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Board codifies expanded College and Career Readiness standard; adds multiple ways to demonstrate readiness
Summary
The State Board adopted a revised College and Career Readiness (CCR) standard that preserves the interim assessment option and adds multiple alternative pathways — including GPA, AP/IB, SAT/ACT benchmarks, dual enrollment and industry credentials — to confirm readiness for post‑CCR pathways.
The Maryland State Board of Education voted to adopt an expanded College and Career Readiness (CCR) standard that maintains the MCAP assessment option and adds several alternative ways for students to show readiness for college‑level coursework and post‑CCR pathways. The board approved the revision after hearing an MSDE presentation that summarized an American Institutes for Research (AIR) study, explained the year‑over‑year effect of adding GPA pathways, and outlined new options the department will accept beginning in fall 2025.
Nut graf: Under the revised CCR policy, students may meet the standard by (a) meeting the existing interim MCAP assessment cut scores, (b) achieving a one‑year GPA of 3.0 or higher (plus a grade C or better in a math course), or (c) meeting performance thresholds on a menu of alternate measures that includes dual enrollment courses, AP/IB exam scores, SAT/ACT benchmarks, WorkKeys, industry‑recognized credentials, registered apprenticeship completion, DLM alternative assessments for students with significant cognitive disabilities, and the ASVAB for certain pathways. MSDE said the expanded menu is intended to include students pursuing both academic and career pathways while increasing equitable routes to postsecondary credit and opportunities.
Key details and rationale - Why MSDE expanded the standard: AIR recommended adding additional measures (including GPA and course completion) as valid indicators of college readiness. MSDE presented data showing the expanded options would have raised the share of students meeting CCR in 2023–24 from about 21% (assessment only) to roughly 49% when the GPA/math mastery option was included; adding AP/IB and SAT/ACT options would have increased that figure further in a simulation. - New options and criteria: The policy lists nine additional options to meet CCR, including a one‑year eleventh or twelfth grade GPA of 3.0 (combined with a C or better in a HS math course), successful AP/IB examination results (AP 3+; IB 4+ where applicable), SAT math 530/ERW 480 or ACT 22/18 benchmarks, dual enrollment (two core courses, including one math), ACT WorkKeys silver or better, approved industry credentials, registered apprenticeship completion, DLM alternative assessments at the target level, and a 50+ on the ASVAB. - Implementation timing: MSDE proposed that most of the additional options become available beginning in fall 2025, with math mastery revision applying for students who enter ninth grade in 2027–28 (graduation class of 2030–31). MSDE said it will publish precise business rules, reporting requirements and guidance for LEAs in summer 2026.
Board and stakeholder discussion Board members thanked MSDE for public outreach and asked MSDE to monitor equity impacts carefully; members asked for simulations disaggregated by race/ethnicity and service group. MSDE showed that the GPA option had a proportionally larger effect for economically disadvantaged students and for Black/African American students in the 2023–24 data.
Action taken The board voted unanimously to adopt the revised CCR standard and directed MSDE to publish implementing business rules and guidance for LEAs.
Ending: MSDE will publish the business rules this summer and continue to work with community colleges, university partners and the Accountability and Implementation Board to monitor impact and refine criteria as needed.
