State Department of Education - Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers - Regulatory Analysis

HB 477 revises Maryland's child care regulations for family child care homes and centers, primarily changing adult-to-child ratios and maximum group sizes. It increases the allowable number of children under age 2 in family child care homes from 4 to 5 and updates ratios to require 1 adult for every 4 infants (under 1 year) and 1 adult for every 5 toddlers (1-2 years). These changes apply directly to licensed child care providers operating family child care homes and centers statewide. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and also clarifies probationary teacher qualifications for child care centers.