Nine months later, freeze on child care scholarship remains, with outlook dim

By: Joe Wicke

Outlets: Maryland Matters

Published: February 5, 2026

Words: 834

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 1 day ago

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Nine months after state officials froze enrollment for the Child Care Scholarship program in hopes of reining in rapidly rising enrollment, the situation is little changed and the outlook is not much better, lawmakers were told Wednesday.

For some families, meanwhile, the situation is beginning to feel hopeless.

“Parents are choosing between medical appointments, prescriptions, paying utilities, buying food and child care,” said Laura Weeldreyer, executive director of the nonprofit Maryland Family Network. “And what …

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