Attendance issues and early intervention strategies took center stage at the Maryland State Board of Education meeting on February 27, 2024. Board members emphasized the importance of addressing student attendance and literacy challenges through a structured support system.

Mary Gable and her team presented a multi-tiered system of support designed to identify and assist students facing difficulties. This system includes various interventions such as phone calls home, meetings with parents, and in-school support to tackle attendance problems. Gable highlighted the need for specific reading and math interventions, like Read 180, to help students struggling with literacy and numeracy.

The discussion underscored the significance of an early warning system that allows educators to monitor student performance across key indicators. By implementing these strategies early, schools can avoid prolonged meetings to determine necessary interventions, streamlining the process to support students effectively.

The board also discussed the potential benefits of introducing high school interventions at the middle school level, aiming to provide students with the resources they need before issues escalate. The overarching goal is to ensure that interventions are proactive, allowing students to thrive without needing ongoing support.

As the meeting concluded, board members acknowledged the complexity of these challenges but expressed commitment to refining their approach to enhance student achievement across Maryland schools.