WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 336
– 1 –
Chapter 336
(House Bill 1082)
AN ACT concerning
Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Implementation – Funding and Independent
Evaluation – Alterations for Implementation Coordinators
FOR the purpose of requiring, for certain fiscal years, each county board of education to
provide for the salary and benefits of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future
implementation coordinator in the county; requiring the funding for the salary and
benefits of the implementation coordinator to be paid for by the State and the county
in a certain proportion; altering the dates by which the entity contracted by the
Accountability and Implementation Board to perform an independent evaluation of
the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is required to report to
the Board and the Board is required to report to the Governor and the General
Assembly; altering certain funding requirements under certain circumstances; and
generally relating to the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article – Education
Section 5–404(b)(2) and 5–410(a) and (b)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Education
Section 5–404(h) and 5–410(c) and (d)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Chapter 36 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2021
Section 16(d) through (f)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Education
5–404.
(b) (2) State and local government units responsible for implementing an
element of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future shall develop implementation plans
consistent with the Comprehensive Implementation Plan that describe the goals,
objectives, and strategies that will be used to improve student achievement and meet the Ch. 336 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
– 2 –
Blueprint for Maryland’s Future recommendations for each segment of the student
population.
(h) (1) For each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 FISCAL YEAR, the governing
body of a county and the local school system jointly shall appoint a single implementation
coordinator responsible for the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future by
all government units operating in the county.
(2) FOR EACH OF FISCAL YEARS 2026 AND 2027 FISCAL YEAR, EACH
COUNTY BOARD SHALL P ROVIDE $150,000 FOR THE SALARY AND B ENEFITS OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION COORD INATOR APPOINTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARA GRAPH
(1) OF THIS SUBSECTION .
(3) FUNDING FOR THE SALAR Y AND BENEFITS OF TH E
IMPLEMENTATION COORD INATOR PROVIDED BY T HE COUNTY BOARD IN
ACCORDANCE WITH PARA GRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL BE PAID BY THE
STATE AND THE COUNTY IN THE SAME PROPORTION AS T HE FOUNDATION PROGRA M
UNDER § 5–213 OF THIS TITLE.
5–410.
(a) In addition to its own assessments and tracking of progress, required under §
5–406 of this subtitle, the Board shall contract with a public or private entity to conduct an
independent evaluation of the State’s progress in implementing the Blueprint for
Maryland’s Future and achieving the expected outcomes during the implementation period.
(b) The independent evaluation shall include an assessment of:
(1) The use of additional funding to meet the goals of the Blueprint for
Maryland’s Future;
(2) Progress toward the goals of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and
whether the goals have been achieved; and
(3) Any recommendations to alter the goals or strategies employed to reach
the goals, including new uses for existing funds or additional funding.
(c) (1) An entity with which the Board contracts for an independent evaluation
shall report its results to the Board on or before:
(i) [October 1, 2024] DECEMBER 1, 2026; and
(ii) October 1, 2030.
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 336
– 3 –
(2) The Board shall contract for each independent evaluation as soon as
practicable.
(d) (1) (i) On or before [December 1, 2024] JANUARY 15, 2027, the Board
shall, using the first independent evaluation and its own judgment, report to the Governor
and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly
on whether the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is being implemented as intended and
achieving the expected outcomes.
(ii) The Board’s report shall include an assessment of the State’s
progress towards:
1. Increasing the number of teachers achieving National
Board Certification;
2. Providing full–day prekindergarten programs for 3– and
4–year–olds in accordance with Title 7, Subtitle 1A of this article;
3. Improving behavioral health services in accordance with §
7–447 of this article; and
4. Ensuring that students enrolled in public schools meet
college and career standards in accordance with § 7–205.1 of this article.
(iii) The Board’s report shall include any legislative or structural
corrections necessary to fully implement the Blueprint.
(2) On or before December 1, 2030, the Board shall report on the results of
the final independent evaluation to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the
State Government Article, the General Assembly.
(3) The Board’s reports under this subsection shall include:
(i) Practices being used to close achievement gaps between students
of different groups listed in § 5–408(a)(2)(i) of this subtitle;
(ii) Progress made in closing the achievement gaps listed under item
(i) of this paragraph; and
(iii) Assessments of student outcomes listed under § 5–408(a)(2)(ii) of
this subtitle, disaggregated by race, income, ethnicity, and gender.
Chapter 36 of the Acts of 2021
SECTION 16. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:
Ch. 336 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
– 4 –
(d) In the independent evaluation and report to be submitted to the Governor and
the General Assembly on or before [December 1, 2024] JANUARY 15, 2027, as required
under § 5–410(d)(1) of the Education Article as enacted by this Act, the Accountability and
Implementation Board shall report whether the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is being
implemented as intended and is achieving expected outcomes.
(e) (1) If the Accountability and Implementation Board does not report that
the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is being implemented as intended and is achieving
expected outcomes in accordance with subsection (d) of this section, then:
(i) notwithstanding any other provision of law, per pupil increases
in major education aid required under this Act for the fiscal year [2026] 2028 and each
year thereafter shall be limited to the rate of inflation, as defined by § 5–201(h) of the
Education Article as enacted by this Act;
(ii) notwithstanding any other provision of law, any additional
funding increases required under this Act shall be limited to the rate of inflation as defined
in § 5–201(h) of the Education Article as enacted by this Act; and
(iii) subject to subsection (f) of this section and notwithstanding any
other provision of law, local school systems are not required to meet the additional
requirements of this Act that begin in fiscal year [2026] 2028 and each fiscal year
thereafter.
(2) If the Accountability and Implementation Board reports that the
Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is not being implemented as intended and is not achieving
expected outcomes, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the General Assembly
shall take immediate action to adjust the formula and policies under this Act to achieve the
goals of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future in order to fulfill the General Assembly’s
commitment to provide the resources, supports, and funding to fully implement the
Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
(f) A local school system shall continue to fund the requirements of this Act in
effect prior to fiscal year [2026] 2028.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, April 25, 2024.