The State Board of Education met on September 28 at the Baltimore offices of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The monthly meeting had a full agenda, ranging from student COVID-19 mitigation and virtual learning to student poverty and the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

The State Board heard from a variety of leaders in education, with the first-half of the all-day meeting featuring staff presentations on pressing policy issues.

Staff presentations included:

• Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board Overview
  • Kelly Meadows, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Educator Certification and Program Approval
• Local School System Virtual Program Update
  • Dr. Carol Williamson, Deputy State Superintendent, Office of Teaching and Learning
• Reopening Logistics and Transmission Rates in Schools
  • Local School System Quarantine Teaching and Learning Strategies
    • Dr. Carol Williamson, Deputy State Superintendent, Office of Teaching and Learning;
    • Mary Gable, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Student Support, Academic Enrichment, and Educational Policy
• Spotlight on Economically Disadvantaged Students 
  • Mohammed Choudhury, State Superintendent;
    Chandra Haislet, Executive Director, Performance Reporting and Accountability
• Blueprint Deep Dive: Neighborhood Indicators of Poverty 
  • Mohammed Choudhury, State Superintendent

Notably, Meadows’ presentation focused on teacher and school staff shortages and staff vaccination rates, both an ongoing concern for many county school boards and the State.

State Board President Clarance C. Crawford emphasized the role of the State and county boards to “move the needle” on student learning and outcomes, even during the challenges of COVID-19.

Additionally, Superintendent Choudhury noted that an update on virtual programming and COVID mitigation will be a standing agenda item and presentation for the monthly State Board meetings this year.

The State Board also considered Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Estimates and Requests, 2021-2022 Priorities and Strategic Planning, and potential updates to state regulations (COMAR) seeking to revise regulatory language to better align with the criminal background check requirements of the Federal Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG). The Board voted to advance the updates to the regulations.

Access the meeting agenda, materials, and video.

• Staff presentations start around 30 minutes:
  • Specifics on county school staff vaccination and testing policies and rates, HVAC systems, and other mitigation efforts start around 90 minutes.
  • Presentations on economically disadvantaged students and the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future start around the third hour.
• Board discussion on 2021-2022 Priorities and Strategic Planning starts around 2 hours, 20 minutes.
• Board discussion on the childcare COMAR regulations starts around 5 hours, 10 minutes.