The City of Baltimore is the 2nd principal city in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area, and is located about 40 miles northeast of Washington, DC. Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland and the largest independent city in the county which is home to a population of more than 614,600 residents. There are 788 state-licensed child care facilities in town (which consist of 506 home-based daycares and 282 child care centers or preschools). Those licensed programs are committed to providing quality child care and early childhood education. On average, the annual full-time tuition for infant care is $10,244 in family child care programs and $14,040 in centers. For 4-year-old preschoolers, annual cost is about $8,216 in home-based programs and $10,920 in centers. To find out the average cost of daycare based on age and type of care in your zip code, click here to use our daycare cost calculator. Baltimore has 13 colleges and universities that continue to produce a pool of educated workforce in the community. The city is the 8th largest destination for millennials in the country, which has shifted to a service-oriented economy after a decline in significant manufacturing, heavy industry, and restructuring of the rail industry. Families in Baltimore are served by 788 licensed child care programs within the city, along with other daycares in the neighboring towns of Catonsville (which is home to 32 home-based daycares and 7 child care centers) and Ellicott City (with 62 family child care programs and 42 preschools). To the South, the town of Glen Burnie also offers a supply of 89 licensed home daycares and 21 child care centers. Baltimore is divided into nine regions and each region offers several parks and cultural sites. The central part is the most commercial district with sports complexes, many attractions as well as universities. The city is known for having the highest number of public statues and monuments per capita in the nation. Spanish and French are the most common foreign languages next to English which is strongly supported by a number of bilingual daycares in the city offering language immersion programs. In Baltimore, affordable child care is made available for low income families through the Child Care Scholarship Program (CCS Program. The success of the application for financial assistance is assessed based on family size, needs, and income. Choosing a quality child care and early learning program is an important decision as it creates a profound impact on children's growth and development. The OCC regulates the licensing and monitoring of formal child care providers in the city. Caregivers, employees, substitutes, as well as children (14 years old and above) living in the premises are subjected to a background investigation. The records of abuse and neglect of children and adults for the personnel with frequent contact with children as well as adult members living in the facility are also examined. A staff member with a valid certification in first aid and CPR training is required to support the children during the hours of operation. Child care directors should implement a professional development plan including all personnel and are required to complete at least 12 hours specialized training every year.