MSDE presents draft strategic‑plan outcomes aligned to blueprint; state board members press for clear public dashboards and equity metrics

Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) staff presented draft outcomes for an updated agency strategic plan tied to the blueprint's five pillars and to aligned metrics the state board and AIB adopted in 2024. Presenters said the revisions will reframe the 2023 strategic plan to emphasize measurable outcomes, align staff presentations to the plan, and use plain language in accordance with the governor's directive.

Phil Lasseter and an MSDE lead presenter described proposed goals and concrete, measurable outcomes organized under the blueprint pillars: (1) early childhood, (2) high‑quality and diverse teachers and leaders, (3) college and career readiness, (4) more resources for student success, and (5) governance and accountability. Examples include increasing kindergarten readiness (measured by the KRA and early learning standards assessments), increasing the percentage of fully licensed teachers and school leaders of color, improving proficiency and growth on statewide assessments, reducing chronic absenteeism, and improving identification for twice‑exceptional students.

MSDE told the committee that some accountability specifics for pillar 5 remain pending while the accountability and assessment task force finalizes the school and district rating system; the draft left the rating target blank pending that work. MSDE staff outlined next steps: internal alignment and strategy development, broad stakeholder engagement with advisory councils, teachers, principals, superintendents and families, a return to the committee in June, and a vote before the full state board in July or August.

Board members pressed presenters on clarity and public access to the data. Committee Chair Crawford urged MSDE to produce dashboards and an annual calendar so parents and communities can see and use results to hold local leaders accountable. Board member Clarence Greer suggested changing the internal label “strategy” to “initiative” to clarify responsibilities. Board member Chang asked how absenteeism work would connect to benefits access such as CHIP/Medicaid; MSDE said it is exploring interagency partnerships so community schools can help families access benefits. Dr. Michael and others asked that the accountability framework explicitly recognize growth in high‑poverty schools (as with awards that highlight growth in underresourced schools) and asked where the data would be hosted and how frequently it would be updated; MSDE said its Office of Accountability is developing visualizations and a public dashboard tied to the outcomes.

Before adjourning to executive session, Chair Crawford read a statutory statement citing Section 3‑305(b)(13) of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland to permit a closed session discussion of fiscal year 2027 confidential budget estimates and requests. The committee voted unanimously to move into executive session.

Ending: MSDE will solicit stakeholder feedback on the draft outcomes, return to the committee in June with revisions, and the full state board is expected to consider updated outcomes in July or August; the committee also moved into a closed session on FY27 budget matters.