Read more about the article Feds Launch Two New Resources to Help Locals Diversify School Workforce
County News / Education / Feature / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Feds Launch Two New Resources to Help Locals Diversify School Workforce

The U.S. Department of Education is tackling the school staff shortage through increasing educator diversity and helping local school systems diversify. The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has launched two new resources to help America's school systems hire and retain staff and diversify their workforces. Two recent policy resources, a Raise the Bar policy brief and a Public Service Announcement (PSA), underscore the state of America's school staff and offer guidance on how districts can…

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November 15, 2023
Read more about the article Montgomery Student Member of Board of Education Proposes School Safety Measures
County News / Education / Public Safety and Corrections
Montgomery Student Member of Board of Education Proposes School Safety Measures

Montgomery County Board of Education student member proposed a resolution and several suggestions to improve school safety in the district. Sami Saeed, a student member of the Montgomery County Board of Education senior at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, is pursuing a series of suggestions to improve school safety in the district. Saeed has introduced a “Safe Schools Resolution” for the entire Board's consideration. The resolution reads: A safe and secure learning environment is…

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November 14, 2023
Read more about the article A Decade of Excellence: Celebrating 10 Years of the High-Performance Leadership Academy
Business Affairs / Education / News You Can Use
A Decade of Excellence: Celebrating 10 Years of the High-Performance Leadership Academy

Join the Professional Development Academy in celebration as they commemorate a decade of leadership transformation in 2024! This milestone marks a journey of transforming leaders and empowering county government professionals to bring positive change to communities. The NACo High-Performance Leadership Academy is an innovative, completely online 12-week program created to equip frontline county government professionals with practical leadership skills to deliver results for counties and communities. Why HPLA Stands Out: Developed in collaboration with Fortune 1000…

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November 9, 2023
Read more about the article Anne Arundel Pilots “Bus Badge” Identification Technology for Students
County News / Education / Information Technology / Public Safety and Corrections / Transportation and Public Works
Anne Arundel Pilots “Bus Badge” Identification Technology for Students

Anne Arundel County is testing a new technology to for students boarding and departing public school buses. Starting November 8, Anne Arudent County Public Schools (AACPS) is piloting a new "bus badge" technology program in ten schools to help track student commutes and improve safety. The program will place electronic chips in new student-issued identification cards, which kids will then use when they board and get off county school buses. The badges are expected to…

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November 9, 2023
Read more about the article Pre-K Expansion, Judy Centers, and Patty Centers — Oh My!
County News / Education / Health and Human Services
Pre-K Expansion, Judy Centers, and Patty Centers — Oh My!

One of the pillars of the Blueprint is to expand Maryland's universal pre-K offerings and better support early childhood education. Here, we discuss the differences between Patty Centers and Judy Centers and their role in early education. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (“The Blueprint”) prioritizes early childhood education as its first pillar, including the gradual but eventual universal access to prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-old children. Doing so is a monumental undertaking, offering both challenges…

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November 8, 2023
Read more about the article Counties Send State Leaders Set of Concerns, Suggestions to Make the Blueprint Work
Education / Feature / Winter Conference
Counties Send State Leaders Set of Concerns, Suggestions to Make the Blueprint Work

Counties, committed to making the Blueprint work, express concerns and offer suggestions in a letter to Governor Moore and General Assembly leadership. County governments are vital partners in implementing Maryland’s landmark education reform law, The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future ("The Blueprint"). As funders and local leaders, counties are uniquely positioned to help guide implementation and shape Maryland's public education system. As such, they have experienced some universal challenges in the first few years of educational…

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November 7, 2023
Read more about the article Maryland’s Service Year Option Is Up and Running
County News / Education / Employee Benefits and Relations / Higher Education / Human Resources / Intergovernmental Relations / Labor / Winter Conference
Maryland’s Service Year Option Is Up and Running

The inaugural class of Service Year Option fellows was announced on October 27. Maryland’s new Department of Service and Civic Innovation and the Service Year Option program are now up and running, with the official launch of the program on October 27, 2023. MACo supported legislation that created both and helped guide county governments looking to host Service Year fellows. The law and program specifically target local governments to host fellows in various fields, providing…

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October 30, 2023
Read more about the article MSDE Awards $4M+ for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
County News / Education / Health and Human Services / News You Can Use
MSDE Awards $4M+ for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

More Maryland students will have access to fresh fruits and vegetables during the school day through a $4.7 million federal grant program. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is distributing funds to 213 elementary schools statewide from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), up from 196 participating schools during the 2022-23 academic year. The program provides a variety of free produce and shows students that fresh fruits and vegetables…

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October 27, 2023
Read more about the article State Department of Education Plans to Engage in the 2024 Legislative Process
County News / Education / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Winter Conference
State Department of Education Plans to Engage in the 2024 Legislative Process

The Maryland State Department of Education, under new leadership, plans to engage in the 2024 legislative session, a departure from years past. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) says it will “reset its role and voice” and advocate for education policies in Annapolis during the upcoming 2024 legislative session. At the State Board of Education's (SBOE) October 24 meeting, board members said they would work with Interim State Superintendent Dr. Carey Wright to draft…

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October 25, 2023
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