Child Care Centers - Teacher Qualifications - Alterations

HB 1303 amends Maryland law to establish new minimum qualifications for child care teachers in centers serving preschool or school-age children (ages 3+). It requires the State Board of Education to set experiential standards, including options like holding a high school diploma, completing approved coursework, or having two years of related work experience. The bill also creates a probationary period for new hires, requiring completion of 90 hours of pre-service training within six months or 45 hours initially with full completion within six months, plus holding a relevant degree. Centers must terminate or reassign teachers who fail to complete training within six months or earn a high school equivalency certificate within two years. This directly affects Maryland child care centers and new child care teachers seeking initial employment.