDE HAS ANNOUNCED THE REOPENING OF CHILDCARE AND CLASS SIZES
MSDE announced on June 10, as part of the State's phase 2 plan, the reopening of childcare programs in Maryland. ******Please note, Montgomery County is currently in Phase 1. When Montgomery County transition to Phase 2, we will then align with the State.****** All childcare programs can reopen AT THAT TIME as long as they have competed and submitted a reopening verification form from MSDE and follow new group size guidelines. The new guidelines are as follows:
Centers: 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. Ratios have not changed for infants and toddlers.
Family Child Care will revert back to pre-COVID-19 regulations with no more than 8 children with a maximum household capacity of 15. This does not mean 15 children. This means the adults (residents) in the home combined with the 8 children cannot exceed 15.
Current EPCC and EPSA programs do not need to complete a new form. They do, however need to submit a personnel list and staffing pattern to their licensing specialist. They also need a qualified staff person in the 3 and 4 year old classrooms.
Montgomery County will continue to support child care programs with essential supplies (PPE's and cleaning supplies) based on actual enrollment through July 11. Lists will come directly from MSDE. Programs will receive an email Monday morning from "

Yeah, with the county not releasing any clear definitions of what "essential personnel" and "phase I opening employees" mean, it's basically going to be up to the individual daycares to decide.

If you can say that you're working in accordance with the Phase I reopening plan, then no daycare is ever going to get in trouble for taking you. That includes teleworkers. The county never addressed it, but state said teleworkers could use EPCC sites.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can the county just seize control of something that’s supposed to be under the control of the state?

That’s what I’m wondering too. Waiting to see official word and then off to write Hogan and MSDE again.

I feel like the county isn’t really thinking this through- do they really WANT this responsibility? Are they going to have someone administer their version of the EPCC program? Would they actually be able to enforce the restrictions, since state licensing usually handles compliance?

Realistically, I expect HHS to say any daycare is allowed to open, provided they reopen under the state's procedures. But, they'll say they're only allowed to serve essential/phase I employees. And they're not going to clarify who that includes.

On the flip side, I'm also 99.999% sure there will be zero enforcement of this. No documentation on this will go to the county, so they'll never know what jobs the parents of the kids have.

I think this is mainly going to affect larger, more visible centers. I agree there is no way they’d be able to track and enforce this for every family daycare. But I know our center has been very conscientious about doing this by the book and according to both state/county guidelines. So this will delay them no doubt. We are likely to need care by mid-July and I was hopeful they would reopen after the state directive. Hopefully they still will but I know they wanted nothing to do with having to verify employment. And now that the EPCC program is gone, I don’t even know what the mechanism would be to find a spot elsewhere.

This affects all day cares including family daycare providers. every single one that I know Is extremely conscientious and takes great measures to make sure they are compliant. Both centers and in-homes are tracked and enforced equally.

Will they check? Probably not.

The EPCC is gone but all day cares can reopen so you should just start calling around and seeing if anyone has room for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can the county just seize control of something that’s supposed to be under the control of the state?

That’s what I’m wondering too. Waiting to see official word and then off to write Hogan and MSDE again.

I feel like the county isn’t really thinking this through- do they really WANT this responsibility? Are they going to have someone administer their version of the EPCC program? Would they actually be able to enforce the restrictions, since state licensing usually handles compliance?

Realistically, I expect HHS to say any daycare is allowed to open, provided they reopen under the state's procedures. But, they'll say they're only allowed to serve essential/phase I employees. And they're not going to clarify who that includes.

On the flip side, I'm also 99.999% sure there will be zero enforcement of this. No documentation on this will go to the county, so they'll never know what jobs the parents of the kids have.

How can they restrict it to phase 1 employees when the entire program is gone? They would still have to put out their own regulations, right?

I don't know. I think the county executive is making it up as he goes along, federal/state/local law be damned. He can get away with just about anything until and unless there's someone willing to make him to court over it.

On the one hand, I think Elrich could simply say his existing 070-20 executive order is silent on the license that daycare providers need (EPCC or otherwise), but does state they're only allowed to serve essential personnel and phase I workers. I don't know how you'd actually enforce that, but arguably the rule is in place.

However, I don't see how it could possibly be constitutional for the County Executive to tell private entities who they are and are not allowed to do business with. Sure, he could shut down child care centers as a whole, but I don't see how he can let them open, but then tell them who they can serve.

Read this. It's a little better now but this should have been done months ago.

Montgomery County has created an advisory group of medical professionals to help with its recovery plans during the health crisis.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/coronavirus/group-of-medical-professionals-now-guiding-countys-reopening-during-health-crisis/#disqus_thread

That's just virtue signaling.

We know a lot more about how the virus spreads now. We've got a pretty good infrastructure for collecting important statistics to track it's spread. I don't actually think there are fundamental questions of science or medicine that are really holding up decisions. The problem is ultimately how to balance the legitimate health concerns with the fact that at some point we're going to have accept some risks and continue reopening. That's an issue of public policy, not public health. Doctors and public health experts shouldn't be the only ones driving that boat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can the county just seize control of something that’s supposed to be under the control of the state?

That’s what I’m wondering too. Waiting to see official word and then off to write Hogan and MSDE again.

I feel like the county isn’t really thinking this through- do they really WANT this responsibility? Are they going to have someone administer their version of the EPCC program? Would they actually be able to enforce the restrictions, since state licensing usually handles compliance?

Realistically, I expect HHS to say any daycare is allowed to open, provided they reopen under the state's procedures. But, they'll say they're only allowed to serve essential/phase I employees. And they're not going to clarify who that includes.

On the flip side, I'm also 99.999% sure there will be zero enforcement of this. No documentation on this will go to the county, so they'll never know what jobs the parents of the kids have.

How can they restrict it to phase 1 employees when the entire program is gone? They would still have to put out their own regulations, right?

I don't know. I think the county executive is making it up as he goes along, federal/state/local law be damned. He can get away with just about anything until and unless there's someone willing to make him to court over it.

On the one hand, I think Elrich could simply say his existing 070-20 executive order is silent on the license that daycare providers need (EPCC or otherwise), but does state they're only allowed to serve essential personnel and phase I workers. I don't know how you'd actually enforce that, but arguably the rule is in place.

However, I don't see how it could possibly be constitutional for the County Executive to tell private entities who they are and are not allowed to do business with. Sure, he could shut down child care centers as a whole, but I don't see how he can let them open, but then tell them who they can serve.

Read this. It's a little better now but this should have been done months ago.

Montgomery County has created an advisory group of medical professionals to help with its recovery plans during the health crisis.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/coronavirus/group-of-medical-professionals-now-guiding-countys-reopening-during-health-crisis/#disqus_thread

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can the county just seize control of something that’s supposed to be under the control of the state?

That’s what I’m wondering too. Waiting to see official word and then off to write Hogan and MSDE again.

I feel like the county isn’t really thinking this through- do they really WANT this responsibility? Are they going to have someone administer their version of the EPCC program? Would they actually be able to enforce the restrictions, since state licensing usually handles compliance?

Realistically, I expect HHS to say any daycare is allowed to open, provided they reopen under the state's procedures. But, they'll say they're only allowed to serve essential/phase I employees. And they're not going to clarify who that includes.

On the flip side, I'm also 99.999% sure there will be zero enforcement of this. No documentation on this will go to the county, so they'll never know what jobs the parents of the kids have.

I think this is mainly going to affect larger, more visible centers. I agree there is no way they’d be able to track and enforce this for every family daycare. But I know our center has been very conscientious about doing this by the book and according to both state/county guidelines. So this will delay them no doubt. We are likely to need care by mid-July and I was hopeful they would reopen after the state directive. Hopefully they still will but I know they wanted nothing to do with having to verify employment. And now that the EPCC program is gone, I don’t even know what the mechanism would be to find a spot elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can the county just seize control of something that’s supposed to be under the control of the state?

That’s what I’m wondering too. Waiting to see official word and then off to write Hogan and MSDE again.

I feel like the county isn’t really thinking this through- do they really WANT this responsibility? Are they going to have someone administer their version of the EPCC program? Would they actually be able to enforce the restrictions, since state licensing usually handles compliance?

Realistically, I expect HHS to say any daycare is allowed to open, provided they reopen under the state's procedures. But, they'll say they're only allowed to serve essential/phase I employees. And they're not going to clarify who that includes.

On the flip side, I'm also 99.999% sure there will be zero enforcement of this. No documentation on this will go to the county, so they'll never know what jobs the parents of the kids have.

How can they restrict it to phase 1 employees when the entire program is gone? They would still have to put out their own regulations, right?

I don't know. I think the county executive is making it up as he goes along, federal/state/local law be damned. He can get away with just about anything until and unless there's someone willing to make him to court over it.

On the one hand, I think Elrich could simply say his existing 070-20 executive order is silent on the license that daycare providers need (EPCC or otherwise), but does state they're only allowed to serve essential personnel and phase I workers. I don't know how you'd actually enforce that, but arguably the rule is in place.

However, I don't see how it could possibly be constitutional for the County Executive to tell private entities who they are and are not allowed to do business with. Sure, he could shut down child care centers as a whole, but I don't see how he can let them open, but then tell them who they can serve.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can the county just seize control of something that’s supposed to be under the control of the state?

That’s what I’m wondering too. Waiting to see official word and then off to write Hogan and MSDE again.

I feel like the county isn’t really thinking this through- do they really WANT this responsibility? Are they going to have someone administer their version of the EPCC program? Would they actually be able to enforce the restrictions, since state licensing usually handles compliance?

Realistically, I expect HHS to say any daycare is allowed to open, provided they reopen under the state's procedures. But, they'll say they're only allowed to serve essential/phase I employees. And they're not going to clarify who that includes.

On the flip side, I'm also 99.999% sure there will be zero enforcement of this. No documentation on this will go to the county, so they'll never know what jobs the parents of the kids have.

How can they restrict it to phase 1 employees when the entire program is gone? They would still have to put out their own regulations, right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We heard from our center that Montgomery County is continuing to restrict their ability to open for everyone because they are only in stage 1. For the providers on here, whom in the county could parents call to complain? And can the state intervene at this point to require the county to allow child care centers to open?

What does “restrict their ability to open” mean? Ours has been open for the whole time—first as an EPCC, now open to more families, but with capacity restrictions.

So what do you mean by restrict their ability?

Restrict their ability in that the state is saying that it is now open to everyone, not based on phases of reopening. And the capacity restrictions have increased (to 15/room from 10). MCPS is saying that they will only allow people authorized to have daycare in phase 1 to enroll, and At the lower capacity.

MCPS doesn’t have control over daycares.

Not right now. No one in Montgomery County has regulatory control over daycares, since that rests in the state.

Yet, the county is still keeping them shut down, and presumably some department is going to have to oversee that. It seems like it will either be MCPS or HHS. (Probably the latter)

But for how long? Until we get to phase 2? Or some unspecified time beyond that?

Presumably until stage 3, which is when the original plan from the state opened them up to everyone. But who knows.