Blueprint update: career counseling extended by state, new community‑school eligibility, Towson mentor program launched

Carroll County Public Schools staff reported progress on several parts of the state-mandated Blueprint initiative, including a state decision to extend a middle-school career-counseling partnership, new community‑school eligibility for one elementary school, and a near-term mentoring pilot supported by Towson University.

Career counseling: Mr. O'Neil told the board that House Bill 504 will extend the local partnership between school systems and local workforce-development boards through fiscal 2028. The partnership funds middle-school career coaches and workforce-development navigators who provide students with early exposure to career pathways, workplace simulations and industry connections. "The ultimate goal is to sort of start in sixth grade so that students have an opportunity to think about career planning earlier," O'Neil said.

Community schools: The district said Taneytown Elementary remains a state-designated community-school site and that Robert Moton Elementary entered the first year of eligibility for the personnel planning grant under the state program. District staff explained that the designation can trigger a two-tier state grant process: a personnel grant to hire a community‑school coordinator and conduct a needs assessment, and, in later years, a per‑pupil implementation grant tied to the needs identified in that assessment.

Staff also told the board that certain nontraditional county programs — notably Gateway and Crossroads, which serve students countywide — pose administrative complexity when they become eligible. "Gateway and Crossroads are… regionalized or centralized programs that serve students throughout Carroll County," Mr. O'Neil said, noting the student population at such sites can change rapidly and that eligibility and grant timelines therefore require careful handling.

Mentoring for induction: As part of the district’s career-ladder work and efforts to strengthen induction for newer teachers, O'Neil said Carroll County has partnered with Dr. Grasmick and Towson University to create a near-term mentor program. Towson has posted mentor positions that would employ mentors through the university to support early-career teachers in Carroll County. "Towson University has just posted that mentor position for the next school year," O'Neil said; he encouraged retirees and experienced educators to consider applying.

Why it matters: Career counseling and community-school grants bring state resources and can change staffing and services in schools. The mentorship pilot offers a possible near-term way to increase supports for early-career teachers while the district finalizes longer-term career-ladder plans required by Blueprint.

Next steps: Staff will complete Robert Moton’s needs assessment and communicate community-school plans to families as priorities are refined. The district also plans to coordinate with Towson on mentor recruitment and to continue reporting Blueprint progress to the board.