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STARTING MAY 1, 2025, THE CHILDCARE SCHOLARSHIP (CCS) PROGRAM WILL TEMPORARILY STOP ISSUING SCHOLARSHIPS TO NEW FAMILIES. Could you click the link to learn more? https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/ccsenrollmentfreeze
What is the CCS Program?
The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) helps eligible Maryland families cover the cost of child care while working or attending school. Bright Star Early Learning is a proud participant in this program.
The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) (formerly known as Child Care Subsidy) program helps eligible families in Maryland pay for high-quality child care and early education programs. The program is managed through a centralized vendor -- Child Care Scholarship Central 2 (CCS Central 2).
The Fast Track Child Care Scholarship application process shortens your wait to three (3) business days to get help with child care expenses and 60 days of child care assistance while your Child Care Scholarship application is processed, if you are eligible!
If eligible, Scholarships are available for:
A a child who is younger than 13, or
An individual 13-19 years old who has a qualifying disability.
Who Qualifies?
A Maryland resident who is working/employed, in an approved training program, or attending school. For families where both parents live within the same household, both parents must meet all eligibility requirements.
A recipient of Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or within CCS income guidelines (see below).
Willing to have your child immunized to Maryland state standards or provide documentation supporting Exemption from Immunization.
Willing to provide proof that each child needing child care is a citizen of the United States or a qualified alien. (Provide a Birth Certificate for each child or documentation that certifies the child's status.) NOTE: Parents ARE NOT required to be citizens of the United States.
Willing to provide proof of identity for all members within the household composition. (Proof of identity for the parent can be any form of a government-issued document. The birth certificate or immigration status documentation can serve as proof of identity for each child in the household composition.)
Willing to provide a Photo ID. (Only required of the head of households.)
How to Apply
How to Apply
To apply for a Child Care Scholarship, you must apply through the Child Care Scholarship Family Portal as described below.
Step 1: Go to the Child Care Scholarship Family Portal and create an account. Click on “Register for a New Account” and enter your information. (If you need help with the registration process, view the Learn How to Register instructions.)
Step 2: Fill out and complete the short, fast-track online Scholarship application and submit your three (3) documents:
Proof of employment or enrollment in training/school
Proof of residency (i.e. utility bill, lease, etc.)
Proof of income
Step 3: Your fast-track application will be processed within three (3) business days by CCS Central 2.
Step 4: If you are eligible, a temporary, 60-day Scholarship will be issued to assist with the cost of child care while we process your full application. We will ask for additional information and documentation to see if you are eligible for a 52-week Scholarship. If you provide the additional information and documentation within 15 days of submitting your fast-track application, we will let you know if you are eligible for a 52-week Scholarship before your temporary Scholarship expires.
* Initial Income Scale – applies to families without an active child care scholarship, customers submitting a Fast-Track initial application for a 60-Day Scholarship and customers submitting a Fast-Track Full “Redetermination Application” along with all documents for an “initial” full evaluation of all documents required for continued child care scholarship services beyond the 60-Day fast-track eligibility - family income must be below Initial Income Scale
**Continuation Income Scale – families that have already received at least 52-weeks to 24 months of child care services, they have at least one active child care scholarship that has not expired at the time of submitting a new Child Care Scholarship Application for continued services - family income must be below Continuation Income Scale
To apply for a full, 52-week Scholarship, a family must submit the following to CCS Central 2 within 15 days of approval for a fast-track application:
Verification of income
To complete the application you MUST send in the information listed for all household members. This includes you, and your spouse or your child’s other parent living in your household. Most recent four (4) weeks of consecutive pay stubs.
Proof of identity (i.e. driver’s license, birth certificate, government issued identification, etc.)
Proof of approved activity (i.e. work, school or job training)
Proof of all other income
Proof of address (i.e. utility bill, lease, etc.)
Once the CCS application is approved, the following Scholarship Forms may be needed for continued services and to report changes:
Additional Scholarship documents
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