The Maryland State Board of Education convened on May 23, 2023, to discuss critical findings regarding college and career readiness (CCR) among high school students. The meeting focused on the implications of recent analyses that suggest significant changes in how students are classified as college and career ready.

A key point of discussion was the potential impact of including high school GPA in the CCR standard. Current data indicates that only 40% of students meet the interim CCR standard based solely on test scores. However, if high school GPA is included, this figure could rise to 64%. This change could lead to a more accurate classification of students, improving the accuracy rate from 65% to 75%.

Board members expressed concerns about disconnected youth—students aged 16 to 19 who are neither in education nor employment. Approximately 10% of youth in Baltimore fall into this category, highlighting the need for targeted strategies to engage these individuals. The board emphasized the importance of including measures for students who pursue vocational training or enter the workforce directly after high school, rather than focusing solely on those who attend college.

The meeting also addressed the need for ongoing engagement with community colleges, as many students transition to these institutions. Stakeholders discussed the importance of including diverse pathways in future analyses to ensure that all students, regardless of their post-secondary choices, are adequately represented.

In conclusion, the board recognized the necessity of refining the CCR standards to better reflect the varied paths students take after high school. The next steps include further analysis of high school measures, particularly for students who enter the workforce, and exploring additional metrics to enhance the predictive validity of the CCR standards. The findings from this meeting will inform future reports and strategies aimed at improving educational outcomes for all Maryland students.