What is Maryland Accreditation?
Show your commitment to providing the best education every day.
Maryland Accreditation is a way for licensed child care centers and public pre-k programs to demonstrate their commitment to providing high-quality learning. (Please note: Family Child Care programs are not currently eligible to pursue Maryland Accreditation.)
Programs pursue Maryland Accreditation using the following tools:
Maryland Accreditation Standards for early childhood and school age programs
Self-Appraisal including input from your staff and enrolled families
Program Improvement Plan(link is external) based on areas of need for improvement
Review of program improvements through a Final Self-Appraisal
Optional support through remote or onsite Technical Assistance
Observation and feedback through a Validation Visit
Maryland Public Schools, https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/child-care-providers/quality-improvement-initiatives/maryland-accreditation, March 30, 2026.
PGCPS has been using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) as an observational instrument to assess classroom quality in our pre-kindergarten classrooms.
North Forestville CLASS Program Evaluation Flyer.pdf
