Applying for a Child Care Scholarship is now faster and easier than ever!
The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) program, formerly known as the Child Care Subsidy, is designed to assist eligible families in Maryland with the costs of high-quality child care and early education programs. This vital program is administered through Child Care Scholarship Central 2 (CCS Central 2), ensuring efficient management and support.
For families needing immediate assistance, the Fast Track Child Care Scholarship application offers a streamlined process. Eligible families can receive help with child care expenses within just three (3) business days and access 60 days of child care assistance while their full Child Care Scholarship application is being processed.
Scholarships are available for children who are:
- Younger than 13 years old, or
- Individuals aged 13-19 with a qualifying disability.
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Alt text: Maryland Child Care Scholarship Program banner promoting quicker and easier application process for eligible families.
Eligibility Requirements for the CCS Program
To qualify for the CCS Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a Maryland resident who is employed, participating in an approved training program, or attending school. In two-parent households, both parents must fulfill these eligibility requirements.
- Be a recipient of Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or meet the CCS income guidelines (detailed below).
- Agree to have their child immunized according to Maryland state standards or provide acceptable documentation for Exemption from Immunization.
- Provide proof that each child requiring child care is a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien. (A Birth Certificate for each child or documentation certifying the child’s status is required.) Note: Parents are not required to be U.S. citizens.
- Provide proof of identity for all household members. (Acceptable proof of identity for parents includes any government-issued document. For children, a birth certificate or immigration status documentation can serve as proof of identity.)
- Provide a Photo I.D. (Required only for the head of household).
Eligibility Checklist
Scholarship FAQs
Fast Track Frequently Asked Questions
Brochure
Spanish Brochure
Applying for the Child Care Scholarship
To apply for a Child Care Scholarship, you must submit your application through the Child Care Scholarship Family Portal as outlined below.
Step 1: Access the Child Care Scholarship Family Portal and create an account. Click on “Register for a New Account” and input your information. (For registration assistance, refer to the Learn How to Register instructions.)
Step 2: Complete the concise, fast-track online Scholarship application and submit two (2) essential documents:
- Proof of employment or enrollment in a training program/school
- Proof of Maryland residency (e.g., utility bill, lease agreement)
Step 3: CCS Central 2 will process your fast track application within three (3) business days.
Step 4: If deemed eligible, a temporary, 60-day Scholarship will be issued to help cover child care costs while your comprehensive application is processed. You will be requested to provide additional information and documentation to determine eligibility for a 52-week Scholarship. If you submit the required additional information within 15 days of your fast track application, you will be notified of your eligibility for a 52-week Scholarship before the temporary Scholarship expires.
Create your account and apply now!
Income Eligibility for Child Care Scholarship
Families meeting the following income criteria may be eligible for a Child Care Scholarship:
Maximum Annual Income
| Child Care Scholarship Program |
|—|
| Family Size | Initial Income Scale* Maximum Annual Income Effective 12.15.2024 | Continuation Income Scale** Maximum Annual Income Effective 4.22.2024 |
| | Table used for new applications | Table used for Changes/Redeterminations |
| Family of 2 | $76,117 | $86,266 |
| Family of 3 | $94,026 | $106,563 |
| Family of 4 | $111,936 | $126,861 |
| Family of 5 | $129,846 | $147,159 |
| Family of 6 | $147,756 | $167,457 |
| Family of 7 | $151,114 | $171,262 |
| Family of 8 | $154,472 | $175,068 |
| Family of 9 | $157,830 | $178,874 |
| Family of 10 | $161,188 | $182,680 |
| Family of 11 | $164,546 | $186,486 |
| Family of 12 | $167,904 | $190,292 |
* Initial Income Scale – Applicable to families without a current child care scholarship, those submitting a Fast-Track initial application for a 60-Day Scholarship, and those submitting a Fast-Track Full “Redetermination Application” with all required documents for an “initial” full evaluation for continued child care scholarship services beyond the 60-Day fast-track eligibility. Family income must be below the Initial Income Scale.
**Continuation Income Scale – Applicable to families who have already received at least 52-weeks to 24 months of child care services and have an active child care scholarship that has not expired when submitting a new Child Care Scholarship Application for continued services. Family income must be below the Continuation Income Scale.
To apply for a full, 52-week Scholarship, families must submit the following documents to CCS Central 2 within 15 days of fast-track application approval:
- The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) application
- Verification of income
- To complete the application, information for all household members is required, including you, your spouse, or your child’s other parent living in your household. Submit the most recent four (4) weeks of consecutive pay stubs.
- Proof of identity (e.g., driver’s license, birth certificate, government-issued identification)
- Proof of approved activity (e.g., work, school, or job training)
- Proof of all other income sources
- Proof of address (e.g., utility bill, lease agreement)
Upon CCS application approval, the following Scholarship Forms may be necessary for ongoing services and to report any changes:
Alt text: Button labeled “Click here to access translated scholarship forms and documents” linking to scholarship forms page.
Additional Scholarship documents are available.
CCS Central 2 manages Child Care Scholarship applications and Provider Payments. Contact CCS 2 using the resources below!
Alt text: Image button labeled “parent questions about the scholarship program” linking to a Google Form for parent inquiries.
Alt text: Image button labeled “provider questions about the scholarship program” linking to a Google Form for provider inquiries.
Child Care Scholarship Customer Support
Open Office Hours Calendar
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| October 8, 2024 | June 10, 2025 | ||||||
| November 19, 2024 | July 15, 2025 | ||||||
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| January 14, 2025 | September 16, 2025 | ||||||
| February 18, 2025 | October 21, 2025 | ||||||
| March 18, 2025 | November 18, 2025 | ||||||
| April 25, 2025 | December 16, 2025 |
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