Read more about the article Tech Upgrade Could Bolster Access to Federal Student Aid
Education / Higher Education
Tech Upgrade Could Bolster Access to Federal Student Aid

The U.S. Department of Education begins the first phase of upgrades to the federal student aid application portal this October. Full access for all students is expected before the end of the year. According to a recent press release, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) announced that the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be launched through a new process. A limited beta group of students and institutions will vet this new process…

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August 27, 2024
Read more about the article #MACoCon Panel Discusses Blueprint Outlook for College and Career Readiness
Higher Education / Summer Conference
#MACoCon Panel Discusses Blueprint Outlook for College and Career Readiness

College and career readiness programs hold promise in the early stages of implementation, but some market variables still present challenges.  The MACo Summer Conference panel, "Charting the Course: A New Vision for the Last Years of High School," dove into the implementation of pillar 3 of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, which is the College and Career Readiness (CCR) component. Local and state representatives reflected on the challenges and what external components are working against…

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August 21, 2024
Read more about the article School/College Dual Enrollment – 2024 Refinements During Blueprint Rollout
Education / Higher Education
School/College Dual Enrollment – 2024 Refinements During Blueprint Rollout

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. A new article is added each week – read all of MACo’s Policy Deep Dives.  Programs to enable, and encourage, public high school students to dually enroll with their community college to gain momentum toward a college pathway were part of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. Amidst the Blueprint roll-out, the…

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June 5, 2024
Read more about the article Scholarships Available for Certified Public Manager Program at U of Baltimore
Employee Benefits and Relations / Higher Education
Scholarships Available for Certified Public Manager Program at U of Baltimore

The Schaefer Center at the University of Baltimore oversees Maryland's Certified Public Manager program, targeted to help advance employees in public service to gain managerial exposure and education to equip them for higher roles in the public sector. 2024-25 scholarships are available NOW for county employees! The Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program has a limited number of funded spaces available for managers and executives from state, local, municipal government, and non-profit organizations in Maryland for…

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May 3, 2024
Read more about the article PALS Spring Student Sustainability Project Showcase, May 8, 2024!
County News / Education / Environment / Higher Education / News You Can Use
PALS Spring Student Sustainability Project Showcase, May 8, 2024!

Partnership for Action Learning and Sustainability (PALS) will be holding the annual Spring Showcase Event on Wednesday, May 8th, from 12-2 pm at the College Park Airport (1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr, College Park, MD 20740).   This event, held at the end of each academic year, celebrates all the PALS projects which have been completed. Students will show off their projects via a poster board in a gallery-walk environment to a wide variety of guests. See the…

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May 1, 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 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 Maryland Ranks Fourth for Highest Education Attainment in the US
Education / Higher Education / News You Can Use
Maryland Ranks Fourth for Highest Education Attainment in the US

A new study has found that Maryland is the fourth-most educated state in America, based on the percentage of the population that holds a bachelor's degree or higher.   Essay writing experts Essayservice.com, analyzed public data from the U.S. Census Bureau to find the percentage of people aged 25 or older who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in each US state. Using the most recent data from 2022, the percentage of people who have achieved this level…

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March 14, 2024
Read more about the article New Data Shows Maryland Ranks Fifth in U.S. for Best School System
County News / Education / Higher Education / News You Can Use
New Data Shows Maryland Ranks Fifth in U.S. for Best School System

New data shows Maryland ranks fifth in the nation for its school system, highlighting its commitment to excellence in education. The rankings, which consider factors like academic performance, bullying rates, and pupil-to-teacher ratios, offer valuable insights for county education departments. Maryland's strong performance underscores the importance of continued investment in education at the county level. Counties can use this data to identify areas for improvement and tailor educational programs to meet the needs of students.…

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February 22, 2024
Read more about the article Counties Support Extension of Student Loan Repayment Program to School Nurses
Education / Employee Benefits and Relations / Higher Education / Human Resources / Labor / MACo Testimony
Counties Support Extension of Student Loan Repayment Program to School Nurses

On February 13, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January submitted written testimony to the House Appropriations Committee in support of HB 545- Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program- Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Award- Public School Nurses. This bill extends eligibility for the existing loan assistance program to public school nurses who are licensed as registered nurses. Counties view this as an additional tool to help hire and retain school nurses as school systems…

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February 14, 2024
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