The board charged with implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future met on Wednesday and reached a decision to extend the timeline for a special education work group to finish its important work. Initially, the work group was tasked with preparing recommendations for lawmakers by Dec. 1. However, due to the intricacies involved in the work, the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) agreed to provide the group with more time, giving it until May 30 to complete its efforts.
The AIB’s decision to extend the deadline reflects the significant complexities that the special education work group is facing. “Given the complexities,” the board acknowledged, additional time was necessary to adequately address the issues at hand. As a result, the AIB voted to amend the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future to accommodate this extension, ensuring the special education work group can continue its vital work beyond the original deadline.
The amendment approved on Wednesday still holds the work group accountable for submitting a report by the original Dec. 1 date, providing whatever recommendations it can by that time. However, the group will be able to continue its deliberations and finalizing its recommendations for an additional six months, until May 30. The extension is designed to give the group adequate time to conduct thorough analysis and ensure that the recommendations it submits are well-informed and comprehensive.
One of the Blueprint board members, Joseph Manko, who is the education program director at the Abell Foundation, raised a concern about whether even the Dec. 1 deadline would allow enough time for the work group to prepare a sufficiently detailed report. This concern is especially pertinent given the fact that the next legislative session will begin shortly after the Dec. 1 deadline, on Jan. 8, 2025. Manko questioned whether the work group would have enough time to make the necessary preparations ahead of the 2025 General Assembly session in Annapolis.
Rachel Hise, the executive director of the AIB, responded by explaining that staff regularly attend the work group meetings, ensuring they stay informed on the progress and any proposals the group is considering. “We would be aware of whatever they are proposing to submit in the report by Dec. 1,” Hise stated, reassuring the board that the staff would stay in close contact with the work group and provide oversight as needed.
The update approved on Wednesday not only allows the work group to submit additional documents after the Dec. 1 deadline but also authorizes the group to continue meeting quarterly from July 2025 through July 2026. These quarterly meetings will serve as a forum for the group to receive updates on the progress of implementing its recommendations, ensuring ongoing evaluation and support.
In a letter to Blueprint board chair and former Montgomery County Executive Isiah “Ike” Leggett (D), State Superintendent Carey Wright emphasized the work group’s desire for more time. Wright explained that given the complexity of the tasks involved and the need for collaboration to ensure all voices are heard, it was unlikely that the work group could incorporate the content from at least three of its fall meetings into the final report by the original Dec. 1 deadline. “Given the complexities of the tasks at hand and the critical nature of collaboration necessary to hear all voices, it is unlikely that the content from at least three of the fall meetings could be incorporated into the final report due December 1, 2024,” Wright wrote.
Wright also mentioned that after all the meetings are held and final recommendations are made, additional work will be needed to incorporate those recommendations into the prioritization and implementation plan, further reinforcing the need for the extended timeline.
The special education work group was formed as part of the ambitious 10-year Blueprint plan to improve education in Maryland. One of its primary roles is to collect data and analyze instructional processes for students who receive special education services. Additionally, the group is tasked with reviewing the effectiveness of teaching methods used in Maryland as well as those employed in other states. This analysis is a crucial step in improving the educational experience for students with special needs.
The recent amendment to the Blueprint plan follows the approval of other updates a month earlier, which are required to be completed annually by Aug. 1. These updates include new initiatives stemming from state legislation approved in 2024, such as partnerships between eligible prekindergarten providers and other entities set up by the Maryland Department of Education.
Among the updates is the expansion of eligible prekindergarten lead teachers, which will now include not only those with bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education or a related field but also individuals with documented experience in providing services. Specifically, those with at least 10 years of experience, providing services for a minimum of 20 hours per week and 180 days per year, will also qualify. These updates reflect the ongoing commitment to early childhood education and come from House Bill 1441, which was sponsored by Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard), who is the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Additional updates to the Blueprint plan include changes that will impact Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. The new guidelines will allow the CTE Committee to request information from school districts and review their Blueprint plans related to technical education programs. This move is intended to ensure that technical education programs align with the goals and objectives of the Blueprint plan.
Another addition to the Blueprint plan requires school districts to hire Blueprint coordinators, with the costs for their salaries and benefits shared between the state and the district. However, the specific costs will vary by jurisdiction. “For each fiscal year, each county [school] board shall provide $150,000 for the salary and benefits of the implementation coordinator,” the Blueprint document states, outlining the financial commitments involved.
This ongoing evolution of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future reflects the state’s dedication to improving education and ensuring that all students, including those receiving special education services, have access to high-quality learning opportunities. The special education work group’s extended timeline is a critical step in the process, allowing for thoughtful deliberation and comprehensive recommendations that will ultimately contribute to the successful implementation of the Blueprint’s objectives.
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