Read more about the article Montgomery Proposing Record School Budget Despite Continued Enrollment Decline
County Budgets / Education
Montgomery Proposing Record School Budget Despite Continued Enrollment Decline

With a seven year loss of almost 10,000 students, the nationally ranked Montgomery County Public School system budget has grown by $1B in that same time.  In FY26 the Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) system posted the largest single year decline in student enrollment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Year over year decline from 2024 - 2025 totaled nearly 2,200 students. This brings the nationally ranked school system to a loss of nearly…

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April 30, 2026
Read more about the article More Than 60 Teacher-Coaches Will Be Hired to Bolster Reading Scores in MD Public Schools
Education
More Than 60 Teacher-Coaches Will Be Hired to Bolster Reading Scores in MD Public Schools

The Maryland General Assembly approved $14M in funding for education in Maryland to hire teacher-coaches specifically trained in literacy instruction.  According to a recent press release, the Maryland State Department of Education MSDE will hit the ground running with new funds to bolster reading proficiency levels across public schools in Maryland. This is in addition to mandated, per-pupil funding, that is required by the state to implement the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. From the press…

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April 22, 2026
Read more about the article 3 Takeaways on Counties, Policy, and Power
County Budgets / County News / Education / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations
3 Takeaways on Counties, Policy, and Power

Most of the services people rely on every day, from roads and schools to public health and recycling, don’t come from Washington. They come from counties. That idea sits at the center of a recent conversation between Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Executive Director Michael Sanderson, who joined the Pittman and Friends podcast to talk through how state policy decisions play out at the local level. The discussion…

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April 22, 2026
Read more about the article Detention Center Officers Included in Higher Education Scholarship Fund
Higher Education / Public Safety and Corrections
Detention Center Officers Included in Higher Education Scholarship Fund

With bi-partisan support in both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly, a bill expanding existing public safety scholarships to include correctional officers will take effect this summer with the application process beginning January 2027.  This year - with the unwavering support of Senator Mary Beth Carozza and Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes - officers working in local detention centers will now have access to an existing public safety scholarship fund for higher education. HB 852/SB 285 –…

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April 22, 2026
Read more about the article Baltimore County Unveils $5B Budget Focused on Public Safety, Schools, and Affordability
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Taxes and Revenues
Baltimore County Unveils $5B Budget Focused on Public Safety, Schools, and Affordability

Baltimore County has released its proposed $5 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget, outlining a spending plan centered on public safety, education, infrastructure, and cost-of-living pressures, all without raising taxes. The proposal reflects an effort to balance continued investment in core services with maintaining the county’s strong financial standing, including its Triple-A bond rating. Core Priorities: The FY2027 proposal directs funding toward several areas that residents are most likely to see directly, including: public safety and…

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April 21, 2026
Read more about the article Apply Now: Maryland Certified Public Manager Program
Education
Apply Now: Maryland Certified Public Manager Program

Applications are now open for the Maryland Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Program, a leadership development opportunity for public sector professionals across the state. Offered through the Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore, the program is designed for supervisors, managers, and executives working in state, local, and municipal government, as well as nonprofit organizations. The Class of 2027 application deadline is June 1, 2026. About the Program The Certified Public Manager® program…

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April 21, 2026
Read more about the article 2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
Business Affairs / County Budgets / County News / Courts / Economic Development / Education / Elections / Emergency Management / Employee Benefits and Relations / Energy / Environment / Feature / Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Human Resources / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony / Parks and Recreation / Pensions & Public Funds / Planning and Zoning / Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues / Tourism / Transportation and Public Works
2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 448th legislative session unfolded under significant fiscal pressure. Lawmakers closed the fiscal 2027 gap, preserved reserves, and fully funded principal commitments, such as the Blueprint, but did not resolve the larger structural deficits projected for the years ahead. That budget pressure shaped debates across nearly every policy area, from…

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April 17, 2026
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast: 90 Days Later — Sine Die Recap
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Elections / Energy / Environment / General Assembly News / Housing and Community Development / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections / Transportation and Public Works
Conduit Street Podcast: 90 Days Later — Sine Die Recap

This Week on the Conduit Street Podcast, we bring you an episode fresh from Sine Die to break down the 2026 legislative session from start to finish.   Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

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April 17, 2026
Read more about the article 2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: Education
Education / MACo Testimony
2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: Education

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of education policy in the 2026 General Assembly session. Education remains one of the single largest investments for Maryland’s counties, with local governments providing substantial support for both school operations and capital needs. As key funding partners, counties play a critical role in sustaining public education systems while balancing broader budget demands. Through its education advocacy, MACo works to ensure that state…

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April 14, 2026
Read more about the article MABE Names New Executive Director
County News / Education / Leadership
MABE Names New Executive Director

The Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) has selected Joseph “Joe” Goetz as its next Executive Director, bringing a former local school board president and longtime education advocate into a key statewide leadership role. Goetz will begin on April 27, leading the association that represents all 24 Maryland public school systems. For counties and school systems alike, the role carries significance. MABE plays a central role in school board governance, public education advocacy, and…

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April 7, 2026
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