In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Accreditation” means the assessment of a child care facility by an accreditation organization approved by the Office, such as, but not limited to, the: Maryland State Department of Education; National Association for the Education of Young Children; National Association for Family Child Care; or National Early Childhood Professional Accreditation. “Annual family income” means the combined annual adjusted gross income, as reported for federal tax purposes, of all members of the applicant's household. “Applicant” means an individual applying for: Participation in the credential program; Funding through training vouchers; or Funding through the Child Care Career and Professional Development Fund. “Approved course work” means approved courses taken for credit from a regionally accredited college or university that includes at least one course in each of the following topic areas: Child development; Early childhood materials and methods; Special education; Administration and management of a child care program; Infants and toddlers; School-age children; Health, safety, and nutrition; and Language and literacy. “Approved degree program” means a program of college courses leading to a degree in: Early childhood education; Child development; Elementary education; or A related field as approved by the Office. “Approved setting” means a: Licensed child care center; Registered family child care home, including a large family child care home; Nursery school; Public or private school; Parks and recreation program; or Similar program recognized by the Office of Child Care. “Approved trainer” means an individual or organization that has been evaluated and approved by the Office to offer training to child care providers. “Award” means any payment of money, or the issuance of a training voucher, by the Office under this chapter. “Benefits” means one or more employer incentives available to child care program staff that include, but are not limited to, health coverage, 401K plan, profit sharing, paid vacation leave, sick leave, holiday leave, and release time for training. “Child care professional activity” means an activity or group of activities related to the child care profession, such as: Professional association membership; Work with State or national accreditation organizations; Peer mentoring; or Conducting training. “Child care facility” means a: Registered family child care home, including a large family child care home; Licensed child care center; Letter of compliance facility; or Child care program authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense. “Child care professional activity unit” means the amount of credit given to an individual professional activity for the purpose of determining a credential level. “Clock hour” means 1 hour (60 minutes) on the clock. “College” means an accredited college or university that is approved by the Office. “Continued training” means approved training that is taken on an annual or continuing basis to fulfill the requirements of this chapter and of: COMAR 13A.15; COMAR 13A.16; COMAR 13A.17; or COMAR 13A.18. “Core of knowledge” means the competencies, which include child development, curriculum, special needs, professionalism, community and health, safety, and nutrition, that are identified by the Office as essential for all individuals working in the child care delivery system. “Core of knowledge training” means training that has been evaluated and approved by the Office as meeting the standards for the core of knowledge and the requirements of: COMAR 13A.15; COMAR 13A.16; COMAR 13A.17; or COMAR 13A.18. “Credential” means the credential from the Maryland Child Care Credential Program. “Credential level” means a level of the Maryland Child Care Credential program that designates achievement of a predetermined amount of professional education, experience, and activity. “Credential achievement bonus” means a cash payment awarded to a program participant who achieves, or renews program participation at, a specified credential level. “Degree” means the completion of a course of study from an accredited college or university located in: The United States; A United States territory; or A foreign country, if the degree has been: Translated into English; and Determined to meet standards equivalent to a degree issued in the United States. “Experience” means working directly with children in a: Child care facility; or Supervised program, such as a: Nursery school; Public or private school; Parks and recreation program; or Similar program recognized by the Office of Child Care. “Fund” means the Child Care Career and Professional Development Fund. “Grantee” means an individual who has received an award under this chapter. “Lead staff” means the director of a child care facility or a child care facility staff member designated to be in charge of the facility or a classroom of children at a given time during the facility’s approved hours of operation. “Office” means the Office of Credentialing under the Office of Child Care, State Department of Education “One year of college” means the successful completion of 30 college credit hours. “One year of college course work” means not less than 30 college credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university that have been successfully completed for credit. “One year of experience” means: 1,800 clock hours of experience working with children from birth through 5 years old; or 400 clock hours of experience working with children 6 years old through 16 years old. “Participant” means an individual who participates in the Maryland Child Care Credential program. “Points” means the numerical value assigned to a specified activity or accomplishment that may be counted toward qualification for a specified credential level. “Pre-service training” means training that is received: Through a college or university; or To meet initial employment qualification requirements established for registered family child care homes, licensed child care centers, or letter of compliance facilities. “Provider” means: A registered family child care provider or co-provider; An approved additional adult in a registered family child care home; The director of a child care facility; or A staff member in a child care facility. “Related discipline” means the completion of at least 15 college credit hours of approved core of knowledge coursework. “Staff member” means an individual, other than a volunteer or a substitute, who is assigned responsibility for child care in a child care facility and, if applicable, whose assignment helps to maintain required staff/child ratios. “Successful completion” means meeting the requirements of a: Workshop, training, or seminar for which a certificate of completion is received; or College course taken for credit in which a grade of “C” or higher is earned. “Training” means a workshop, seminar, or other course, whether completed for credit or noncredit, that is offered by a college, university, or approved trainer. “Training voucher” means a coupon given by the Office to a participant to purchase pre-service or conference training from an approved training source. “Transcript” means an official statement from a college or university which identifies the: Student; Institution; Primary course of study; Dates of attendance; Courses taken; Grades received; Number of credits completed; and Degree awarded, if applicable, and the date of the award.