BCPS reports smooth opening, new attendance push and expanded school meals programs

Superintendent Darryl Rogers told the Baltimore County Board of Education on Sept. 9 that Baltimore County Public Schools welcomed about 110,000 students for the start of the 2025–26 school year and that system leaders observed strong opening-week instruction during school visits.

Rogers and division leaders highlighted September as Attendance Awareness Month and described countywide spirit days and an “Here for It” attendance pledge. “We are very proud of the gains that our schools have made,” Rogers said, noting 120 schools improved attendance last year and the district’s continued focus on reducing chronic absenteeism.

Curriculum and instruction leaders said the district launched My Perspectives materials at secondary levels, continued math curriculum refinement in advance of state policy changes, opened seven new full-day pre-K classrooms and reported about 11,000 K–12 students participated in summer programs. The community schools office said it will add about 20 community schools this year, bringing BCPS to 110 community schools.

Food and nutrition services presented an update on meals and summer feeding. The department reported BCPS served more than 17.9 million meals last year and more than 400,000 meals over the summer at schools and community sites, including library and rural “to-go” sites. Jamie Hetzler, director of Food and Nutrition Services, described the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant program, noting 51 elementary schools are participating this year to provide classroom samples with brief nutrition education. She said the district is serving roughly 7 million breakfasts a year under expanded grab-and-go and breakfast-after-the-bell arrangements made possible following passage of the Maryland Meals for Achievement Flexibility Act.

Hetzler described BCPS’s student-driven menu testing process and the “share table” program that allows students to place unopened, prepackaged unwanted items for other students to take. Board members asked how share-table leftovers are handled and whether parents can opt out of USDA-required minimum meal components; staff said USDA meal-component rules set minimums but schools may use share tables and local school staff sometimes redistribute leftovers to students in need.

Officials encouraged families to participate in upcoming community conversations on the district strategic plan and curriculum nights, including a BCPS curriculum night planned for Pikesville High School. The superintendent and staff said additional community engagement events and curriculum nights will be scheduled this year.