<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 13A.14.14.05" title_num="13A" subtitle_num="14" chapter_num="14" heading="Publication.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Based upon the information provided by the ECE program, the Office shall determine the program’s quality rating level.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>A quality rating is achieved by meeting all criteria that apply to one of five levels established by the set of standards applicable to the type of ECE program.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Standards.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Family child care standards apply to family child care homes and large family child care homes.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Child care center standards apply to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Child care centers, except as set forth at §C(3) of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Head Start programs, whether licensed by the Office or operated by local education agencies;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Nonpublic nursery schools; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Letter of compliance facilities.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>School-age only standards apply to child care centers operating pursuant to COMAR 13A.16 that are approved by the Office to provide child care services only to school-age children.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Public prekindergarten standards apply to public prekindergarten programs operated by local education agencies.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Quality Rating Review.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An ECE program may request a review of a decision by the Office to remove, reduce, or deny the program’s quality rating.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A request for a review shall be submitted to the Office in writing within 30 calendar days after the date of the removal, reduction, or denial of a quality rating.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Maryland EXCELS Advisory Committee shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Have authority to hear each request for review; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Submit its recommendation to the Office within 30 calendar days of receipt of the request for review.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Within 5 business days after receiving the recommendation, the Office shall notify the requestor of the review decision.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Request to Publish. Within 12 months from the date of acceptance into Maryland EXCELS, a participating ECE program shall request the Office to publish its quality rating online through the EXCELS public portal.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>To publish its quality rating, a participating program shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Upload documentation to the EXCELS public portal showing that the applicable standards have been met;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Affirm that each item of documentation submitted to show that the program meets quality standards is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The original creation of the program; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Submitted with permission of the documentation’s original author; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Send a request through the EXCELS public portal to publish the program’s quality rating.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>The Office may reduce, remove, or deny a published quality rating or a request to publish a quality rating if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The ECE program fails to maintain substantial compliance;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Office enters an enforcement action against the program’s license, letter of compliance, or registration; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A complaint against the program is substantiated for noncompliance with the requirements of this chapter pertaining to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Injurious treatment;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Child protection;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Child supervision; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Child capacity.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Unless determined otherwise by the Office pursuant to §G of this regulation, a published Maryland EXCELS quality rating is valid for 12 months from the date of publication unless determined otherwise by the Office, or:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The expiration date of the current rating has passed and an annual update has not yet been submitted;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Substantial compliance is no longer maintained by the program; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Office enters a license enforcement action against the program.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>To continue as a published program, the ECE program shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Prior to the expiration of the current rating cycle, submit documentation through the Maryland EXCELS public portal showing that the program continues to meet the requirements applicable to the rating level; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Be available to receive site visits as required by the Office.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>