Maryland's Board of Education is poised to implement significant changes to its College and Career Readiness (CCR) standards, aiming to enhance equity and accessibility for students across the state. During a virtual public hearing held on November 9, 2023, stakeholders discussed a proposal to revise the CCR standards to include multiple measures, notably incorporating high school GPA as a criterion for meeting readiness benchmarks.

The proposed changes would allow students to qualify as CCR-ready by achieving a GPA of 3.0 or higher by the end of their tenth grade, alongside traditional assessment scores in English and math. This shift is designed to provide a more equitable pathway for students, particularly those who may excel academically but struggle with standardized testing.

The timeline for these changes is set to align with the current school year, meaning that student performance data from the 2023-2024 academic year could be used to determine CCR status starting in the 2024-2025 school year. Funding adjustments related to the new CCR standards are also planned, with per pupil funding beginning in fiscal year 2026 based on the revised criteria.

The meeting featured input from various stakeholders, including Dr. Sanjay Rai, acting secretary of the Maryland Higher Education Commission, who emphasized the importance of a statewide standard to address racial and economic equity gaps in education. He highlighted that a standardized evaluation at the end of tenth grade would help ensure that students are adequately prepared for their final years of high school and beyond.

The board is expected to vote on the adoption of these revised standards during its next meeting on December 5, 2023. Public feedback is being actively solicited, with over 300 responses already collected through an open survey, indicating strong community engagement in the decision-making process.

As Maryland moves forward with these proposed changes, the focus remains on creating a more inclusive educational environment that supports all students in achieving their career and college aspirations.