Read more about the article Howard County Executive Ball’s Budget Fully Funds Blueprint
County Budgets / County News / Education
Howard County Executive Ball’s Budget Fully Funds Blueprint

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball unveiled his fiscal 2025 Operating Budget, which includes $1.14 billion in funding dedicated to the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), fully funding the County's obligation under the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. This pivotal investment includes funding for the school system’s Elementary School Gifted and Talented program, 3rd-grade strings program, Environmental Education Program at the Howard County Conservancy, Summer Black Student Achievement Program, and Mathematics Engineering and Science Achievement program.…

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April 26, 2024
Read more about the article Share Your Views on Electric Vehicle Infrastructure; Take the MDOT Survey!
County News / Education / Energy / Environment / Transportation and Public Works
Share Your Views on Electric Vehicle Infrastructure; Take the MDOT Survey!

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is seeking input from Maryland community members to identify the challenges and opportunities associated with electric vehicle (EV) ownership and the installation of EV charging infrastructure. The valuable information gathered from the Maryland EV and Infrastructure Planning Survey will help MDOT better understand how to use federal and state funding best to electrify Maryland’s transportation sector and meet state greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals. Please take 10 minutes to complete…

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April 25, 2024
Read more about the article Dr. Carey M. Wright Unanimously Appointed to Full Term as State Superintendent
County News / Education / News You Can Use
Dr. Carey M. Wright Unanimously Appointed to Full Term as State Superintendent

Dr. Carey M. Wright, serving as interim Superintendent of Schools in recent months, has received unanimous Board support to claim the full time job for a four year term. The State Board voted unanimously on April 24, 2024, to appoint Dr. Carey M. Wright as the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools for the term to begin July 1, 2024. Since October 23, 2023, Dr. Wright has served as the Interim State Superintendent of Schools. The…

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April 25, 2024
Read more about the article Official Session Wrap-up “90 Day Report” Available from Legislative Services
Education / Environment / General Assembly News / Health and Human Services / Intergovernmental Relations / Planning and Zoning / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works
Official Session Wrap-up “90 Day Report” Available from Legislative Services

The annual 90 Day Report, a summary and review of actions taken through the 2024 regular session of the General Assembly. As always, the report provides a thorough review of major policy and fiscal issues considered or enacted through the session. An entire section is arranged county-by-county to show effects of multiple programs and initiatives on each county's fiscal situation. The nonpartisan staff agency to the General Assembly, the department of Legislative Services, has released…

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April 15, 2024
Read more about the article 2024 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
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2024 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 446th legislative session convened amidst a substantial concern over the State’s fiscal situation, with weakened revenues and cost increases for many services at every level of government. Despite the budgetary limitations, many policy issues received a full debate, with many resolutions arising from the 90-day annual process. MACo’s legislative…

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April 12, 2024
Read more about the article 2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: Education
County News / Education / Higher Education / MACo Testimony
2024 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 2024 General Assembly session.  Counties support education as the largest component of their budgets, with operating and capital support for schools typically representing a larger share of a county budget than all other functions combined. Statutory formulas drive most state-level funding, which requires constant attention to the state-county balance in funding responsibilities. The burden of costly mandates…

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April 11, 2024
Read more about the article 24 Local Blueprint Reports Detail Progress, Challenges in Implementing Broad Education Goals
Education
24 Local Blueprint Reports Detail Progress, Challenges in Implementing Broad Education Goals

Each county school system has submitted its latest report detailing their progress in implementing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, the broad educational reforms being phased in over a decade-long period across Maryland. These reports detail progress, and challenges, in each jurisdictions - with common themes. The 24 system reports have been sent to and compiled by the Accountability and Implementation Board, the State-level body specifically created to guide and assess the roll-out of these various…

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March 29, 2024
Read more about the article MACo Backs Updates to Dual Enrollment via Education Bill on the Move
Education / Higher Education / MACo Testimony
MACo Backs Updates to Dual Enrollment via Education Bill on the Move

On March 27, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January submitted written testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee in support of SB 1102- Education – Blueprint for Maryland’s Future – Alterations. As amended, this bill makes several technical and operational adjustments to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (“the Blueprint”). SB 1102’s adjustments to college and career readiness (CCR) and the Blueprint’s envisioning of dual enrollment programs are of particular interest to county governments. Specifically,…

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March 28, 2024
Read more about the article Counties Support Flexibility for SRO Grant Uses, Requests Permanent Funding
Education / MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections
Counties Support Flexibility for SRO Grant Uses, Requests Permanent Funding

On March 27, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January submitted written testimony to the House Appropriations Committee in support of SB 1077- Public Schools - Appropriations for School Safety Expenditures - School Security Employees with amendments. As amended, this bill authorizes increased funding for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Grant Program beginning in FY 2026. It also authorizes the grant funds to be used for personnel costs for school security employees (SSEs) in addition to…

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March 28, 2024
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