MarylandTransformsStrategicPlanningEngagementReport - Flipbook - Page 35
PRIORITY
All Maryland students graduate from high school
college and career ready, and with an individualized
plan to succeed in college, career, and life.
ENABLER
PRIORITY
All Maryland students are prepared socially, emotionally,
and academically for success in kindergarten.
Maryland is supporting our schools, local education
agencies, families, and decision makers by producing
relevant, timely, and high-quality data and reporting,
and enabling educators to make the best use of their
resources to meet the needs of our students and
accelerate student achievement.
ENABLER
Maryland is elevating the stature of the teaching profession by:
■
■
■
intentionally working to attract, recruit, and retain a highly
qualified and diverse workforce;
setting rigorous standards for educator preparation
programs and induction;
and implementing a career ladder system focused on
development and growth opportunities for all educators.
PARTICIPANTS
RECOMMEND
MUCH GREATER COLLABORATION AND CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN EDUCATION
AND INDUSTRY
Among the Blueprint strategies that generated most interest among participants were those related to college and career
readiness. Participants were encouraged by the Blueprint’s mandate that students be college and career ready by the end
of the 10th grade, and that they be able to select among pathways leading to postsecondary success. Participants conveyed
excitement about initiatives and programs that were already expanding dual enrollment and apprenticeships and had concrete
suggestions on how to bring those opportunities to scale. In the view of participants, stronger connections between education
and business could take many forms, from a collaborative approach to career exploration and curriculum development to
inviting employers to conduct interviewing and hiring in the school building. Participants imagined a future in which students
would experience a seamless transition from career exploration to preparation and training, and from credentialing to hiring
and career success.
“
Starting with K-5, offer career explorations and field trips to employers of career clusters like
hospitals, police stations, and ports. Employers can implement ‘adopt-a-class’ and speaker series to
educate students about various occupations in middle school, along with programming at the school
level in career explorations. Structured CTE curriculum and apprenticeship pathways with local
employers will offer the final piece of direct hire.”
CREATING
AND EQUITABLE PATHS TOWARDS FURTHER EDUCATION AND CAREERS WOULD
SEAMLESS
REQUIRE MORE RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL
Participants shared positive examples of ongoing work to support students based on need, such as hiring additional bilingual
staff to better communicate with English learners and their families, utilizing federal funds to develop multi-tiered systems of
supports (MTSS) aimed at meeting students’ academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs, and leveraging the Blueprint’s
Concentration of Poverty grants to provide wraparound supports. While noting real progress in the efforts to build and expand
support systems and resources for students, participants also acknowledged the challenges ahead. Participants advocated for
more counselors, greater access to mental health and wellness services, greater availability of services for multilingual students
and families, and better transition paths out of high school for students with disabilities. Participants also stressed the central
role of parents/guardians in supporting their children’s success in school, even more so in the case of students with disabilities,
and called for districts and schools to provide more educational resources to parents/guardians to assist them in this role.
MARYLAND TRANSFORMS - ENGAGEMENT REPORT
35
