The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) held a meeting on May 16, 2023, to discuss the Virtual Ready for College and Career Charette, focusing on strategies to improve high school readiness and graduation rates. The meeting highlighted the importance of implementing effective measures to ensure students are on track during their freshman year, a critical period for academic success.

One of the key discussions centered around the "freshman on track" indicator, which has shown promising results in other urban school systems, particularly in Chicago. Since the implementation of this indicator, Chicago has seen an increase in the percentage of freshmen on track from 60% to 89%, contributing to higher graduation rates and narrowing achievement gaps among different student demographics. In contrast, Maryland's implementation of this measure since 2018 has been inconsistent, with a statewide average of 77% of freshmen on track, but significant variation among local education agencies (LEAs).

The meeting emphasized the need for Maryland to refine its approach to the freshman on track measure and to ensure that interventions are consistently applied across schools. Individual schools have made progress, but a systematic approach is still lacking. The MSDE is tasked with reporting on the effectiveness of these measures and exploring ways to enhance their implementation.

Another significant strategy discussed was the introduction of high dosage tutoring during the school day. This approach involves small group tutoring sessions led by trained tutors, which research has shown to be effective in improving student outcomes. The meeting underscored the necessity of scheduling and resource allocation to successfully integrate this tutoring model into the school day.

The MSDE outlined several core strategies moving forward, including setting new college and career readiness standards, adopting high-quality instructional materials, and building infrastructure for high dosage tutoring. The goal is to provide equitable access to post-secondary pathways and to ensure that all students receive the support they need to succeed academically.

As the meeting concluded, participants were encouraged to engage with the presented strategies and to consider how they could be implemented across Maryland's diverse school systems. The MSDE aims to foster a collaborative effort to enhance educational outcomes for all students, particularly those in high-poverty areas.