Maryland
Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood — Office of Child Care
COMAR 13A.16 (Child Care Centers); ratios at COMAR 13A.16.08.03
Researched 2026-09 · Summary, not legal advice — confirm with the agency before acting on a figure.
Staff-child ratios
Infants
1:3
younger than 18 months
max group 6
Toddlers
1:3
18 months to younger than 2 years
max group 9
Preschool
1:10
3–4 years
max group 20
School-age
1:15
5 years and older
max group 30
Requirements
- Annual training
- At least 12 clock hours of approved continued training per full year of employment for child care teachers and directors (at least 6 hours core-of-knowledge training, up to 6 hours elective), per COMAR 13A.16.06.
- Lead teacher
- A preschool child care teacher must complete 6 semester hours or 90 clock hours of approved preservice training, or hold the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, plus one year of supervised experience with preschoolers or equivalent college coursework (COMAR 13A.16.06.09).
- Director
- A center director must have a high school diploma or equivalent, 6 semester hours or 90 clock hours of approved preservice training or the CDA National Credential, plus 3 semester hours (or equivalent) of approved administrative training (COMAR 13A.16.06.05).
- Worth knowing
- Two-year-olds have their own band: 1:6 with a maximum group of 12. Age is determined by the child's most recent birthday. Infant and toddler groups may be mixed under special staffing rules in COMAR 13A.16.08.03.
A ratio is easy to read and hard to hold at 3pm on the playground.
Rehearse supervision