Division of Early Childhood

**About** The Division of Early Childhood at the Maryland State Department of Education is responsible for early care and education in Maryland. The main mission of the Division is to improve early education in Maryland so that young children are well prepared for school. The Division is composed of the [Office of Child Care](https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/about#Office%20of%20Child%20Care), the [Office of Early Learning and Instruction](https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/about#Early%20Learning%20Branch), and the [Office of Family Support Services](https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/about#Collaboration%20and%20Program%20Improvement%20Branch) and Head Start Collaboration.