# COMAR Title 13A — State Board of Education

## Subtitle 14 — Child and Family Day Care

### Chapter 15 — Outdoor, Nature-Based Child Care License Pilot Program

#### Regulation .05 Considerations for Approval.

*COMAR 13A.14.15.05*

When considering whether to approve a pilot under this chapter, the Department:

A. Shall give priority to:

  (1) Existing outdoor, nature-based early learning and child care programs that are licensed as camps by the Maryland Department of Health; and

  (2) Existing licensed child care centers or registered family child care homes that participate in the Maryland EXCELS Program and are seeking to expand into outdoor, nature-based early learning;

B. Shall, to the extent practicable, select a mix of rural, urban, and suburban programs; and

C. May give priority to:

  (1) Areas where there are few or limited licensed early child care programs; and

  (2) Areas of need where licensed early child care programs are at or near full capacity, and where access may be restricted by enrollment waitlists.