Board reviews draft 2026 legislative program focused on Blueprint funding, career ladder changes and counselor inclusion

Grace Wilson, the district’s director of legislation and policy, presented the draft 2026 legislative program and described proposed priority areas for the board’s upcoming advocacy at the Maryland General Assembly.

Wilson said the district’s priorities build on prior success securing an exemption to the 180-day calendar requirement and focus on improving Blueprint for Maryland’s Future implementation. The draft asks the legislature to allow more flexibility in how certain Blueprint funding categories are reported (for example allowing aggregate reporting for foundation and compensatory categories) while preserving the intent that concentrated poverty funding follow individual students.

Wilson said the draft also calls for an increase in the per-pupil foundation amount, asserting that current targeted amounts are inadequate to meet costs such as special education and transportation. She recommended statutory changes to the Blueprint career ladder: removing school administrators (principals and assistant principals) from the teacher career ladder where statutory inclusion freezes certain teaching and certification options, and expanding the career ladder to include school counselors so they can be recognized and incentivized for additional professional development.

Wilson described the draft program as an initial review and said the board will be asked to adopt a final version Sept. 17. Board members praised the draft’s priorities; one member said the changes to foundational funding and inclusion of counselors are long overdue. Wilson noted the program will be revised after additional feedback and returned for formal adoption at the next meeting.