State library · checked October 2026
Maryland child care, camp and ratio rules
What camps, after-school programs and child care centers in Maryland need to know about licensing, ratios, background checks, medication and reporting abuse, with links to the official rules.
Child care licensing
Child care centers must be licensed by MSDE's Office of Child Care; a center is any program that gives child care at least twice a week on a regular schedule to children who are not siblings, including preschools, nursery schools and before- and after-school (school-age) programs. Family child care homes are registered under separate rules (COMAR 13A.15).
After-school and recreation programs: Exempt from center licensing: public schools during instructional hours, nonpublic kindergartens and elementary schools during instructional hours, certified youth camps, programs that run 6 weeks or less in a calendar year, and certain programs of tax-exempt religious organizations (COMAR 13A.16.01.01B; Education Art. §9.5-405). A before- or after-school program held in a school building still needs a license, but does not have to meet extra physical-plant rules beyond those for the school building.
Licensing agency: Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Early Childhood, Office of Child Care, Licensing Branch
Sources: COMAR 13A.16.08.03 group size and staffing; COMAR 13A.16.01.01 scope and exemptions; Education Art. §9.5-401 definitions; Education Art. §9.5-405 license required; exemptions
Staff-to-child ratios in licensed centers
| Ages | Children per staff member | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| 4 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| 5 years | 1:15 | 30 |
| School-age (5 and older) | 1:15 | 30 |
Rule: COMAR 13A.16.08.03. Maryland sets one band for 3- and 4-year-olds (1:10, group of 20) and one for children 5 and older (1:15, group of 30). Age is counted from the child's most recent birthday. Mixed-age groups have their own staffing tables, including groups where enrolled 3- and 4-year-olds are mixed with school-age children. Approved educational programs during the school day allow 1:12 (group 24) for ages 3-4.
Summer camps
Day, residential, travel and trip camps must get a youth camp certificate (or letter of compliance) from MDH before operating (COMAR 10.16.06.07). A youth camp serves 7 or more unrelated campers aged 3.5 to under 18 with mainly recreational or outdoor activities; a day camp runs at least 7 days within a 3-week period. Not covered: licensed child care, before- and after-school programs, programs that enroll children under 3.5, sports-league competitions, specialized instruction of 2 hours or less a day, and (subject to local standards) programs run by county or municipal recreation departments.
Sources: COMAR 10.16.06.01 scope (youth camps); COMAR 10.16.06.02 definitions (youth camp, day camp); COMAR 10.16.06.07 certificate required; MDH Youth Camp Certification
Background checks
Child care center staff need a comprehensive check at least every five years: Maryland fingerprint criminal check, FBI fingerprint check, Maryland and national sex offender registries, the Maryland child abuse and neglect registry, and the same registries in any state lived in during the past five years; Maryland also uses fingerprint rap-back alerts (MSDE). Certain convictions bar employment outright (COMAR 13A.16.06.03). Youth camps must have a Maryland and FBI criminal history check and a Child Protective Services clearance on file for everyone in a position with access to campers, including volunteers, plus a checked personnel administrator before the camp opens (COMAR 10.16.06.21).
Sources: MSDE: background checks and fingerprinting; COMAR 13A.16.06.03 suitability for employment; COMAR 10.16.06.21 youth camp criminal background investigations
Giving medication
Any medication, prescription or over-the-counter, needs a signed and dated parent authorization on the state form plus approval from a licensed health practitioner; prescriptions must carry the pharmacy label, and at least one dose must have been given at home first. Every dose is recorded in the child's record, and only staff who have completed state-approved medication administration training may give medication, with at least one trained staff member present whenever children are (COMAR 13A.16.11.04).
Free medication administration log
Sources: COMAR 13A.16.11.04 medication administration and storage
Reporting child abuse
Everyone in Maryland who has reason to believe a child has been abused or neglected must report to the local department of social services or law enforcement (Family Law §5-705). Health practitioners, police, educators and human service workers must also report orally as soon as possible and in writing within 48 hours (Family Law §5-704); child care staff must report directly, not through their director (COMAR 13A.16.07.02).
Maryland child abuse hotline: 1-800-917-7383 (1-800-91-PREVENT) (how to report). In an emergency, call 911.
Sources: Family Law §5-704 professionals' duty to report; Family Law §5-705 duty of all other persons to report; COMAR 13A.16.07.02 abuse/neglect reporting in centers; Maryland DHS: reporting suspected child abuse or neglect
Checked October 2026 against Maryland's official rules and federal sources. Rules change and have exceptions, so confirm with the agency before you rely on them. This is general information, not legal advice. Maryland has 3,369 youth and community program nonprofits, according to our analysis of IRS data.
FAQ
Maryland questions
What is the staff-to-child ratio for school-age children in Maryland?
In licensed child care centers, 1 staff member for every 15 school-age children, with groups of up to 30 (COMAR 13A.16.08.03). Camps and license-exempt programs can follow different rules.
Do summer camps need a license in Maryland?
Day, residential, travel and trip camps must get a youth camp certificate (or letter of compliance) from MDH before operating (COMAR 10.16.06.07). A youth camp serves 7 or more unrelated campers aged 3.5 to under 18 with mainly recreational or outdoor activities; a day camp runs at least 7 days within a 3-week period. Not covered: licensed child care, before- and after-school programs, programs that enroll children under 3.5, sports-league competitions, specialized instruction of 2 hours or less a day, and (subject to local standards) programs run by county or municipal recreation departments.
Do after-school programs need a child care license in Maryland?
Exempt from center licensing: public schools during instructional hours, nonpublic kindergartens and elementary schools during instructional hours, certified youth camps, programs that run 6 weeks or less in a calendar year, and certain programs of tax-exempt religious organizations (COMAR 13A.16.01.01B; Education Art. §9.5-405). A before- or after-school program held in a school building still needs a license, but does not have to meet extra physical-plant rules beyond those for the school building.
Who has to report suspected child abuse in Maryland?
Everyone in Maryland who has reason to believe a child has been abused or neglected must report to the local department of social services or law enforcement (Family Law §5-705). Health practitioners, police, educators and human service workers must also report orally as soon as possible and in writing within 48 hours (Family Law §5-704); child care staff must report directly, not through their director (COMAR 13A.16.07.02). Maryland's hotline: 1-800-917-7383 (1-800-91-PREVENT).
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