Maryland Milken Educator Award winner, Brian Quinn, shows off his prize along with State Superintendent Salmon and former Milken Award winners.

Congratulations, Mr. Quinn!

Math Teacher is Maryland's Newest Milken Educator Award Winner

The gymnasium of East Silver Spring Elementary School erupted with cheers and applause this month as Maryland’s newest Milken Educator was announced. Brian Quinn, a 4th-grade math teacher, received the prestigious Milken Educator Award for his leadership in math instruction, overall growth and innovative ways of engaging students. Mr. Quinn motivates students to make their own rules—and their own success. Helping 4th-graders conquer math earned him the $25,000 award! 

Mr. Quinn is a true role-model for the East Silver Spring Elementary community and involves himself to the fullest extent. For a recap of the exciting announcement, follow this link.  

Using Every Tool In The Education Toolbox

Sometimes, educators have to think outside the box in order to accurately convey an idea or concept to their students. Carol Garner, 2013-2014 Allegany County Teacher of the Year, is no stranger to this. Read more about her alternative teaching style and lessons with our latest Maryland Teacher of the Year Blog!

State Board Actions

October 23, 2018 

The following actions were taken at the October 23, 2018 State Board of Education meeting:

• Approved candidates for participation in the 2018-2019 Incentive Program for Certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
• State Board’s motion failed to garner the required number of votes to override the Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board’s (PSTEB) opposition to the establishment of new Regulation .06-1 Extraordinary Career Leader Certificate under Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 13A.12.01 General Provisions. This new regulation would have created the Extraordinary Career Leader Certificate for those individuals with an exceptional background and skills to be considered for a Superintendent position.
• Granted permission to repeal and replace Regulation .03 Superintendents under COMAR 13A.12.04 Administrators and Supervisors. The purpose of this action is to provide additional pathways for certification in the area of superintendent as well as to establish two, distinct superintendent certificates: Superintendent I for Deputy, Assistant and Associate Superintendents and Superintendent II for Superintendents.
• Granted permission to publish amendments to Regulations .01—.04 and .06 under COMAR 13A.04.07 Gifted and Talented Education.  The purpose of these amendments is to provide local school systems with direction for identifying students and developing and implementing the gifted and talented education programs and services needed to develop these students’ full potential. These regulations establish the minimum standards for student identification, programs and services, professional learning, and reporting requirements.
• Granted permission to adopt amendments to Regulation .03 under COMAR 13A.14.06 Child Care Subsidy Program. The amendments update the child care subsidy income eligibility levels resulting in more low-income families and children being served.
• Authorized the State Superintendent to notify the Comptroller to withhold 10% of the November State Aid payment and each subsequent installment for any system that is not in full compliance with provisions set forth in §5-114 of the Educational Article.
• Approved summative score cut points for the assignment of stars for Maryland’s new accountability system and the criteria to be considered when making assignments. Under the selected option, “percent of points” are spaced to meet percent of points and band width considerations for making star assignments. Also, adopted the departments’ recommendation that Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) Schools should receive stars based on the percentile rank result.
• Adopted the recommended cut scores established for the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA), which place student test scores into four performance levels: Exceeded Expectations, Met Expectations, Approached Expectations, and Partially Met Expectations.

The following Opinions and Orders were rendered: 

• In Re: Baltimore City Public Charter Schools Mandatory Fee – petition for declaratory ruling – Opinion No. 18-32
• Janis Sartucci, et al. v. Montgomery County Board of Education (Julius West Middle School and Albert Einstein High School) – installation of artificial turf fields – Opinion No. 18-33
• The Davinci Collaborative, LTD v. Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners – denial of charter school application – Opinion No. 18-34
• Turning Point Foundation, Inc. v. Prince George’s County Board of Education – petition for declaratory ruling/appeal – Opinion No. 18-35
• N. Z. v. Montgomery County Board of Education – early K entry – Opinion No. 18-36
• Keith and Venera J. v. Montgomery County Board of Education – student transfer – Opinion No. 18-37
• Joey and Kristin H. v. Charles County Board of Education – student transfer – Opinion No. 18-38
• Angela S. v. Harford County Board of Education – student transfer – Opinion No. 18-39
• Janis Sartucci v. Montgomery County Board of Education (Richard Montgomery High School) – installation of artificial turf fields – Order No. OR18-08
• Matthew Feldman v. Montgomery County Board of Education – teacher termination – Order No. OR18-09

Meeting materials, Opinions, and Orders can be found HERE.

• Congratulations, Mr. Quinn!
• Using Every Tool In The Education Toolbox
• State Board Actions

Kate Hession Named Executive Director of the Maryland Center for School Safety

Kate Hession, Deputy Executive Director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), has been named Executive Director of the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS).

Ms. Hession comes to MCSS after nearly nine years at MEMA in various capacities. In one of her final duties at MEMA, she helped lead the implementation and operation of the Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line, launched earlier this fall.

Continue Reading Here.

Five Maryland Schools Are Among “America’s Healthiest Schools”

Healthy Schools Program is one of Nation’s Largest School-Based Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiatives

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a national organization that empowers kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits, has recognized five Maryland Schools as “America’s Healthiest Schools.” Maryland joins the District of Columbia and 25 other States in hosting schools bearing this distinction.

Schools earning the designation have achieved a rigorous set of criteria related to nutrition and physical activity. Each meets or exceeds federal nutrition standards for school meals and snacks, offers breakfast to students daily, implements school wellness policies, and updates progress towards these policies annually. 

Find Out More.

Maryland SAT Scores Take a Leap Forward for the Class of 2018

The mean SAT score for graduating seniors in Maryland public schools increased by 20 points for the class of 2018, according to data released today.

The composite score for graduating Maryland public school students improved to 1066 for the class of 2018, up from 1046 in 2017.  That compares to a national public school average of 1049, up three points from 1044 in 2017.

The State’s improvement on the SAT came as a record number of graduating students took the exam.  A total of 40,639 members of the class of 2018 took the SAT, compared to 36,459 in 2017. Follow this link to read more.