Child Care Improvement Work Group First Meeting - September 9, 2026

The Child Care Improvement Work Group, established by Council Resolution CR 15-2026, held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM virtually. The meeting was chaired by Council Chair Crystal Oriata (District 7) and facilitated by Dr. Rune Parakin, Director of the Education and Workforce Development Committee. Members introduced themselves and discussed the work group's charge to improve availability, affordability, and quality of child care in Prince George's County. The group reviewed the enabling legislation, a legislative package (CB14-CB18) introduced by Chair Oriata, and began identifying key barriers and opportunities. The meeting concluded with a schedule for future virtual meetings and a call for members to prepare remarks on state legislative changes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ms. Moore, a parent participant, shared her experience securing a pre-K seat for her child in the county's neighborhood school. She noted limited pre-K classrooms and the need to arrange aftercare transportation. She urged that child care seat expansion be partnered with new housing development in the county, particularly in Upper Marlborough.

Discussion Items

• Work Group Charge & Purpose: Dr. Parakin outlined three areas of work: (1) recommendations to improve permitting for child care facilities and streamline county review processes; (2) recommendations for state legislative changes related to licensing and funding; and (3) a final report including a plan for implementing a county universal child care program.
• Legislative Package Overview: Budget and policy analyst Caleb Callender presented bills CB14-CB18, which established a child care navigator position (CB14), a grant program for providers (CB15), a scholarship program for families with children ages 0-3 (CB16), funding via the quality of life fund (CB17), and parental protections in enrollment contracts during hardships (CB18).
• Member Introductions: Members shared their backgrounds and how they support child care, including representatives from Child Resource Connect, a child care center owner-operator, a family child care provider specializing in inclusive care, a parent and education committee member, MSDE's Division for Early Childhood, and Prince George's County Public Schools.
• Discussion on Barriers and Opportunities: Members raised several concerns:
  • Natalie Coward (Child Resource Connect) highlighted provider mistrust in government programs, delays in scholarship payments, and the need for better synergy among county initiatives and sustained engagement.
  • Kiana Morant (center owner) noted that provider partnerships are crucial as centers close due to under-enrollment and a 13-14 month waitlist for child care vouchers.
  • Chair Oriata pointed to policy solutions such as aligning standards across after-school and daycare providers and making structural changes to pre-K programs to better fit working parents.
  • Alejandra Ladonio Gomez (parent) described a family child care provider facing a $30,000 sprinkler system requirement to expand from 8 to 12 children, calling for mindful policy on expansion barriers.
  • Andrea Searcy (PGCPS) emphasized incentivizing providers to serve younger children and expanding the mixed-delivery pre-K program to meet Blueprint goals of 50% public school and 50% private provider seats.
  • Keisha Maxwell (MSDE) welcomed conversations about licensing versus fire safety (e.g., sprinklers) and noted that afterschool programs often provide before- and after-care.

Key Outcomes

• Meeting Schedule: Future meetings will be held virtually on Wednesdays at 2:00 PM: September 23, October 14, October 28, November 11, and December 9, 2026.
• Next Steps: Members were asked to review the legislative package and prepare to discuss state legislative changes to child care licensing and funding at the next meeting on September 23. A written summary of their remarks is requested for inclusion in the final report.
• Decision: The work group will develop recommendations and a final report due December 1, 2026, with the group dissolving 90 days after transmitting recommendations.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned by motion and second, with all in favor.