Maryland
Commentary: Md. has laid the foundation for sustainable and high-quality child care services — but can families afford it? – Maryland Matters
![Commentary: Md. has laid the foundation for sustainable and high-quality child care services — but can families afford it? – Maryland Matters Commentary: Md. has laid the foundation for sustainable and high-quality child care services — but can families afford it? – Maryland Matters](https://www.marylandmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AdobeStock_448572202-scaled.jpeg)
By Franklyn Baker and Laura Weeldreyer
The writers are president and CEO of United Way of Central Maryland, and executive director of the Maryland Family Network, respectively.
President Biden’s Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers represents a significant step toward addressing the pressing needs of families and individuals across the nation. Inclusive of more than 50 directives to support child care, home-based care, family caregivers, and long-term care, the order makes clear there is need for accessible, affordable and quality care across generations. The need here in Maryland, despite efforts to provide comprehensive care, remains evident.
As the leaders of two Maryland-based organizations who work to make quality child care more accessible and affordable, we are cautiously optimistic about what the executive order will mean for the families we serve. There is overwhelming data that demonstrates the burden high child care costs pose to families in our communities.
We recognize the value the General Assembly and governor place on quality early learning. In 2023, we celebrate the passage of a bill which permanently raises the income eligibility for the state’s Child Care Scholarship Program to its current historically high level. We also appreciate lawmakers’ efforts to support and strengthen the field of child care, which has long been the lowest paid sector of our country’s education workforce. While these accomplishments are significant, more work needs to be done.
Child care is typically the highest monthly cost for an ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) family of four. Nearly 900,000 Marylanders are ALICE.
The recent report, “ALICE in the Crosscurrents: COVID and Financial Hardship in Maryland,” cites the average cost of child care as $1,538 per month, or about 23% of a family of four’s monthly survival budget.
An inadequate child care system is also a fiscal burden on the state’s economy. Maryland Family Network (MFN) reported in “Counting Our Losses” that 49% of Maryland parents with children ages 5 and under reported short-term disruptions to employment due to child care issues. Overall, MFN reported a $2.41 billion per year cost to Maryland employers due to employee absences related to child care, and $117 million in lost Maryland tax revenue.
Maryland families need affordable, accessible, high-quality child care with varied hour availability to match our changing workforce. At the same time, the indispensable care provider workforce needs a living wage.
Common sense and broad public consensus tell us that child care and early childhood development are important and should be more affordable. In fact, this is one of the rare issues on which voters continue to agree when surveyed, despite political party or ideology. We need policymakers to come together on a decision on how to pay for it.
United Way of Central Maryland has established United for Childcare to transform the early childhood education ecosystem through a multi-generational strategy that propels digital equity, elevates the child care profession and expands access to quality, affordable early childhood educations to close the racial and wealth educational gap. The nonprofit opened a family center in Columbia last fall to help lessen the mental and fiscal burden for families in the area. The Family Center accepts state scholarship funding for children, and is structured for a diversified clientele, allowing it to provide adequate pay for employees, and quality care for families at all income levels. Two other Family Centers, located in the Poppleton and Brooklyn neighborhoods of Baltimore, offer care for student parents — allowing them to continue school, graduate, and have successful careers.
Meanwhile, MFN operates a network of 28 Family Support/Patty Centers across Maryland and has since the network’s creation in 1986. MFN’s centers help thousands of parents finish their education, learn job readiness skills, build solid social networks and improve parenting skills. At the same time, their children have access to a state-of-the-art early care and education setting, many of which are Early Head Start programs, to help them reach their greatest potential. Decades of research has shown that these types of programs are proven to improve outcomes for children into adulthood by increasing high school and college graduation rates, reducing the number of adolescent pregnancies, addressing mental and physical health issues early, cutting incarceration rates, reducing substance misuse, and boosting earning potential — all of which save taxpayers money.
But even with the work our two organizations collectively have undertaken and accomplished, there is continued need for support in Maryland. Our state is an example of the positive impact that comprehensive child care programs can have on individuals, families and communities, and of the continued need for accessible, affordable and high-quality care. President Biden’s executive order provides a significant opportunity to build upon our state’s successes and create a more inclusive and equitable care system for all. By ensuring sustained investment and fostering collaboration between federal and state authorities, we can forge a future where child care is universally accessible, enabling families to thrive. Now is the time for lawmakers and workplaces to invest in child care.
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Maryland
16-year-old arrested after 15-year-old fatally shot in Maryland high school bathroom
![16-year-old arrested after 15-year-old fatally shot in Maryland high school bathroom 16-year-old arrested after 15-year-old fatally shot in Maryland high school bathroom](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/09/07/19/SEI220433454.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
A 16-year-old student at a high school in Maryland has been detained after he allegedly shot and killed a 15-year-old student in one of the school’s bathrooms.
The name of the suspect has yet to be released. The victim, Warren Curtis Grant, died following the shooting at Joppatowne High School. Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler made the announcement at a press briefing.
The suspect fled the scene but was detained close by just minutes later.
“He has yet to be charged but will be charged, and at the time those charges are preferred as an adult, we will release the name of the suspect,” Gahler told the press, according to The Guardian.
The sheriff added that his office has handled more than 10 cases in the last two years “where the suspect was either the victim, witness or the suspect in an incident handled by the Harford county sheriff’s office.”
![A member of the Harford County Sheriff's department tries to clear the way for an emergency vehicle as it heads toward Joppatowne High School after a shooting at the school, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Joppatowne, Md](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/09/07/19/SEI220433454.jpg)
While the sheriff’s office told the public to avoid the area after the shooting, it said that it was an “isolated incident, not an active shooter.”
An “active shooter” situation refers to when a suspect is firing against everyone they see rather than targeting a particular person.
An area church was used as a reunification center for students and their parents. The school is located about 20 miles northeast of Baltimore.
Gahler noted that more than 100 law enforcement officials responded to the scene.
The fight at Joppatowne High School took place just two days after the shooting at a high school outside Atlanta, Georgia where a 14-year-old shot and killed four people.
Maryland
How to watch Michigan State vs. Maryland (9/7/24): TV channel, kickoff time, live stream
Michigan State got the job done in its season opener, but it wasn’t pretty as it hung on at home against Florida Atlantic. Now, it has to head on the road to open Big Ten play in what promises to be a tougher test.
· Watch the Michigan State Spartans on FuboTV (free trial)
· Watch the Michigan State Spartans on Sling
· Watch the Michigan State Spartans on DirecTV Stream
· Visit MLive’s Betting Home for latest odds & sportsbook promos
Michigan State is 1-0, but the road gets tougher now. The Spartans go on the road and start Big Ten play early in Week 2 with a trip to Maryland. The Terrapins have a new look this year without quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa but looked strong in their season-opener against Howard last week.
· Who: Michigan State at Maryland
· When: 3:30 p.m.
· Where: SECU Stadium, College Park, Maryland
· Twitter: Follow Matt Wenzel
· Live updates: Beginning at 2:30 p.m. at mlive.com/spartans
· Latest line: Maryland -9.5
TV Network: Big Ten Network
Streaming options:
· FuboTV is offering $30 off the first month for all U.S. plans. Sign up to get your favorite TV shows, live sports events, and much more
· Sling currently has an offer of $20 for the first month of subscription and has streaming coverage of live sports, news and entertainment.
· DirecTV Stream offers live sports, news and on demand TV.
Five must-reads before kickoff:
* Michigan State lost two members of its secondary, Dillon Tatum and Khalil Majeed, to long-term injuries in its season opener. The team is turning to some new faces to fill in the holes from those injuries.
* Alex VanSumeren was once Michigan State’s top-rated recruit, but he’s been seldom seen on the field due to injuries. Now, though, he’s healthy and making his mark on the Spartans’ defensive line.
* Aidan Chiles’ 10-completion, two-interception performance in Michigan State’s season-opener was his “floor,” according to offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren, who has a plan to improve the quarterback’s performance going forward.
* Jonathan Smith had a name for Week 1 in college football: overreaction Saturday. He’s cautioning fans not to put too much stock into an opening performance that likely underwhelmed many.
* The run game and discipline are two of Matt Wenzel’s five things to watch in this week’s matchup.
Michigan State
* Passing: Aidan Chiles 10-14, 114 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT
* Rushing: Kay’ron Lynch-Adams 9 rush, 101 yards, 1 TD
* Receiving: Michael Masunas 2 rec., 29 yards, 0 TD
* Tackles: Angelo Grose 12
* Sacks: Khris Bogle 1.5
* Interceptions: Grose, Nikai Martinez 1
Maryland
* Passing: Billy Edwards Jr. 20-27, 311 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
* Rushing: Roman Hemby 14 rush, 66 yards, 1 TD
* Receiving: Tai Felton 7 rec., 178 yards, 2 TD
* Tackles: Glendon Miller 6
* Sacks: None
* Interceptions: Ruben Hyppolite II, Miller 1
Friday, Sept. 6
Western Illinois at Indiana
Duke at Northwestern
Saturday, Sept. 7
Texas at Michigan, noon (FOX)
Rhode Island at Minnesota, noon (Peacock)
Bowling Green at Penn State, noon (BTN)
Akron at Rutgers, noon (BTN)
Iowa State at Iowa, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
Michigan State at Maryland, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)
Eastern Michigan at Washington, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)
South Dakota at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
Kansas at Illinois, 7 p.m. (FS1)
Colorado at Nebraska, 7:30 p.m. (NBC)
Western Michigan at Ohio State, 7:30 p.m. (BTN)
Boise State at Oregon, 10 p.m. (Peacock)
Maryland
Pre-Snap Read: Michigan State vs Maryland
![Pre-Snap Read: Michigan State vs Maryland Pre-Snap Read: Michigan State vs Maryland](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/09/06191517/tunnel.jpg)
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Michigan State has an excellent chance to make a strong statement this weekend that the rebuilding job under new head coach Jonathan Smith is ahead of schedule, if the Spartans can take down 8-point favorite Maryland on Saturday.
A Michigan State victory would be a strong statement within the football industry, but maybe not as strong from a fan perspective. I’m not sure Maryland’s football brand is as respected in the state of Michigan and regionally as it should be, for a program that has gone 8-5 in the past two seasons and defeated Auburn and North Carolina State in bowl games the past two years.
Maryland is good. The Terrapins are coming off a 50-7 victory over a weak UConn team last week. Maryland’s offense looked very good against a weak, soft, conservative UConn defense.
Michigan State’s defense was ahead of schedule last week against a mediocre Florida Atlantic offense. Michigan State’s offense was behind schedule, experiencing inconsistent accuracy and decision-making at the quarterback position, which was somewhat understandable considering it was sophomore Aidan Chiles’ first start as a college player. MSU’s running game also lacked consistency, especially in short yardage and in the red zone.
The big news from Maryland last week in my opinion was the excellent play of new starting quarterback Billy Edwards. The 6-foot-3, 222-pound redshirt-junior had waited behind the outgoing, record-breaking Taulia Tagovailoa for three years. Tagovailoa left Maryland as the Big Ten’s all-time passing leader. He went undrafted and is now playing in the CFL.
Edwards looked good last week. He’s strong in the pocket, is a physical ball carrier on designed runs or scrambles. He was accurate over the middle on intermediate routes, and seemed to do a good job processing coverages, although UConn’s coverages were simple, slow and soft.
I saw this Michigan State vs Maryland game as a swing game on the schedule prior to the season. But considering how well Edwards and his receivers looked last week, and Michigan State’s sputtering start on offense, this game goes from being a swing game to uphill slog for the Spartans.
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