Program Improvement Plan (PIP)

A Program Improvement Plan (PIP) provides programs with an individualized guide for continuous quality improvement. Programs participating in Maryland EXCELS submit a PIP, along with a statement describing their process for developing it, to meet the requirements of Accreditation and Rating Scales (ACR) 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5 or Accreditation/Validation and Rating Scale (AVR) 3.4 and 3.5.

The Maryland EXCELS Program Improvement Plan Guidance and Form provide directions for creating a Program Improvement Plan (including a review of the requirements of ACR 3) and a template for recording and tracking progress toward achieving your program improvement goals.

PIP Guidance and Form

If you would like more support, the Maryland EXCELS Toolkit provides additional resources, including an interactive guide that provides support in writing an effective Program Improvement Plan and helps you create or improve your own.

PIP Resources for Family Child Care & Child Care Centers

PIP Resources for School-Age Only Programs