New Maryland Report Card Provides Insight on School and School System Performance

Report Card Goes Beyond Test Scores for More Complete Picture BALTIMORE – The 2018-19 Maryland School Report Card, released today, provides educators and parents with the most complete picture of school and school system performance in State history. The Report Card, for the first time, includes a broad selection of performance indicators to help measure how schools are doing. In addition to ... Learn more

Maryland State Board of Education to Meet on Tuesday, December 4

BALTIMORE – The Maryland State Board of Education will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 4 at the Maryland State Department of Education, 200 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore. The meeting will be held in the State Board room on the 7th floor beginning at 9 a.m. Items on this month’s agenda include the following (times approximate): 10:25 a.m. Principals of ... Learn more

MSDE Announcement: Work Group on HB 1607 (Juvenile Service Education Programs) to Meet December 6

The Work Group for HB 1607 – Juvenile Services Education Programs, Management and Operation – will hold a meeting at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 6, at the Maryland State Department of Education, 200 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, 21201. Under HB 1607, MSDE was required to convene a workgroup to analyze the results of the pilot program established through § 22-308 ... Learn more

Kate Hession Named Executive Director of the Maryland Center for School Safety

Experienced Emergency Expert Joins MCSS BALTIMORE – Kate Hession, Deputy Executive Director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), has been named Executive Director of the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS). Ms. Hession comes to MCSS after nearly nine years at MEMA in various capacities. In one of her final duties at MEMA, she helped lead the implementation and operation ... Learn more

Five Maryland Schools Are Among “America’s Healthiest Schools”

Healthy Schools Program is one of Nation’s Largest School-Based Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiatives BALTIMORE – The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a national organization that empowers kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits, has recognized five Maryland Schools as “America’s Healthiest Schools.” Maryland joins the District of Columbia and 25 other States in hosting schools bearing this distinction. Schools earning the designation have ... Learn more

Using Every Tool in the Education Toolbox

Carol Detrick Garner Allegany County Teacher of the Year, 2013 The mighty Gymnogyps californianus was proving to be one tough bird. To make a long genetic bottleneck lesson short: species that have been driven to almost extinction tend to have very little genetic diversity, and the California condor is a prime example. If I had known that moments later I would be kneeling ... Learn more

Announcement: Maryland Center for School Safety Subcabinet to Meet on Nov. 7

November 7, 2018 8:15am-3:00pm State House 110 State Circle Room 201 Annapolis, MD 21401 AGENDA 1. Opening Meeting • Declaration of Quorum 2. Approval of October 15, 2018 Minutes • Summary of closed meeting • Vote for approval 3. Closed Meeting • Employment and Personnel Matters • Interviews of Candidates for Executive Director Position • Deliberation on Candidates 4. Reopening Meeting • Agenda Items for Next Meeting • Adjournment Learn more

Announcement: Maryland Center for School Safety Subcabinet Advisory Board to Meet on Nov. 5

Maryland Center for School Safety Subcabinet Advisory Board November 5, 2018 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 100 Community Place Side B Conference Room Crownsville, MD AGENDA 1. Welcome of the School Safety Subcabinet Advisory Board • Opening Comments Dr. George Arlotto • Declaration of Quorum • Additions to the Agenda (If needed) 2. Approval of September 17, 2018 Minutes 3. MCSS Updates • Staffing update and introductions – Edward Clarke • Tip Line – Edward Clarke • Upcoming Deadlines of Center ... Learn more

Maryland SAT Scores Take a Leap Forward for the Class of 2018

Maryland Scores, Participation Rise; AP Scores Also Increase BALTIMORE  – The mean SAT score for graduating seniors in Maryland public schools increased by 20 points for the class of 2018, according to data released today. The composite score for graduating Maryland public school students improved to 1066 for the class of 2018, up from 1046 in 2017.  That compares to a national ... Learn more

School Bus Stop Arm Violations Increase in Latest Maryland Survey

School Bus Safety Week is October 22-26 BALTIMORE– Maryland school bus drivers reported a disturbing trend in the Maryland State Department of Education’s latest survey of driver behavior: more are ignoring bus stop arms. Stop arms swing out from a bus and lights flash whenever it is making an on-roadway student pick-up.  A total of 3,812 violations of school bus stop arms ... Learn more

Maryland State Board of Education to Meet on Tuesday, October 23

BALTIMORE – The Maryland State Board of Education will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 23 at the Maryland State Department of Education, 200 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore.  The meeting will be held in the State Board room on the 7th floor beginning at 9 a.m.  Items on this month’s regular agenda include the following (times approximate): 9:35 a.m.         Updating Regulations The ... Learn more

Maryland College Application Campaign Helps Students, Families to Navigate Process

Campaign Runs Through October 26, 2018 BALTIMORE – The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) and College Goal Maryland in partnership with the American Council on Education (ACE) are sponsoring the Maryland College Application Campaign (MCAC) through October 26, 2018. The campaign is designed to encourage a higher percentage of the State’s working population to ... Learn more

MSDE Announcement: Two New School Safety Grants Available

Maryland has two new school safety grant opportunities available: Safe Schools Grant Fund – The FY 19 Safe Schools Fund has $10.6 million allocated by the Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018 in grant funding to enhance safety and security at public schools. The Fund is administered by the School Safety Subcabinet, and each local school system is eligible to ... Learn more

Dr. Richard Warren, Jr. Named 2018-19 Maryland Teacher of the Year

Statewide Winner is from Somerset County BALTIMORE – Dr. Richard Warren, Jr., an eighth grade Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) teacher at Somerset County’s Crisfield High School and Academy, tonight was named the 2018-2019 Maryland Teacher of the Year. Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools, made the announcement at the 28th Annual Teacher of the Year Gala. The event attracted ... Learn more

More than $16 Million Awarded to Maryland School Systems for Out-of-School Time Programs

Grants Awarded through Federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program BALTIMORE- A total of 53 programs in 13 Maryland jurisdictions have been awarded $16.4 million in grants by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) through the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant program. The 21st CCLC programs occur before school, after school, during the summer, and on Saturdays. ... Learn more

National Center On Inclusive Education Selects Maryland As First Intensive Technical Assistance State

Program Improves Access to Education for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities BALTIMORE – Through a competitive process Maryland has been selected as the first national technical assistance site by the TIES Center, a National Technical Assistance Center on Inclusive Practices and Policies in schools and district educational systems. The TIES Center, or TIES, (Increasing Time, Instructional Effectiveness, Engagement, and State Support), ... Learn more

Maryland Approves New Standards for Computer Science Education

State Board Acts on Broad-Based Plan to Improve Technology Focus BALTIMORE– The Maryland State Board of Education has approved a new set of standards designed to further strengthen computer science education in Maryland. The new standards integrate technology education throughout each grade level, and are designed to be specific, measurable, and include performance expectations. The standards, starting in kindergarten and progressing ... Learn more

International Gospel Artist Donald Lawrence to Lead Statewide Choir in Concert, Provide Professional Development

Community Concert Set for October 13 at Baltimore’s New Psalmist Baptist Church BALTIMORE – The Fine Arts Office at the Maryland State Department of Education and four partners will present a special two-day professional development training for Maryland music educators and community musicians next week, which will culminate in a community concert titled Donald Lawrence: In Concert on Saturday, October 13.   WHO: ... Learn more

Maryland Awarded $3.6 Million in Federal Grants to Strengthen School Safety

U.S. Department of Education, Department of Justice Funds BALTIMORE – The Maryland State Department of Education has been awarded $3.6 million in federal grants designed to further strengthen classroom safety. A five-year, $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will allow Maryland to implement the Maryland School Emergency Preparedness Program, a partnership between MSDE, local school systems, the Maryland ... Learn more

All Six Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools Awarded National Blue Ribbons

One Nonpublic School Also Honored BALTIMORE  –All six public schools awarded Maryland Blue Ribbons last year have been named 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. The State public schools receiving national honors are:   West Towson Elementary School, Baltimore County Urbana Elementary School, Frederick County Fallston Middle School, Harford County Waterloo Elementary School, Howard County Bannockburn Elementary School, Montgomery County Luxmanor Elementary School, Montgomery ... Learn more