Baltimore City Public Schools is piloting a new initiative aimed at enhancing support for students with disabilities, as discussed in the recent public board meeting on April 22, 2025. This pilot program will introduce a new domain to the School Evaluation Rubric (SER), focusing on the collaboration between general and special educators to better monitor and support these students.

The pilot will assess how schools collect and review risk indicator data for students with disabilities and how they implement targeted support plans. Notably, the results from this pilot will not influence the upcoming renewal process for the 2025-2026 school year, as the board has opted to keep the evaluation blind to avoid bias. The findings will be released in late January 2026, after the board has made its decisions.

Commissioner Redding Lawanger praised the initiative, highlighting the importance of collecting data while ensuring that schools are not pressured by immediate results. The board is committed to listening to feedback from schools, which has led to a delay in proposed changes to the evaluation measures, allowing for more thorough discussions and adjustments based on school input.

In addition to the pilot program, the meeting also addressed the importance of fiscal management and governance within schools. The board emphasized the need for schools to demonstrate fiscal sustainability and compliance with state and district requirements. This includes reviewing audits and ensuring that schools are effectively managing grants and resources.

As the board prepares for the renewal application deadline on September 4, 2025, concerns were raised about the timing of data releases from the Maryland State Department of Education. The board acknowledged the tight timeline but reassured that they would work to accommodate any delays in data availability to ensure schools have the necessary information for their applications.

Overall, the discussions at the meeting reflect a proactive approach to improving educational outcomes for students with disabilities while maintaining fiscal responsibility and responsiveness to school needs. The anticipated outcomes from the pilot program and the ongoing evaluation process will be crucial in shaping future policies and support systems within Baltimore City Public Schools.