TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams on Thursday announced two new initiatives – Childcare Subsidies and Academic Support Centers – designed to help support families of young children during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have an obligation to support the working families hit hard by this pandemic as they navigate the multi-faceted challenges presented by COVID-19, a struggling economy and remote learning,” Olszewski said. “These programs will provide support for working parents, and our subsidy will ensure that our lowest-income residents can access the care they need to allow them to continue working.”
“We are pleased that county government and local service providers are working to provide structured environments to assist students with virtual learning and assist families with childcare,” said Superintendent Williams. “Simultaneously, BCPS is continuing to develop its plans to bring small groups of students back into our classrooms as early as November. Today, I will be releasing a timeline with more details about how we will schedule staff and student reentry.”
Childcare Subsidies
Olszewski has allocated up to $7 million to provide childcare subsidies for working families with children ages 5 to 12. The program aims to support low-income working parents who are not able to stay home to manage their children’s remote learning. Eligible families will receive a subsidy of up to $250 per week per child to cover the cost of care at any childcare provider licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits where all parents or guardians in the household are employed will be eligible.
To streamline program access, potentially eligible families will receive a letter with instructions on how to access the online application portal. Letters will be mailed to families by September 28. Families that believe they may be eligible but are not receiving SNAP can apply for SNAP and other assistance at the state’s Department of Human Resources website or call311 to be connected to the MarylandCASH campaign for a benefits eligibility screening.
Academic Support Centers
In addition, the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks, the Y of Central Maryland, and other local daycare providers will open academic support centers to provide full-day, in-person childcare for families of children in Kindergarten to Grade 5. The centers will offer support for virtual learning as well as recreational activities. Students will be grouped in cohorts of up to 14 students. Social distancing and mitigation strategies will be followed, and meals will be provided. SNAP recipients who receive County Childcare Subsidies may use them at the academic support centers.
The Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks will host Learning Centers at its nine PAL Centers sites around the County. These centers are designed to serve disconnected youth identified by the Baltimore County Department of Social Services. These families will be invited to participate, and care will be offered at no cost to the families. Transportation will be available. Meals will be provided by the Maryland Food Bank.Following MSDE approval, these centers will run daily Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
A second group of centers, operated by the Y of Central Maryland, will open in five BCPS elementary schools. The centers will operate beginning Monday, October 5, and will run daily Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Meals will be provided by Baltimore County Public Schools. Fees range from $225 – $250 per week per child. Interested families can apply online now. SNAP recipients who receive County Childcare Subsidies may use them at the academic support centers.
An additional 40 centers, located in BCPS elementary schools, will open Monday, Oct. 12, and will be operated by local daycare providers – Hot Spots Extended Care Program, Kids Place Baltimore, Open Door Before and After School Care, and Play Centers, Inc. Depending on the provider, these centers will begin offering care either at 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. All will end at 6 p.m. Meals will be provided by Baltimore County Public Schools. These centers will charge $250 – $275 per week per child for full-time care. Families interested in these centers should contact the appropriate daycare provider for registration information. SNAP recipients who receive County Childcare Subsidies may use them at the academic support centers.
In total, the 54 academic support centers will be able to serve 1,552 students across Baltimore County.
The list of Baltimore County’s Academic Support Centers is below:
Opening Schedule for Baltimore County Academic Support Centers
Operated by the Department of Recreation and Parks
Cockeysville PAL Center, 9836 Greenside Dr., 21030
Dundalk PAL Center, 15 Commerce Pl., 21222
Hillendale PAL Center, 1111 Halstead Rd., 21234
Lansdowne PAL Center, 2301 Alma Rd., 21227
Mars Estates PAL Center, 1498 East Homberg Ave., 21221t
Scotts Branch PAL Center, 3651 Rolling Rd., 21244
Shady Spring PAL Center, 8876 Goldenwood Rd., 21237
Winfield PAL Center, 8304 Carlson Ln., 21244
Woodmoor PAL Center, 7111 Croydon Rd., 21207
Locations scheduled to open Monday, Oct. 5
Operated by the Y
Catonsville Elementary School
CedarmereElementary School
Johnnycake Elementary School
WestowneElementary School
WoodmoorElementary School
Locations scheduled to open Monday, Oct. 12
Operated by licensed local daycare providers with approved, pre-existing relationships with BCPS (name of daycare provider in parentheses)
Carney Elementary School (Open Door)
Carroll Manor Elementary School (Play Centers)
Chapel Hill Elementary School (Hot Spots)
Chatsworth Elementary School (Kid’s Place)
Church Lane Elementary School (Kid’s Place)
Cromwell Elementary School (Play Centers)
Elmwood Elementary School (Play Centers)
Fort Garrison Elementary School (Hot Spots)
Franklin Elementary School (Open Door)
Fullerton Elementary School (Open Door)
Glyndon Elementary School (Kid’s Place)
Hampton Elementary School (Open Door)
Harford Hills Elementary School (Open Door)
Honeygo Elementary School (Open Door)
Jacksonville Elementary School (Play Centers)
Joppa View Elementary School (Open Door)
Kingsville Elementary School (Open Door)
Lutherville Lab Elementary School (Open Door)
Lyons Mill Elementary School (Hot Spots)
Mays Chapel Elementary School (Open Door)
New Town Elementary School (Kid’s Place)
Oakleigh Elementary School (Hot Spots)
Owings Mills Elementary School (Open Door)
Padonia Elementary School (Hot Spots)
Pine Grove Elementary School (Open Door)
Pinewood Elementary School (Play Centers)
Pleasant Plains Elementary School (Hot Spots)
Pot Spring Elementary School (Open Door)
Reisterstown Elementary School (Kid’s Place)
Relay Elementary School (Open Door)
Riderwood Elementary School (Open Door)
Rodgers Forge Elementary School (Hot Spots)
Seven Oaks Elementary School (Open Door)
Seventh District Elementary School (Hot Spots)
Sparks Elementary School (Play Centers)
Stoneleigh Elementary School (Play Centers)
Summit Park Elementary School (Kid’s Place)
Timber Grove Elementary School (Hot Spots)
Timonium Elementary School (Open Door)
Villa Cresta Elementary School (Hot Spots)
Vincent Farm Elementary School (Hot Spots)
Vincent Farm Elementary School (Open Door)
Warren Elementary School (Play Centers)
Wellwood Elementary School (Hot Spots)
West Towson Elementary School (Play Centers)
Westchester Elementary School (Open Door)
Woodbridge Elementary School (Open Door)
Woodholme Elementary School (Open Door)
