Legislative Changes to the Blueprint since 2022
Since the Blueprint was established, several adjustments have been made through legislation. Below are links to the enrolled (final) legislation by year, the accompanying Department of Legislative Services Fiscal and Policy Note, and brief descriptions of some of the key provisions by pillar in each.
Page Content
Pillar 1
- Provides additional $10M for PreK Expansion Grant Program
- Provides additional $5.7M for Child Care Assistance Grants from Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund
- Slows growth of PreK expansion for Tier II students by capping State funding for students with family incomes of 450%
- Provides additional $20M to reduce waitlist for the Child Care Scholarship Program
Pillar 2
- Full funding for Blueprint per pupil allocations and funding formulas
- $10.9M for Maryland State Department of Education’s (MSDE’s) Academic Excellence Fund
Pillar 4
- Coordinated Community Supports fully funded ($100M)
Pillar 2
Career Ladder
- Extends the date by which principals must be an NBC teacher before the teacher becomes a licensed principal from July 1, 2029 to July 1, 2034
Teacher Certification & Preparation
- Allows passage of a portfolio-based assessment of a nationally accredited or Maryland State Department of Education approved teacher preparation program as a qualification for an initial teaching certificate
- Allows those who finish a registered teacher apprentice program to provide the certificate of completion as a qualification for an initial teaching certificate
- Modifies the test of teaching ability requirement for experienced out-of-state teachers who are graduates of a teacher preparation program and working in a school or school system to also allow candidates to provide verification of two (2) years of effective teaching
Pillar 3
Dual Enrollment
- Extends the authority of AIB and State Board of Education to limit the number and types of courses dually enrolled students may enroll in through 2030 (from 2027)
Career & Technical Education (CTE) Committee Skills Standards Advisory Committee:
- Repeals the Advisory Committee and reassigns its charges the CTE Committee to fulfill its responsibilities; adds clarifying language from the Governor’s Workforce Development Board to streamline governance and ensure consistency with Blueprint goals and greater alignment across education, workforce and industry
Pillar 4
Compensatory Education Formula Calculation
- Extends calculation methodology for two years, through FY 28; AIB and State Board to identify a new methodology (interim report due December 31, 2026; final recommendations by September 30, 2027)
Concentration of Poverty Grant Funds
- Expands definition of wrap-around services to include "other evidence-based academic interventions to improve student outcomes focused on individual and small group instruction"
- Removes the sunset authorizing eligible schools to use CPG funds to provide programs required under COMAR Title 13A, Subtitle 4, including 13A.04.16.01 (Fine Arts)
Pillar 5
Expert Review Teams (ERTs) suspended for SY2026-2027
- $3.4M ERT allocation authorized to be used for Judy Centers and the transfer of the same amount of FY27 General Fund appropriation for Judy Centers to the Academic Excellence Fund;
- Joint report required by AIB/SBE on the plan for future implementation of ERTs by November 1, 2026.
Technology Spending Report
- AIB included the repeal of this annually required report in its departmental bill (HB 490/SB 311)
- The provision was amended out of the bill and ultimately passed without the repeal
- Annually, LEAs shall continue to submit this report to MSDE on or before November 15; MSDE shall submit a compilation of the reports to the General Assembly on or before December 15.
Pillar 1
- Maryland Child Care Credential Program - Extension of Funding requires Governor to appropriate $5.7M annually in FY 28 through FY30 for the program
Pillar 1 & Pillar 2
- Publicly Funded Prekindergarten - Early Childhood Career Ladder for Private Providers - Repeal of Deadlines replaces specific statutory deadlines with relative, on-going timeframes and provides an additional pathway for teaching assistants
- Teaching Assistants: Provides an additional pathway to qualification by holding a high school diploma and earning a CDA within three months after date of hire, or holding an Early Childhood or Child Development Associates degree
- Lead Teachers (qualified through the 10-year experience pathway: On or before July 1, 2025, must earn required associates degree on or before July 1, 2030. After July 1, 2024, must earn the degree within six months after qualifying as a Lead Teacher.
Pillar 1/Pillar 2
- Publicly Funded Prekindergarten - Early Childhood Career Ladder for Private Providers - Repeal of Deadlines replaces specific statutory deadlines with relative, on-going timeframes and provides an additional pathway for teaching assistants
- Teaching Assistants: Provides an additional pathway to qualification by holding a high school diploma and earning a CDA within three months after date of hire, or holding an Early Childhood or Child Development Associates degree
- Lead Teachers (qualified through the 10-year experience pathway): On or before July 1, 2025, must earn required associates degree on or before July 1, 2030 After July 1, 2024, must earn the degree within six months after qualifying as a Lead Teacher
Pillar 2/Pillar 3
- Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program and Program Workgroup - Establishment establishes a workgroup to develop recommendations for structured, credit-bearing pathway for high school students to begin preparation to teach primary and secondary education and requires the AIB chair or designee to serve on the workgroup
Pillar 3
- Higher Education - Public Senior Higher Education Institutions - Direct Admissions Program establishes a direct admissions program among higher education institutions with eligibility requirements that include “completion” of the CCR standard
Pillar 2
- Adjusts implementation of Collaborative Time
- Establishes and expands teacher recruitment, retention, and development programs
- Modifies School Leadership Training Program
Pillar 3
- Extends funding and reporting requirement for Career Counseling for MS and HS Students;
- Requires reporting from AIB
Pillar 4
- For Community Schools, expands definition of wraparound services; changes some aspects of administration, distribution of funds, and reporting
- Modifies annual funding for Maryland Consortium for Coordinated Community Supports
- Calls for study on funding for special education
- Calls for study of Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program
- Defines “digital tool,” allows procurement of tools that utilize AI
Pillar 1
- Requires a workgroup to conduct analysis of the mixed delivery, publicly funded full-day preK system
Pillar 2
- Expands options for meeting portfolio-based assessment requirements for initial teaching certificate.
Pillar 1
- Addresses preK program slots
- Requires local agencies to provide contact information eligible children
Pillar 2
- Establishes classroom time percentages under the Career Ladder
- Provides NBC payments for nonclassroom teachers
Pillar 3
- Phase in of the expansion of dual enrollment
- Alters date of establishment of statewide goals, progress reporting by CTE Committee
Pillar 4
- Addresses funding for planning and development in the first years of a Judy Center or Patty Center
Pillar 1
-
Alterations to the publicly funded prekindergarten program related to staff credentials, proportion of “slots” for private providers,
- Establishes preK provider hubs and other support initiatives
- Extends funding timelines for preK grant programs
- Authorizes State funding for leased space for preK programs
- Requires MSDE to provide model private provider MOU
Pillar 2
- Establishes early childhood education career ladder
Pillar 4
- For Blueprint Implementation Coordinators, establishes salary, benefits requirement and State and local shares
Pillar 1
- Alters definition of Tier I child
- Provides for enrollment of 3 and 4-year-olds in full-day preK
Pillar 2
- New requirements for Assistant Principals on Career Ladder
- Clarifies responsibilities of county boards related to career ladder
Pillar 4
- Adds School Counselor to Maryland Consortium of Coordinated Community Supports
Pillar 3
- Establishes Apprenticeship 2030 Commission
Pillar 4
- Expands permissible uses of Concentration of Poverty Grant funds
Pillar 5
- Alters due dates, including that of Comprehensive Implementation Plan
- Alters distribution of certain sales and use tax revenue to the BMFF
