Maryland Code, Education § 7-1A-03

(1) Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, prekindergarten slots provided by eligible private providers shall account for at least 10% of the total prekindergarten slots provided by eligible prekindergarten providers in each county;

(2) The proportion of eligible private provider prekindergarten slots in each county increases by 10 percentage points every school year, until, in the 2028-2029 school year, eligible private provider prekindergarten slots account for at least 50% of eligible prekindergarten provider prekindergarten slots in each county; and

(3) In each year after the 2028-2029 school year, the proportion of eligible private provider prekindergarten slots in each county shall continue to constitute at least 50% of eligible prekindergarten provider prekindergarten slots in each county.

(b)(1) The Department shall issue a waiver from the requirements of this section to a county board if:

(2) The Department may exclude by annual waiver Tier I children who are 3 years old in a county from the calculation under subsection (a) of this section until the 2031-2032 school year.

(3) The Department may exclude by annual waiver Tier I children who are 4 years old in a county from the calculation under subsection (a) of this section until the 2028-2029 school year.

(4) The Department shall establish waiver application procedures to carry out the provisions of this subsection.