[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6608554,"mediaKeyId","2939233-17b10b2447e704639b9cfaf6685dd82d","parentId",2939233,"title","Public hearing on HCPSS Policy 9,400 draws students, advocates and clinical staff divided over restraint and exclusion rules","audioSeconds",200,"startMs",9989000,"endMs",10189000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939233-17b10b2447e704639b9cfaf6685dd82d&start=9989&end=10189","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939233-17b10b2447e704639b9cfaf6685dd82d/thumbnail_9989000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6608554/Maryland/Public-hearing-on-HCPSS-Policy-9400-draws-students-advocates-and-clinical-staff-divided-over-restraint-and-exclusion-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608554-5d90146fe9feefb1e4c013613898f3d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770563729&Signature=l2cF5iDFX5r2ECsYP~IKu3v0RP2wSdR3zDIwWZEzt3nfLqLClB7x~D64TO30DyzZ-nVEHB7JdxEpqY1WXbjIsb970ihw5jxHEVrZLYCDWmCouuqjrKpBQu3uApo7eVIGNYFuqqsWcUvm73-Hc4IjW8rE5Fjp10Rc7P~MeekNv490b-mr2CTJ4Tlm-bDZrji8BnUebPIcUhZ6AjD2JVwbtTP5ZufFH5AYA3sDm-cct97eGvn3GdbfUmfcvUndjR1K4EptZRBDrmU3l5QyqtjhdzU9sO-E6focsNB~nzfDZa5N3TTrSyCpO57ZAFlu4aRtYoHotMxvE1Eb2Fc6bTvmbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Howard County Public Schools","date","2025-04-09T00:00:00Z","article","Howard County Public Schools held a public hearing Wednesday on proposed revisions to Policy 9,400 (Student Behavior Intervention), drawing testimony from students, parents, school psychologists and disability advocates with sharply divided views on restraint, seclusion and discipline.

Several student speakers and school psychologists urged the board to adopt the revised policy, arguing it clarifies that physical restraint and exclusion must be used only in exigent circumstances and that positive behavior supports should be prioritized. “Policy 9,400…defines the process by which HCPSS promotes positive behavior interventions,” student speaker Tessa On said in support, adding that the draft’s limits on mechanical and corporal punishment align with national guidance.

Other witnesses — including disability rights advocates and parents — urged the board to reject the current draft and demanded stronger, clearer protections. Jeanne Marie Leosakis (speaking for disability advocates) told the board the document “bears no resemblance to the draft we worked on in good faith and is entirely unacceptable” and criticized the policy for removing explicit parental consent language and for relying on external guides rather than plain‑language, locally‑maintained procedures. “This policy draft is a disservice to parents of your most vulnerable students and I urge you to reject it,” she said.

School psychologists described the volume of work created by behavior plans, functional behavior assessments (FBAs), data collection and crisis response. Two psychologists detailed the hours required to create and monitor FBA/BIPs, train staff, and respond to crises, and asked the district to recognize that specialized skills and time are required for compliant implementation.

Other youth speakers warned that the policy does not make parents promptly aware of exclusionary placements; one student said, “The adults in our buildings are becoming police officers in our minds,” calling for clearer steps that prioritize de‑escalation and family notification.

Board members did not take final action on Policy 9,400 at the hearing; staff said the draft will be revised in light of testimony, and a public comment period and further stakeholder meetings are expected before the board considers final adoption.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Howard County Public Schools - 4 & 7 p.m. Meeting of the Board of Education of Howard County - Apr 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of students, school psychologists and disability advocates testified at a public hearing on draft Policy 9,400 (Student Behavior Intervention). Speakers praised limits on physical restraint but warned the draft lacks plain‑language protections, parent consent clarity, and stronger complaint procedures.","taxTitle","Howard County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",17367,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6608558,"After months of parent testimony, HCPSS lays out short‑term special education actions and timeline",4185,11473000,15658000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939233-17b10b2447e704639b9cfaf6685dd82d&start=11473&end=15658","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939233-17b10b2447e704639b9cfaf6685dd82d/thumbnail_11473000.jpg","/articles/6608558/Maryland/After-months-of-parent-testimony-HCPSS-lays-out-shortterm-special-education-actions-and-timeline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608558-df8a092e4c65f81e2da0499e07245a1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770563729&Signature=WHLJLu6capZSeRfQYeFuP5M-FksFh-4TQ~VulTGNVz74qJueMPKyKPwsglhjDAK12~~7ascFr4V6RdEtKQH1RFDZcF6imuloervV3x~9TSO8-N2XYLQJKvnMoO--o4uAj0t3sA2YgR~bMSjKZufj1E0dgFPepZvUvOc6I1M06l8DIlVIjMc2LJzV03oCL1U4T0PneTqLIWmF7FIHgLlNzaIyGHocI3Gm~WYNlWCHXW6iBn1AOyrG9xeVhiK6zF8TMyyne8SY5E9EgnkGbQEV4SZdLEVbM93yD13SUz5MNC-1fVavVZSPKAubwN-yCrqyfVgeC6vYDC3HVrwsTdbf6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Howard County Public School System officials responded Wednesday to repeated parental complaints and a Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (CCAC) presentation by announcing a short‑term office plan to address workload, staffing and service delivery in special education.

The plan, described by Chief Academic Officer Terry Savage and Executive Director of Special Education Richard Jeffries, includes immediate steps: (1) create and post a new non‑instructional instructional team leader (ITL) job description to give schools administrative capacity; (2) reallocate central office program assistants to better support elementary regional programs; (3) co‑host recruitment open houses with Human Resources and local higher‑education partners; (4) provide targeted office hours for first‑ and second‑year special educators; and (5) reestablish a Superintendent’s Special Education Advisory Group to provide ongoing stakeholder feedback.

Jeffries said the actions are short‑term milestones that will be implemented for the remainder of the school year and into the summer. “This plan will be in place for the remainder of this year and some actions will continue into the summer as we engage stakeholders in our process to implement the redesign efforts,” he said.

The presentation followed more than an hour of public testimony from CCAC and families alleging systemic delays, inconsistent implementation of IEPs, fractured communication and problematic transitions from early childhood to kindergarten. CCAC members told the board the system is experiencing “a crisis” in special education, and speakers used stark language: “Inaction equals neglect,” one CCAC speaker said, while a CCAC leader told the board, “We demand action. Our children can’t wait and neither can we.”

School psychologists who testified described large, time‑consuming caseloads and paperwork burdens. One school psychologist said she spent nearly half of a recent two‑week period on tasks tied to implementing behavior intervention plans, functional behavior assessments, crisis response and other special education compliance activities.

Superintendent Barnes and staff said the short‑term plan will be followed by a more comprehensive special education redesign and a formal strategic plan to be developed over the summer. Staff pledged to publish a timeline of milestones and to hold biweekly updates for the board and community. Jeffries also said the Department of Special Education will work with bargaining units and community groups, such as CCAC and the Autism Society, to refine staffing formulas and to pilot expanded in‑district program models intended to reduce out‑of‑district placements.

Parents said the initiatives are welcome but urged the board to put these commitments in writing and to produce immediate “quick wins” — visible changes that show progress before the next school year. Board members asked staff to return with implementation details, fiscal implications and measurable indicators the board can use to monitor performance.","Following extensive public testimony alleging delays and gaps in special education services, HCPSS staff presented a short‑term office plan that includes targeted staffing changes, non‑instructional team leader roles, and reestablishing an advisory group; parents and advocates demanded urgency and clearer accountability.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6608563,"Board funds state‑defined low‑performing schools for $7,000 NBCT incentive; broader proposal fails",1925,7163000,9088000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939233-17b10b2447e704639b9cfaf6685dd82d&start=7163&end=9088","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939233-17b10b2447e704639b9cfaf6685dd82d/thumbnail_7163000.jpg","/articles/6608563/Maryland/Board-funds-statedefined-lowperforming-schools-for-7000-NBCT-incentive-broader-proposal-fails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608563-5b16a6ec5e5dc16d63fcfb608ba3ac16/orig.mp4?Expires=1770563729&Signature=kAQKHlXot~VcuOWzUF3xReJ7BoVD5nX86DNSCEaatetL3mexhHc7Y8Ojm6iV9kFHdu47T3EE8IHGVBgW4HOzSIdpb-3MK4VMbV1z3HruEtntIj7GiT4j-n-Q5n3Pj18V1ECk5XN-pHrqQOOMY8qBXQUZFdWSw9kCA4o05DsQ5AnhRl9iTKHttnCmWNw2BX2TL62SX~c01K7Ol3UPIO8dVcBB5sxr~ZG7fpuTN~UB4Gk8ySy4xJ267f6gmTh1hdy9OXYLkm1OvYf9GVyqVPsE6vjIvs0pRMAr7H1XcOvjFJDT9gTE4uVMuBbgYYxiDdGZZns0Ip-3GHrUtcfuo4naWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Howard County Board of Education voted Wednesday to fund the $7,000 incentive pay required by the Maryland Blueprint for state‑designated low‑performing schools and to continue payment to teachers already receiving the adjustment, but it rejected a proposal to extend the incentive to an expanded roster of additional local flexibility schools.

Mary Clive, coordinator of data literacy and coaching, told the board the Blueprint requires the $7,000 payment at two state‑defined schools and identifies six additional local‑flexibility schools where the district may choose to provide the incentive. Board members exchanged questions about long‑term cost and whether a broader list would lock the district into future permanent obligations.

Board Member Malo (appearing in the record as Miss Mallow in roll calls) moved to fund all eligible schools, arguing that the modest additional investment would bring highly accomplished teachers into the schools facing the greatest challenges. “These nationally board certified teachers have undergone rigorous professional development that research shows directly improves student outcomes,” she said. The motion failed on a 1‑5 vote.

Board Chair Mosley then moved the narrower option — funding only the state‑required schools (and continuing payments for teachers already receiving the incentive at archived schools). After discussion clarifying that teachers who already receive the larger national board stipend would continue to receive existing compensation, the board approved the narrower motion 4‑1‑1.

Board members who opposed expanding the incentive cited uncertainty in state and federal budgets and the district’s fiscal constraints. “This is a decision. This never goes away,” Board Member Watts said, meaning the additional pay would persist as an ongoing expense. Supporters said the relatively small additional local cost could be a targeted equity investment to keep experienced teachers in high‑need schools.

The board did not change the statewide designation process; it exercised local discretion on whether to supplement the mandated funding at additional schools. Staff will communicate the list to the Maryland State Department of Education by the April 16 deadline, as required by Blueprint implementation guidance.","After divided debate on fiscal sustainability, the Board of Education approved funding only the state‑defined low‑performing schools for the $7,000 nationally board‑certified teacher incentive and declined to add the wider set of locally‑identified schools.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6608568,"Howard County Board adopts data-driven capital budget prioritization process",1932,5315000,7247000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939233-17b10b2447e704639b9cfaf6685dd82d&start=5315&end=7247","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939233-17b10b2447e704639b9cfaf6685dd82d/thumbnail_5315000.jpg","/articles/6608568/Maryland/Howard-County-Board-adopts-data-driven-capital-budget-prioritization-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608568-d0de9ae3932dd146f4171257632f6fd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770563729&Signature=SEv~NegN4Pd74n6mow-NvjNpVA4Vm69q4gil~oxCnzAx3DGWM5iNdGZg8d4gOPq4hO4Ws5Kdbp~cMg7jOZvO3dn-UhV6t5OyaUunFoTfQtVMwPUabqk0F8HamxPMBeWcuG1TCIzvQpD~KFrA6lNZEaW51U7se3a2g1SrGSDbhsNnUFcIXWGj44kLX1GJmZb4moGJVhV2GHxilpoG9UAgBFiTpdY4TH1QqD1xCcNhbNyGC-mQFf6h6guDsy1VzMerNf4rELoIaBHNxpCVMj~27Lu3~05aEQhp1X5sgC2QXi6l6sRmPx~mp4jHLpWfm6o8KjU1gvC7HuqMGy5h-PcZpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Howard County Board of Education on Wednesday adopted an objective, data‑driven process to prioritize school capital projects as part of its FY2027 capital budget planning.

Board members approved the superintendent’s recommendation to use weighted criteria — including facility condition and utilization — to score and rank buildings and projects, with the aim of producing a transparent Educational Facilities Master Plan that will inform future capital requests to the county and state.

The process, presented by Chief Operating Officer Cornell Brown, ties facility scores to specific needs and assigns weights to criteria such as deferred maintenance and space utilization. Brown told the board the prioritization framework is “a program that will live,” meaning the scores and priorities can be updated annually as new data, standards and completed projects change the system’s needs.

Student Member Abasioglu, who moved adoption of the process, emphasized the equity rationale during debate, saying a consistent, data‑driven approach would “honor our commitment to all 57,000 students” by allocating resources on measurable need rather than political pressure. Board members pressed staff on how the list would be used if funding fell short of the total cost of high‑ranked projects; staff responded that the prioritized list would guide decisions but that some flexibility would be required to maximize available funds.

The board will return later this year with the Educational Facilities Master Plan that applies the scoring templates to all school buildings. Staff said the plan will differentiate state‑eligible projects from locally funded or program‑driven projects and will present recommended Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 portfolios for board approval and submission to fiscal authorities. Staff also said they will seek to improve the scoring tool over time and to publish the underlying data to support transparency.

Board Chair Mosley called for a roll‑call vote after members completed questions about implementation. The motion carried 7‑0.

The new process does not itself authorize construction spending; it is a method to rank needs and guide future capital budget proposals that the board will vote on separately.","After extended questions from board members and public, the Howard County Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a new, objective process for scoring and prioritizing capital projects to inform the FY2027 capital improvement program.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public hearing on HCPSS Policy 9,400 draws students, advocates and clinical staff divided over restraint and exclusion rules

After months of parent testimony, HCPSS lays out short‑term special education actions and timeline

Board funds state‑defined low‑performing schools for $7,000 NBCT incentive; broader proposal fails

Howard County Board adopts data-driven capital budget prioritization process