Southern Maryland superintendents warn proposed Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act could divert funds from schools

Three Southern Maryland education leaders told the Southern Maryland Delegation on a February 2025 call that they support preserving local Blueprint funding for school systems and urged state lawmakers to consider superintendent-sourced changes to current legislation.

Dr. Maria Navarro, superintendent of Charles County Public Schools, told delegates the district is starting a new strategic-planning process and highlighted gains in middle-school acceleration, Advanced Placement participation and expanded pre-K. "We need resources at the schoolhouse," Navarro said, urging that Blueprint-directed funding remain at the school-district level rather than be redirected to state-level programs.

Dr. Smith, superintendent of St. Mary’s County Public Schools, said the governor’s Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act (identified in the meeting as…