1. A. In a preschool center with infants or toddlers in care, a director, in addition to meeting the requirements of §§B—F of this regulation, as applicable, shall have:

   1. (1) 3 semester hours of approved training, or the equivalent, related to the care of infants and toddlers; and
   2. (2) Approved training in supporting breastfeeding practices.

2. B. In a preschool center with 20 or fewer children, a director shall have completed 1 year of experience:

   1. (1) Working primarily with preschoolers in a licensed child care center, nursery school, church-operated school, or similar setting; or
   2. (2) Caring for preschoolers as a registered family child care provider.

3. C. In a preschool center with 21 to 40 children, a director shall have completed:

   1. (1) Either:

      1. (a) 30 semester hours of college coursework that has not less than 20 semester hours specifically in early childhood education; or
      2. (b) 60 semester hours from an accredited institution of higher learning; and

   2. (2) 2 years of experience:

      1. (a) Working under supervision primarily with preschoolers in a licensed child care center, nursery school, church-operated school, or similar setting; or
      2. (b) Caring for preschoolers as a registered family child care provider.

4. D. In a preschool center with more than 40 children, a director shall have:

   1. (1) Attained:

      1. (a) An associate's degree with a minimum of 15 semester hours of approved course work in early childhood education; or
      2. (b) A bachelor's degree in any field; and

   2. (2) Completed 2 years of experience:

      1. (a) Working under supervision primarily with preschoolers in a licensed child care center, nursery school, church-operated school, or similar setting; or
      2. (b) Caring for preschoolers as a registered family child care provider.

5. E. An individual is considered qualified as a director of any size preschool center when that individual:

   1. (1) Has completed 1 year of experience:

      1. (a) Working primarily with preschoolers in a licensed child care center, nursery school, church-operated school, or similar setting; or
      2. (b) Caring for preschoolers as a registered family child care provider; and

   2. (2) Has received either:

      1. (a) Approval by the Department as a teacher for early childhood education, including nursery school through third grade, and has 6 semester hours in early childhood education; or
      2. (b) Certification by the Department or by any other state for early childhood education, including nursery school through third grade.
6. F. If, as of July 1, 2008, an individual was currently employed at a preschool center for 20 or fewer, 21 to 40, or more than 40 children and qualified as the director of that center, the individual continues to be qualified as the director if continuously employed at the same or another center with the same or greater capacity limitations.

Authority: Education Article, §§9.5-401, 9.5-404—9.5-411, and 9.5-413—9.5-418; Family Law Article, §§5-550—5-558; General Provisions Article, §4-333; Human Services Article, §1-202; Annotated Code of Maryland
Agency Note: Federal Statutory Reference — Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.);
Pro-Children Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. §6081 et seq.);
Child Care Development Block Grant (45 CFR Parts 98 and 99 and 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.);
Social Security Act §418 (42 U.S.C. 618)

Effective date: October 20, 2008 (35:21 Md. R. 1826)

Regulation .02K adopted effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 883)

Regulation .03A, B amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 14); April 18, 2022 (49:7 Md. R. 500)

Regulation .03B amended effective April 14, 2014 (41:7 Md. R. 423)

Regulation .04 amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 14)

Regulation .05B amended effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 883)

Regulation .05B, C amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 14)

Regulation .06A amended effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 883); January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 14)

Regulation .08C amended effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 883)

Regulation .09 amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 618)

Regulation .09A, C amended effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 883)

Regulation .09-1 adopted effective November 13, 2023 (50:22 Md. R. 977)

Regulation .10 amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 14)

Regulation .10B amended effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 883)

Regulation .10-1 adopted effective November 13, 2023 (50:22 Md. R. 977)

Regulation .11A amended effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 883)

Regulation .11A, C amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 14)

Regulation .12 amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 14)

Regulation .12B amended effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 883)

Regulation .13E adopted effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 883)

Regulation .15 amended effective March 21, 2011 (38:6 Md. R. 396)