A new Maryland law creates a direct compliance obligation for private child care providers—and most owners haven't heard about it yet.
Most private child care and prekindergarten owners in Maryland don't realize that a staffing requirement buried in HB748 will affect every teaching assistant they hire starting July 1, 2026. The provision isn't optional, and it carries real operational and financial implications.
Under Section 7-1A-08(c)(2)(i)2 of HB748, private prekindergarten providers must ensure that newly hired teaching assistants obtain either a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or an associate degree within three years of their hire date. This requirement applies to each assistant teacher individually, with the three-year window beginning on their start date.
The law takes effect July 1, 2026. From that date forward, every teaching assistant you bring on board will be subject to this requirement.
If your business employs teaching assistants in a publicly funded prekindergarten program, this applies to you. The obligation falls on the provider—meaning you, as the owner or operator, are responsible for ensuring compliance. You cannot simply hire an assistant and assume they'll complete the credential on their own time and dime.
This creates several concrete obligations:
Ongoing tracking: You'll need to monitor each assistant's progress toward their CDA or degree, with a deadline tied to their individual hire date.
Training costs: Whether your business covers tuition, provides paid time to attend classes, or offers other support, this requirement will likely generate costs. CDA programs typically require coursework and exam fees; associate degrees require longer enrollment and higher expense.
Staffing decisions: You may need to factor credential-completion timelines into hiring, scheduling, and budget planning. An assistant who doesn't complete the requirement by year three creates a compliance gap.
Documentation: You'll want clear records showing each hire date and credential completion date to demonstrate compliance if audited.
Owners should begin thinking now about how to structure support for this requirement. Some providers may partner with local community colleges to offer discounted or streamlined CDA programs. Others may build tuition assistance into their budget or adjust hiring practices to prioritize candidates already pursuing or holding credentials.
The three-year window is not unlimited—it's a hard deadline tied to each individual hire date. Missing it creates a compliance violation.
If you operate a private prekindergarten program in Maryland and employ teaching assistants, understanding this requirement now—before the July 2026 effective date—gives you time to plan staffing, training partnerships, and budget accordingly.
For a detailed, business-specific guide to HB748's requirements and compliance steps, contact your local child care trade association or Maryland Department of Education.