May 30 is the new final report deadline for the Blueprint Special Education Workgroup to finish research and recommendations for lawmakers regarding implementation of new mandated programs for students with special needs.
In a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, the Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) allowed the special education workgroup six additional months to finish their work as assigned by the Initial Blueprint Comprehensive
Implementation Plan from December of 2022. At that time they were tasked with discussing and making recommendations on instruction and services for students with disabilities. In addition to the delay for the final report, the AIB also approved the group to continue meeting through July of 2026 in order to receive and analyze updates on the recommendations. While the decision on Wednesday affords the group more time to produce the final report, it does not waive their requirement to produce an intermediate report on the initial date of December 1, 2024.
The catalyst for changes came as a request from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) via Dr. Carey Wright, the State Superintendent of schools. A letter sent to Isiah Leggett, the Chair of the AIB, on August 26th outlines the exact ask of the AIB concerning the special education workgroup and timeline. Reasoning for the extensions were cited as due to “the complexities of the tasks.”
From the letter:
1. Extend the workgroup until May 30, 2025 with a final report due on that date.
2. Convene the four previously planned fall meetings and one additional meeting in January with the topic being on students whose IEP teams have determined them eligible to take the alternate assessment.
3. Work on folding any recommendations that emerge from the final five meetings into the prioritization/implementation plan (Feb-Mar), with feedback from the workgroup in April.
4. Prepare the final report (April-May) with opportunities for Workgroup feedback and deliver it no later than May 30, 2025.
5. Create an opportunity for Workgroup members to participate, voluntarily, in quarterly meetings from July 2025 to July 2026 to receive updates on progress MSDE is making during implementation.
Concerns were raised by AIB members regarding the timeline extension and the final report not being ready in time for the 2025 legislative session. According to a Maryland Matters article, Rachel Hise, Executive Director of the AIB, dismissed those fears, saying that staff regularly attend workgroup meetings and would be aware of whatever they are proposing to submit in the report by Dec. 1.
The meeting agenda and live stream can be viewed on the AIB website, along with additional videos and materials from meetings held in 2024.
