Officials point to early academic gains from Maryland’s Blueprint, urge flexibility to finish implementation

State education officials and the Accountability and Implementation Board told the Appropriations Committee and the Ways and Means Committee on May 13, 2026, that Maryland is seeing measurable early progress under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future but needs additional operational flexibility and continued funding to sustain the reforms.

Dr. Michael, representing the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), and State Superintendent Dr. Wright opened the briefing by pointing to improvements on several statewide measures and outlining how MSDE’s new Maryland Momentum strategic plan aligns with the Blueprint’s five pillars: early childhood, teacher recruitment and retention, college and career readiness, targeted resources for high-need schools, and governance and accountability. ‘‘The Blueprint made significant investments in our teachers, in early education, and in preparing all students for higher education and the workforce of tomorrow,’’ Dr. Michael said, adding that MSDE has focused its work on where "we see results and where continued attention and investment are needed."

MSDE cited recent assessment changes and performance figures: the department reported that the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced in English language arts increased from 45.3% in 2023 to 50.8% in 2025, and mathematics proficiency rose from 21.0% to 26.5% over the same period. Officials also referenced improved National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) rankings for fourth‑grade reading as evidence Maryland students are improving relative to peers in other states. MSDE said gains by students from families with low income have been meaningful, noting an 11‑percentage‑point increase in ELA for that group since 2022.

At the same time, MSDE and the AIB flagged several persistent constraints. Dr. Michael emphasized minimum school funding as ‘‘one of the most consequential elements of the Blueprint’’ and highlighted chronic absenteeism and declines in graduation rates for some multilingual learner populations as urgent challenges. Superintendent Wright described specific implementation activities: a Grow‑Your‑Own educators grant program, pilot teacher‑coaching efforts (initial philanthropic support in Prince George’s County), and a requirement in the Blueprint for a $60,000 teacher starting salary in the 2026‑27 school year.

The Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) described its oversight role and recent work to reduce duplication with MSDE, including a memorandum of understanding and a published set of dashboards and one‑pagers summarizing progress. AIB Chair Ike Leget said the board has instituted a waiver process to avoid ‘‘one‑size‑fits‑all’’ burdens on smaller districts, and AIB vice chair Brit Curran urged continued legislative affirmation of the Blueprint’s goals.

AIB also confirmed it has contracted NORC (a research nonprofit affiliated with the University of Chicago) to perform the independent comprehensive evaluation of Blueprint implementation. NORC has been conducting LEA visits and surveys; AIB said early drafts of the evaluation will be available in the fall and a final report is expected in December, with recommendations to the General Assembly in January.

Lawmakers pressed officials on several operational points. Delegates asked for more specificity about the department’s funding and policy priorities (MSDE identified three departmental bill themes: sustaining coach funding, modest accountability‑statute amendments to implement assessment changes, and seed funding for leadership development). Members also raised fiscal questions about the expansion of National Board Certification (NBC) and the long‑term cost of career‑ladder incentives. Donna Gunning, MSDE’s chief finance officer, told the committee that the governor’s allowance includes funding to cover deferred NBC payments for multiple jurisdictions and that MSDE had submitted a deficiency appropriation request for those true‑up payments.

Pre‑K capacity, facility needs and private‑provider participation were a recurrent topic. Committee members referenced an interagency estimate that full implementation could require hundreds of additional classrooms and asked how private providers and philanthropy could be deployed to expand access. MSDE said nearly half of new full‑day pre‑K seats have been provided by private settings and offered to follow up with county‑level breakdowns.

Several delegates raised concerns about visible immigration enforcement near school campuses. MSDE said it has been developing specific guidance and safety protocols with the Maryland Center for School Safety and has been in communication with local superintendents, the state attorney general’s office, and local enforcement officials; MSDE offered to provide the written protocols to the full committee.

District leaders and local board representatives described the Blueprint’s tangible effects at the local level — expanded pre‑K access, more community schools, increased dual‑enrollment and registered apprenticeships — while also highlighting fiscal pressures. Superintendents said rising costs for salaries, special education, transportation and utilities, together with declining enrollment in many LEAs, constrain district flexibility and amplify the need for stable state commitments and targeted hold‑harmless protections during transitions.

Teacher‑workforce concerns were a consistent theme. The Maryland State Education Association and the Baltimore Teachers Union praised investments that have strengthened the pipeline and elevated pay, but both unions warned that collaborative planning time and clear implementation of career ladders are essential to retain teachers, serve students with complex needs, and prevent burnout. MSEA leaders also noted the long‑standing gap between federal special education funding levels and the statutory target, arguing that state backfilling remains necessary.

What’s next: AIB’s independent evaluation — led by NORC, with draft material expected in the fall and a final report by December — will provide the most comprehensive, evidence‑based opportunity to assess where statutory or administrative adjustments are needed. MSDE and AIB officials repeatedly offered to follow up with county‑level data (pre‑K seat breakdowns, NBC payment status) and with the committee on targeted implementation questions.

The briefing closed with committee chairs and members emphasizing the need to ‘‘keep swimming’’ toward full implementation: lawmakers and education leaders signaled willingness to pursue targeted tweaks and added flexibility, while stressing they do not want to scale back the core commitments of the Blueprint.

Ending: The briefing produced several firm next steps for the record — MSDE will provide follow‑up materials on NBC payments and pre‑K seat breakdowns; MSDE agreed to distribute its campus‑safety protocols to the committee; AIB confirmed NORC’s engagement and the evaluation timetable — leaving the state poised to use the independent audit to guide any recommended statutory refinements.