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Rep. Jamie Raskin Chooses Not to Run for U.S. Senate

July 8, 2023 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

The speculation is over.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th) announced Friday evening that he will not run for the U.S. Senate to replace longtime Sen. Ben Cardin (D) and plans to seek reelection to the House of Representatives next year.

Raskin said in a more than 1,000-word statement that he wants to continue preserving democracy against threats from former President Trump and his allies. Raskin helped lead the special Jan. 6, 2021 House committee investigations after the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“The times have found us, as Tom Paine said, and there is no escaping the responsibility we have in office now not just to the specific people and communities we represent but to the entire country,” Raskin wrote.

“At this moment, I believe the best way for me to make the greatest difference in American politics in 2024 and beyond is this: to run for reelection to the House of Representatives in Maryland’s extraordinary 8th District,” he said. “And to mobilize thousands of Democracy Summer Fellows and raise millions of dollars and everyone’s spirit to fortify and build up Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.”

Raskin said that under normal circumstances, he’d be more inclined to risk his leadership post in the House and try for the Senate seat that Cardin is giving up after three terms. But he said the prospect of helping Democrats regain the House majority in 2024 — and the likelihood that he’d become chair of the House Oversight Committee under those circumstances — compelled him to stay put.

“If I had two political careers, I would gladly give one of them to the year-and-a-half campaign for the Senate, a prospect that remains alluring to me because of my profound love for our state and the incredible people who live here,” he said. “I would even be open to restarting my political career as Senator #99 or 100 at the bottom of a new institution.

“But I have a different and more urgent calling right now and I cannot walk away from the center of this fight in the people’s House and in the country. We are still in the fight of our lives, the fight for democracy and freedom and for the survival of humanity.”

Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, said he didn’t believe Raskin would enter the Senate race, in part because he just completed an intensive six-month treatment for cancer.

“Just from the human factor, he’s just getting through pretty serious cancer treatment. Then to jump right into high stakes [Senate] campaign needing to raise a lot of money,” Eberly said in an interview. “But I think the bigger issue is he has earned a position of respect in the House. He is in line for an important committee chairmanship should Democrats take the House back after the next election. He’d have to give all that up just to run for the chance of being the nominee of the Democratic Party.”

Raskin’s decision leaves Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Rep. David Trone as the top-tier contenders in the Democratic Senate primary for now, though Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando and others are also seeking the nomination.

Alsobrooks recently announced that she had raised $1.73 million for the contest so far, while the wealthy Trone is spending liberally from his own pocket on ads and political mailers. Campaign finance reports for the second quarter of the year are due to be filed with the Federal Election Commission on July 15, and should provide a somewhat clearer picture of the financial state of the primary race — though Trone’s unlimited ability to self-fund skews the fundraising playing field to an extent.

Raskin, a progressive former constitutional law professor who spent a decade in the Maryland Senate before his election to the House in 2016, has become a national Democratic icon since he led Trump’s second impeachment following the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He’s become a celebrity among party activists and a fundraising magnet, and would have been a formidable contender had he entered the Senate primary.

Now, the early primary dynamic suggests the contest will come down to Alsobrooks, who is racking up endorsements from a broad swath of political insiders while pressing her case to make history as Maryland’s first Black senator and only the third Black woman in U.S. history to serve in the chamber, and Trone, a wildly successful businessman who has made fighting the opioid crisis his top issue in Congress.

Alsobrooks’ endorsements from current and former elected officials suggest Democratic leaders are looking ahead, Eberly said.

“That just speaks to what the party sees as the future of their party, as opposed to the past of their party,” he said. “They look to Alsobrooks and think this is someone who has tremendous future potential even beyond just running for Senate. They’re making clear their investment.”

To have a chance of competing in the primary, Jawando, a charismatic and ambitious lawmaker, will have to make inroads with progressives around the state who might have naturally gravitated to Raskin, chip away at Alsobrooks’ perceived strength among Black voters, retain a strong segment of Montgomery County Democrats who have already supported him twice in countywide County Council elections, and show strong fundraising numbers.

Candidates offer praise and express confidence

All three candidates put out statements Friday night praising Raskin and offering their assessments of the primary contest.

Alsobrooks posted a message on her Twitter page Friday calling Raskin a “champion for Maryland and for democracy.”

“If elected to the Senate, I will be a partner with him to fight for all of our families, to ensure every corner of Maryland gets the resources it deserves, and to engage in the hard work of safeguarding our democracy,” she said.

Trone, who lost the 8th District Democratic primary to Raskin in 2016 before winning in the 6th, which takes in part of Montgomery County and most of Western Maryland, said he respected his colleague’s decision to stay out of the Senate contest.

“While there are multiple good candidates running, I am the only progressive in this race who has gotten bills over the finish line in Congress — delivering results on mental health, addiction treatment, medical research, criminal justice reform — and many other issues that impact people’s lives,” he said. “Saying what you want to do is the easy part of the job — actually getting things done requires hard work, and no one has or will outwork me or our campaign.”

And Jawando clearly seems some space for himself on the left wing of his party.

“I’ve known Jamie Raskin for over 15 years,” Jawando said. “He is a progressive champion, and the kind of person who displays the same courage and grace no matter what, whether he’s taking on Donald Trump or cancer. We are grateful for his service and all the service that is yet to come. “Now more than ever, it is clear that we need a progressive champion in the Senate. That’s exactly what I intend to be when I’m elected.”

Democrats are heavily favored to hold Cardin’s seat in November 2024. The only Republican running so far with any name recognition at all is Robin Ficker, the noisy Montgomery County anti-tax activist who has unsuccessfully sought office dozens of times since serving a single term in the House of Delegates from 1979 to 1983.

Raskin is expected to waltz to a fifth House term in 2024, but his decision to stay put is undoubtedly deflating the hearts of at least a dozen ambitious Montgomery County politicians, who imagined themselves replacing him in Congress.

While a fascinating race is emerging in both parties to replace Trone in the 6th District, and several Democrats are already not-so-subtly jockeying to replace Alsobrooks as Prince George’s executive — whether she’s elected to the Senate in 2024 or leaves office when her term ends in 2026 — the Maryland political scene will be a little tamer this election cycle with Raskin staying out of the Senate contest and no open-seat race to replace him.

By William J. Ford and Josh Kurtz

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Breaking Down The Blueprint: The Challenges School Districts Face in Meeting Students’ Behavioral Health Needs

July 4, 2023 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

Lori Morrow says for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan to work effectively, schools must ensure students receive the mental health services they need.

Morrow, the mother of two children and education advocate from Prince George’s County, said school-based health centers should be created and staffed with mental health professionals accessible for students and their families, especially in rural and underserved communities.

“We want kids to be in school. It’s a lot easier to be in school when you’re healthy,” said Morrow, who served her last day Friday as a member of the state Board of Education. “COVID has taken a toll on everybody. We need to have the right mental health…support so that our teachers can focus on education and teaching curriculum.”

As part of the Blueprint process, education officials in all of Maryland’s 24 school systems must outline how they will fulfill the plan’s fourth “pillar,” or priority: how they will provide resources for all students to be successful.

Some of the Blueprint requirements include additional per pupil funding for special education students and English language learners, awarding personnel grants for schools with at least 55% of students on free and reduced lunch, and requiring school systems to provide annual training for staff to recognize mental health and behavioral issues in students.

The legislature approved House Bill 770 this, year which includes allowing a school counselor to join the state’s Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports, a group established as part of the Blueprint law with one of its main goals to expand access to behavioral and wraparound services for students and their families.

Mental and behavioral health have been major topics not only in Maryland but nationwide.

U.S Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory last month about how social media “can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”

Liz Zogby, co-lead with the Maryland Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition, wants to make sure children with intellectual and developmental disabilities aren’t forgotten in the Blueprint plan.

“There’s a lot of attention and detail that’s been focused on racial diversity and socioeconomic diversity, and absolutely rightly so. We have to make sure that that focus on equity also includes kids with disabilities,” she said. “They’re a critical piece for our schools.”

In the meantime, the Blueprint’s Accountability and Implementation Board could start approving local school system’s plans to provide mental health services beginning on July 20.

Each document, first submitted in March, must include work school officials conducted, completed and will continue to implement through the 2023-24 school year. Besides resources for students, the other main priorities include providing early childhood education, hiring and retaining high-quality and diverse teachers and preparing students for college and technical careers.

In their initial reports, local officials responded to several questions and statements about student resources with a focus on health.

To provide insight into how school districts are planning to support student behavioral health, we have gathered responses to one of the section’s questions: “Discuss the challenges that exist in meeting students’ behavioral health needs and how the [local education agency] overcomes these challenges. Include strategies related to funding, specialized staff, community partnerships, etc.”

Below are all or part of the responses from the school districts.

Allegany – “ACPS has recognized the major challenge of providing immediate direct services to students who need mental health counseling. In our rural district, community providers are limited and overwhelmed with few providers offering pediatric services. To help overcome this, over the last three years, ACPS has strategically increased our in-house capacity to deliver services while strengthening our community partnerships.

Increased school-based staffing:

Additional staffing in 2022-2023 through a combination of Concentration of Poverty,

CARES, and local funding: A licensed was addictions counselor added to the RESTART/alternative

Program; reduced ratio of mental health specialists one for every two schools; additional elementary behavior specialist.

Multiple mental health Board approved supervisors able to increase oversight and clinical skill development.

Two behavior specialists are working towards becoming Board Certified Behavior Analysts.

Deeper collaboration/partnership with Health Department counselors post-COVID.
Partnering with the Maryland School Mental Health Response Program for training, program enhancement, needs assessment, and professional development.”

Programs Purchased:

Second Step: SEL K-8 including bullying prevention facilitated by school counselors.
Ripple Effects: facilitated through the RESTART program and behavior specialists for Tier II/III students.”

Anne Arundel – “The stigma around mental health remains a challenge in Anne Arundel County. Many families feel ashamed to admit their child may need behavioral health support. This can lead to students being afraid to talk about their mental health struggles at home and leading them into further despair. For that reason, AACPS has collaborated with community partners on initiatives designed to overcome the stigma around mental health. These programs include:

The Sound of Silence is a school assembly and community program by the Northern Lights Against Substance Use. The program discusses mental health and substance abuse and how they are tied together. There are members of child and family serving agencies throughout Anne Arundel County on the panel answering questions for students and families.
AACPS also has a club called Student Alliance for Flourishing, a partnership between AACPS and Notre Dame University of Maryland. This club thrives at five high schools and three middle schools and focuses on teaching students to flourish mentally and physically. It reduces stigma by teaching students how to succeed in school, community and globally.”

Baltimore City – “City Schools has continued to strengthen its behavioral health supports for students, including the allocation of at least one social worker in each traditional school and the development of coordinated Student Wellness Support Teams (SWST) at the school level. The greatest challenge City Schools currently faces in meeting students’ behavioral health needs is the shortage of providers – social workers, school psychologists, school nurses, school counselors, and other related services providers. City Schools is currently addressing this challenge through external partnerships with local and state organizations, and we are intentionally creating internal partnerships through our Student Wellness support Teams to maximize the collaboration and impact of the related services staff in each school. Related services staff, specifically social workers and school psychologists, are integral members of the SWST which works to proactively meet schools’ overall climate and culture needs. The formation of the SWST has increased the collaboration among its members; specifically, those staff who support behavioral health. As a part of SWST, social workers lead the completion of the school wellness needs assessments in the beginning of the year. This data assists in providing support that is targeted and reflective of the individual schools’ needs.”

Baltimore County – “Supporting Students’ Behavioral Health by identifying challenges and appropriate strategies to address challenges has continued to be prioritized in BCPS. The growth of access to resources, including school counselors, psychologists and social workers has continued to expand with increased staffing as well as increased community partnerships with community mental health providers, mental health organizations and the local department of behavioral health. The focus on student behavioral health has forged community collaboration resulting in the Mental Health Advisory Council.

The BCPS Mental Health Advisory Council (MHAC) that is representative of all stakeholders, identified various challenges with specificity around awareness and access to the tiered system of supports that includes access points to mental health supports for students across schools, the measurement of success of the interventions in each tier, understanding the gaps in services, equitable and accessible supports and services, and what determinants inform professional learning.”

Calvert – “CCPS is experiencing a shortage of mental health professionals due to the national shortage.There are not enough school psychologists and school social workers in our schools. In addition, our county health department school-based therapists are not fully staffed in our schools. The Calvert County Health department continues to attempt to recruit more staff to better support our schools. Strategies to overcome these challenges are to provide increased salaries, reimbursement for license renewal, and funding for attendance at professional development. Currently we require social workers to have their Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C) but we are considering changing this requirement to a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in order to be able to pull from a bigger pool of applicants. We will have some discussions of whether an Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) should be considered as an applicant. School Psychologists with Nationally Certified School Psychologist certification receive an annual salary adjustment of $2,500 [and] social workers with LCSW-C certification receive an annual salary adjustment of $2,500, provided certification [for both are] in good standing.”

Caroline – “The challenges we experience in meeting students’ behavioral health needs include:

School-based behavioral health (SBBH) needs/referrals outweigh the capacity of CCPS
Difficulties in recruiting and hiring qualified behavioral health therapists for school and
Difficulties connecting students to behavioral health services due to lack of parent involvement and follow-through, parent/child refusal, transportation and other barriers.
Caroline County is a resource-poor area for standard and specialized behavioral health services.
The need for contracted SBBH providers to increase their presence and become more infused into school buildings/routines/meetings and culture.”

and contracted providers to respond and ensure a timely connection to services. There are currently waitlists at 5 of the 9 CCPS Schools. CCPS has seen an increase in total SBBH referrals from 286 for the 20/21 school year, to 434 for the 21/22 school year, and referrals are currently on track to exceed those numbers this year as well. There have also been waitlists in many community-based provider offices in the area as well, some reaching up to 6 months.

community-based providers result in waitlists for some SBBH, and difficulty connecting waitlisted students with alternative community-based services.

Carroll – “The behavioral health needs of our students are rising with the need for social, emotional, and

behavioral supports increasing in frequency, duration, and intensity across all grade levels. Due to limited resources within CCPS, MOUs have been established with Advanced Behavioral Health (ABH) and Life Renewal Services (LRS) to provide therapy to students at school with Medical Assistance (MA). Although the MOUs enable these agencies to serve all schools in the county, those agencies do not have enough therapists to fully cover the needs in all schools. As of 11/28/22, there were five schools that did not have one or both agencies supporting students with MA at school during the school day. There is a significant need for families who are insured or under-insured to receive behavioral health services, but there are long wait lists and CCPS currently does not permit our partner agencies to serve students without MA at school. To address this significant need, CCPS has developed several contracts to provide services outside of school.”

Cecil – “Challenges include:

Lack of trained mental health providers.
Volume of student behavioral health needs.

Family substance use/abuse that impacts student behavioral health, physical health.
Caregiver ability to understand their child’s behavior health needs and how to find resources.
Poverty
Neglect
Pandemic related issues [such as] Families navigating their work lives at home, while children are also home; lack of socialization with peers and adults; loss of loved ones; loss of income.

Funding to hire staff to meet the needs of students.
Discipline first” in schools to get things settled and instruction-ready; schools dealing with immediate crisis can make it difficult to meet behavioral health needs.
Lack of school staff understanding/awareness of student behavior/mental health.

Strategies to overcome these challenges:

Professional development to increase school staff understanding of behavioral health needs and how to address them within the school setting.
Additional staff (School Mental Health Professionals) who are licensed social workers who support the social and emotional needs of students in schools with high concentrations of poverty; they also provide professional development and support when specific needs arise in any school.”

Charles – “Post pandemic, CCPS, like many of our other Maryland systems, is struggling to meet the myriad social-emotional needs of our returning to in-person learning students. CCPS has seen an increase in severe behavioral incidents, threat assessments, and referrals for mental health services. We are currently using multiple funding sources to increase mental health staffing and put programs in place to address these needs.

Staff strategies include the following:

SY22-23 Grant from Charles County Department of Health to fund two Mental Health Clinician
SY22-23 Three Behavioral Support Teacher positions created to assist with rising behavioral concerns with K-2 students.
SY 22-23 regionalized sites staffed with a teacher and IA to work with referred K-2 students presenting significant behavioral challenges.
SY21-22 Four and a half school counselor positions added to general budget.
On-going agreement with community mental health agency to provide mental health services in all schools. Between 12-16 contractor mental clinicians receive referrals from schools to provide intensive mental health services to students in K-12 grade.”

Dorchester – “Challenge: Schools following different procedures relative to tiered behavioral supports. Solution: District Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Leadership Team will develop a framework for the consistent implementation of the following supports: PBIS, Conscious Discipline and Zones of Regulation across Tiers 1, 2 and 3. This framework will accompany the existing DCPS Behavior MTSS Flip Book (linked artifact). DCPS is committed to a districtwide approach to address common social emotional and behavioral mental health through preventative instruction, support, reinforcement of self-management and replacement behaviors, and restorative practices to address the trauma and root causes of behavior.”

Frederick – “The behavioral health needs of our students currently exceed staff capacity in both volume and intensity across school levels. We continue to prioritize behavioral health positions in the FCPS operating budget to address these increasing needs. Additionally, we have enhanced community partnerships to provide in-school therapeutic support for students, doubling the number of providers authorized to access students in school during the school day. One focus continues to be the utilization of FCPS trauma therapists to provide support for students with significant exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES). Alternative educational opportunities have been expanded or enhanced for students at all school levels. At the elementary level, the Delta program has been expanded to five regional sites serving a total of 16 schools. Delta supports students in K-2 who are not responding to building level behavior interventions and are struggling to demonstrate age-expected social regulation. Other enhancements at the elementary level include music and animal-assisted therapy. Examples of secondary enhancements include leadership development, therapeutic supports, professional learning, trauma informed care, service-learning opportunities, and positive behavioral support initiatives.”

Garrett – “GCPS faces the following challenges in implementing Behavioral Health Services:

GCPS has twelve schools spread out over the largest county in Maryland along with one of the smallest student populations which is declining. These factors play a huge factor in providing the behavioral supports and specialized staff to meet the students and families growing needs.
Limited behavioral support staff: Not every school has a School Social Worker, School Psychologist, Behavior Coach or Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). We have four Social Workers, two School Psychologists, four Behavior Coaches and two BCBAs to serve the twelve schools.
Lack of types of services: Garrett County does not have a child psychologist in-county; an in-patient health provider in county; a non-public school in school in-county (limited continuum of educational services); [and] lack of in-patient beds and facilities for students in crisis.
Inconsistencies in school-based capacity to support students with behavioral health needs.
Inconsistencies in implementation of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) within the school day.
Building space for behavioral health providers to have confidential and comfortable areas to work with students in some schools.”

Harford – “The challenges HCPS experience in meeting students’ behavioral health needs are: the overall availability of mental health services in the community, long wait times from referral to the commencement of services, ongoing stigma associated with accessing mental health services, and families who experience barriers to accessing services in the community, especially those families who are uninsured. HCPS works closely with the local Office on Mental Health to provide school-based mental health services in school buildings. HCPS has developed working relationships with 10 outpatient mental health clinics to provide services to students during the school day in our buildings. This practice removes barriers for those families that struggle to access behavioral health services in the larger community. In some instances, school-based services are accessed with greater ease than families navigating the behavioral system on their own. In most cases, this availability of these services limits wait-times from referral to service delivery. To address service availability, HCPS is considering a partnership with a third-party care coordination organization that will work with families to locate behavioral health resources to support the mental health of students. This would be a no-cost resource offered to families.”

Howard – “HCPSS has needed to expand staffing and other supports to address the growing needs of students that have resulted from trauma related to the pandemic. HCPSS has leveraged grant funds and operating dollars to increase the number of programmatic school social workers (18 social workers serving that role) and other school mental health professionals to reduce high caseloads for school system staff and approach the staff-to-student ratios recommended by national social work, school psychologist, and school counseling professional organizations. HCPSS’ primary intervention to address the aforementioned challenges has been advocacy for the expansion of the HCPSS School-Based Mental Health Program, delivered with the assistance of our school social workers. HCPSS has used grant funds from community partners to accelerate expansion of the program to address pressing student needs. Delivery of therapeutic services in schools during the school day helps to remove barriers to access for students and families in HCPSS schools. HCPSS partners with local behavioral health agencies who provide therapists who come into the school buildings to work with students. These partnerships help to address the needs of students with complex behavioral and mental health needs…”

Kent – “Challenges that exist with meeting student’s behavioral health needs are financial barriers, lack of mental health care professionals/services, limited availability of mental health education/awareness, time, and transportation. To assist with these challenges KCPS has applied for grants and partnered with our stakeholders such as local mental health agencies, the Kent County Health Department, and the Kent County Local Care Team, which includes wrap-around services, and the Kent County Department of Social Services. We have employed school social workers to work with students exhibiting behavioral needs in four out of five of our schools. They conduct small group and individual counseling services.”

Montgomery – “There are three significant challenges facing MCPS with regard to meeting students’ behavioral health needs: the increases in student social-emotional and mental health needs since the pandemic; the availability of mental health professionals to meet those needs; and the challenge of destigmatizing and raising awareness of mental health and its impact on students across all stakeholder groups and communities. It is noteworthy that these needs are not unique to MCPS. More than 61,000 of our 150,000+ MCPS students were surveyed regarding socio-emotional and mental health needs. They reported that stress and anxiety, family conflict, and communication were among their top concerns. MCPS has taken a multipronged approach to addressing these challenges. By prioritizing funding to support student well-being needs, MCPS has increased specialized staffing to support student behavior health needs. This includes the addition of 14 parent community coordinators, 44 part-time elementary counselors, 16 part-time middle school counselors, 16 high school counselors, and 7 emergent multilingual therapeutic counselors. Between December 2021 and December 2022, MCPS has created and hired 40 well-being social workers and one social work supervisor to provide direct counseling support, case management, and resource provisioning to students within their local school communities.”

Prince George’s – “Challenges:

Staffing mental health positions (school counselors, school psychologists, and mental health clinicians).
Increased student need for mental health supports post-pandemic – Readjusting to in-person learning has taken longer than expected.
PGCPS has seen the impact of the increased percentage of chronically absent students. Currently, PGCPS is exploring the reasons for increased absenteeism and engaging in parent outreach to provide information and strategies related to increasing student attendance.
Increased number of challenging behaviors with students in grades PreK-2.
Access to mental health resources outside the school system.
Increase in students overdosing, particularly on fentanyl.

PGCPS has a comprehensive plan for supporting students’ behavioral health needs through a layered approach that includes: expanding mental health professionals; creating mental health support office; providing staff training; launching telehealth services; screening and data monitoring; providing student training; expanding counseling partnerships; listing community resources; and communicating services and programs to parents/guardians and students. PGCPS’ Behavioral Health Report 2021 and Enhanced and Expanded Behavioral Health Services Mandatory Report November 2022, provide further details on how each component will lend to the exposure of and access to behavioral health programming and services for all students, staff and families in PGCPS.”

Queen Anne’s – “The main challenge is the lack of Behavioral Health providers in our area. The demand for Behavioral Health services is significantly higher than the supply of providers. Other barriers include:

Ability to cross state lines (Queen Anne’s County borders the state of Delaware).
The amount of responsibilities School Counselors have can limit their ability to provide behavioral health services to all students who need them.

QACPS does however partner with eight community based providers in order to deliver School Based Mental Health (SBMH) services via tele-health and in-person. QACPS provides in-kind space and supports these providers in grant applications to provide additional funding. Additional strategies include:

Adding 2 School Counselors for FY23 and 2 more for FY24.
Adding two internal Mental Health Professionals for FY23.
Adding two internal Social Workers for FY23.
Partnership with Community Mediation Upper Shore (CMUS).
Tier 1 Social & Emotional Learning.
Tier 1-3 Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).
Partnership with the Local Management Board (LMB).
Referral process for community programs such as Healthy Transitions.
Mobile Response Stabilization Service (MRSS).
Anti Bullying presentations – Rachel’s Challenge.
Social Media Safety Programs – Organization for Social Media Safety.”

St. Mary’s – “Challenges that impact meeting students’ behavioral health needs include a significant increase in the number and severity of student mental health concerns and limited availability of funding to hire adequate staff to support all schools within the district. Currently, eight secondary schools have a full-time social worker providing mental health counseling support to students and four School Social Workers serving 8 elementary schools. There are 10 elementary schools and two program locations uncovered/unsupported due to lack of funding. School counselors and school psychologists address needs as appropriate in these schools and share community resources with families. Ongoing efforts are made to seek out funding opportunities to expand services to all school sites and programs. We have utilized grant funding to secure all current School Social Work staff that focus on Tier 3 1:1 (ongoing, individual mental health counseling) student supports. The School Social Work positions are dedicated to mental health supports for students. In addition, SMCPS partners with a community agency to provide clinical counseling services for four schools (two elementary and two middle) serving students with state insurance 1-2 days per week.”

Somerset – “There are systemic and school-wide challenges that impact students receiving services for their behavioral health needs. Systemic barriers include: lack of transportation, language barriers, teacher shortage, lack of diversity in available therapists, and lack of programs or services for students needing a higher level of care. Additional barriers system-wide are stigma about mental health, lack of strategies to support a child with mental health challenges, and an inability to access mental health services due to financial hardship / no insurance. We have addressed some of the systemic concerns internally by providing transportation for needed appointments, providing interpreter services for families where language is a barrier, as well as community based small group interventions. Mental health courses are made available to decrease the stigma and provide strategies to staff, families, and community members. To overcome the challenge of teacher shortage and encourage retention we have provided competitive salaries and retention bonuses. School-wide barriers include limited space for mental health providers to meet with students, and limited Professional Development related to student behavioral health. Additionally, staff buy-in, and student-staff relationships impact students receiving behavioral health support.”

Talbot – “In Talbot County, the current local demand for behavioral health services greatly exceeds the availability of current practitioners to manage. In response to the lack of available organizational partnerships, TCPS hired ten school-based social workers to supplement the void in contractual positions. These social workers provide essential support to students on-site at each school, which is supported through grant-funding. We are currently exploring how to incorporate additional behavioral health positions into our local budget to provide students with increased necessary resources to ensure their wellbeing. While there are not many Behavioral Health Clinics in the area, TCPS partners with seven private/community-based health agencies that have contracted an additional ten licensed Mental Health Clinicians that provide services to students all year internal and external to TCPS facilities. When schools are not in session (evenings, weekends, summer), however, the lack of TCPS transportation further challenges the ability to provide these necessary services to students living in geographically rural areas of Talbot County. TCPS acknowledges this concern and is currently discussing ways in which this issue can be mitigated.”

Washington – “The challenges WCPS experiences in meeting student’s behavioral health needs include: lack of transportation for families to access services, uninsured or under-insured students, limited resources in the community, access to services in school and the community, difficulty recruiting independently licensed/experienced school system clinical staff; stigma; increase in K-5 behavioral health needs; limited level of care options for high risk/ aggressive students; parental involvement; and meeting the continuing training needs of staff. During the summer months, outside providers continue services. If students are referred to Student Services by WCPS staff during the summer due to behavioral health concerns, Student Services staff work with home school staff and family to coordinate outside community resources. An additional challenge is that due to summer schedules, parents/guardians are not always able to consistently follow through with continuity of services.

Difficulty recruiting independently licensed clinical staff: WCPS created and hired a social work specialist to provide clinical supervision so staff can achieve a higher level of licensure and increase clinical skills. This position also covers open positions, provides troubleshooting, and delivers professional development.”

Wicomico – “The difficulties we face in meeting students’ behavioral health needs are as follows: WCPS adolescent families and caregivers must overcome numerous barriers to gain access to outpatient and inpatient rural behavioral health treatments. Obstacles can be of the familial, clinical, or socioeconomic variety. Even though demand for services has steadily increased over the last ten years, the current treatment options have significant limitations. Long wait times are frequently cited as the most significant barrier to receiving assistance. Reduced food, housing, and financial security as a result of the pandemic, as well as increased trauma and stress, have either triggered or exacerbated pre-existing mental health issues in vulnerable individuals.

The strategies utilized include:

Training(s) on the use of the universally available Behavioral Toolkit, developed by school psychologists, occurs for all teachers, giving them access to the resource listing for all disabilities and proactive strategies for classroom management and instruction of students with these unique needs.
Elementary school counselors are continuing to teach the Second Step social-emotional curriculum for PreK to 5th Grade (topics include recognizing emotions, how to establish friendships, bullying prevention, child protection, self-control, etc.).”

Worcester – “The challenges that exist in meeting students’ behavioral health needs are:

Workforce recruitment and retention for school social workers and community treatment providers.
Community Treatment providers’ fee-for-service funding structure limits time to provide case management and collaboration with multidisciplinary school team.
Absence of specialized therapy services (i.e., Spanish and other language therapists, therapy services for non-verbal students, ABA therapy, Functional Family Therapy).
Finite number of designated confidential space for school-based therapy services from outside providers.
Decreased parental involvement in school-based therapy models that limit progress and generalization of skills.
Ongoing stigma from caregivers about their child participating in behavioral health treatment.

[WCPS] seeks to overcome these challenges by working with Salisbury University School of Social Work to support workforce development. Beginning in 2023, WCPS’s Career Fair will include specific outreach for social workers and behavioral health professionals. WCPS hosts quarterly meetings of the School Behavioral Health Council to collaborate with community stakeholders on community behavioral health trends, needs, and effective practices. WCPS is in communication with community partners to discuss and seek grant opportunities to offset costs to allow providers to be more flexible within their fee-for-service structure, and partnership with our local health department on awareness and prevention efforts.”

Click through to read earlier roundups of Blueprint reform efforts on college and career readiness, expanding early childhood education, and efforts to hire high-quality and diverse educators.

by William J. Ford

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

State Superintendent of Schools Choudhury to Seek Another Term

July 1, 2023 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury submitted a letter of intent to seek another term, the state Board of Education confirmed.

Saturday marked the deadline for Choudhury to inform the board whether he wanted to remain as the public schools leader.

Choudhury, who’s been superintendent since July 2021 after replacing Karen Salmon, has publicly stated he would like to continue his work on major education initiatives such as the multi-billion-dollar Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

During a discussion on school performance at Tuesday’s board meeting, Choudhury had a succinct and future message for employees. Choudhury, whose contract expires in June 2024, said certain employees haven’t visited a school in Baltimore that’s about five minutes away from the state Department of Education building.

“That’s going to change,” he said. “We should be hanging out in the school and helping [students and staff] and supporting them.”

According to board governance updated in April, the board will consider Choudhury’s contract in executive session at its regularly scheduled July meeting on July 25. Afterward, the board will notify the superintendent of its decision in writing within one week “to the extent possible.”

Five new board members will join the board this month and decide whether to award Choudhury a new contract with a four-year term. He’s serving a current, three-year term because the state board approved a contract extension for Salmon as she led the state’s public schools response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the board approves a contract for Choudhury, he could serve the longest tenure as superintendent since former superintendent Nancy Grasmick, who served for 20 years until she retired in June 2011.

But Choudhury has faced some criticism for his leadership style and lack of collaboration with some lawmakers and advocates.

Miscommunication between the state Department of Education and the Blueprint’s Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB), which the legislature approved to oversee the education reform plan, became public when department officials needed more time to offer recommendations on the 24 local school system Blueprint plans.

Some local officials said it’s created duplicate work and a “two-step process” for both agencies to receive the same documents. The Blueprint board could’ve approved plans in May, but is now scheduled to start that process July 20.

“As we move into the next round of submissions, we respectfully request that the department and AIB work hand-in-hand in the plan review process,” Derek Simmons, superintendent of Caroline County public schools, said at Tuesday’s meeting. “It is imperative to iron out perceived areas of overlap that leaves local school systems feeling stuck in the middle.”

Meanwhile, Choudhury does have support from state board president Clarence Crawford, who said in an interview Thursday the superintendent led an effort to cut the department’s vacancy rate by more than half. The department noted vacancies are down to 96, compared to an all-time high of 258 last year.

“Has the superintendent been perfect in everything he has done? Absolutely not, but I think he is learning. We are all learning,” Crawford said. “We are making good progress and I think we will be in good shape.”

Lori Morrow, who served her last day Friday as the parent representative on the state Board of Education, said Choudhury presents a unique perspective on analyzing data and is committed to trying to improve student achievement for English language learners and special education students, among others.

He came to Maryland after working as associate superintendent of strategy, talent and innovation at the San Antonio Independent School District in Texas, where he became nationally known for his efforts on economic integration of schools.

“We hired him as somebody who was going to transform education [and] was coming outside of Maryland. I still support that,” Morrow said. “I still think he’s the right person at this time to make the changes that we need.”

By William J. Ford

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Legal Recreational Cannabis Arrives in Maryland but Supply Issues Loom

June 30, 2023 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

The eyes of regulators, lawmakers, law enforcement and consumers will all focus on the state’s much anticipated entry Saturday into legalized adult use cannabis sales.

Starting July 1, Maryland joins 20 other states where the drug is legal to buy. Consumer interest and business are expected to be brisk.

“I’m excited for the Maryland Cannabis Commission, for the state, for the staff here to see the fruition of their work over the past weeks, months and years,” said Will Tilburg, acting director of the Maryland Cannabis Administration. “As the regulatory body, we also want to make sure that the excitement and exuberance about legal cannabis stays within a safe and responsible space. We’ve done a lot to inform dispensaries, reminding them of the rules of the road and expectations for this weekend. We want it to be a very safe successful smooth transition to adult use.”

Currently, the state’s cannabis market consists of approximately 168,000 patients who are registered to buy it for medical use. On Saturday, the potential market increases by almost 4.5 million residents who meet the age requirements.

“We’re talking about a market that is likely to go two times or three times within the next 12-18 months,” he said.

The law about to go into effect legalizes possession but doesn’t make cannabis legal to use everywhere.

Under the new state law and regulations:

Sales for recreational cannabis use are restricted to adults 21 and older. ID will be required at the time of purchase.
An adult may buy 1.5 ounces of raw flower or pre-rolled joints; a maximum of 12 grams of concentrated cannabis for vaping; or edibles not to exceed a total of 750 mg of THC.
Cannabis may not be used in public or on federal property. It is illegal for drivers or passengers to use cannabis in a vehicle.
Use of cannabis can result in a DUI charge.
State law does not supersede workplace rules governing impairment while at work. Federal or state laws governing impairment still apply.
Adults 21 and older may grow two plants at home, out of public view, for recreational purposes. The law limits home growth to two plants regardless of the number of adults over 21 living in the same household.

Bring cash because, although some dispensaries may be able to accept debit cards, not all can, according to state officials.

Be prepared to wait. Regulators and cannabis companies are expecting increased demand in the first days and weeks.

Public safety remains a concern

Police and prosecutors will also be watching the rollout of the new industry which coincides with the Independence Day holiday.

Maryland transportation officials and the Maryland State Police highlighted heightened enforcement efforts during a Thursday news conference.

“No one needs to lose their life because of an impaired driver. Whether it’s jail time or suspended licenses, totaled vehicles to injuries and or lives lost, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can have a lasting impact on a community,” said Major Daniel Pickett, acting chief of the Field Operations Bureau of Maryland State Police.

Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger (D) said his office and county police have been working to increase training to identify impaired drivers and to adjust to a new law that prohibits officers from using the odor of cannabis to initiate a vehicle search.

“If the odor of marijuana is not allowed to be probable cause, you’re going to need other steps,” said Shellenberger. “Very often when we search a car, we find guns. Very often. Therefore, the inability to search that car may actually keep more guns on the street. It’s just a real fact that in a lawful stop, odor of cannabis can lead to the seizure of a gun. That’s a big deal.”

Shellenberger said police in his county are being advised to be more deliberate in documenting observations of impairment including suspected cannabis intoxication.

“We have cases — now, some and after July 1st, I think many — where the person will take a breathalyzer, blow a zero-zero yet we’ll still charge them because of the way they react to the drug recognition tests,” he said. “I think we’re going to see many more of those.”

Del. C.T. Wilson (D-Charles) and chair of the House Economic Matters Committee said the biggest issue will be “the smell of marijuana” but mostly in public spaces.

“There are enough people — even those that do imbibe — who don’t want to smell it when they’re not smoking it,” said Wilson. “I do hope people understand that it is still a crime to smoke in public and it will be enforced. Yes, it’s a citation but if you don’t show up, if you don’t pay it, there may be a warrant for your arrest. I hope law enforcement takes that seriously because citizens deserve that.”

Demand may soon outstrip supply

The state’s highly anticipated move to recreational sales comes nearly a decade after the legalization of medical sales.

Unlike other businesses, there will be no “midnight madness” sales to mark the state’s first recreational purchases. Instead, more than 90 dispensaries will be free to sell to adults 21 and older.

So far, 95 of the 98 dispensaries have converted their licenses so they can sell to both medical and recreational customers. Similarly, 42 growers and processors also have converted their licenses to become sellers. As a result of license conversions, the state collected $15 million that will go toward helping with a new phase of the industry that includes expanding the number of women and minority-owned licenses.

Even so, demand is expected to outpace supply as it did when the state began medical cannabis sales.

“Our vaults are full,” said Jake Van Wingerden, president of SunMed, a Cecil County-based cannabis grower.

Van Wingerden said his business and others in the industry began anticipating the need for more products and adjusted the number of plants they grow. He is also expanding his processing operation and purchased more trucks to make deliveries.

Even so, it might not be enough in the short term.

However, in December, the industry faced a glut of cannabis.

In 2020, retailers were charging $65 for an eighth of an ounce of raw flower — enough to make about seven joints. By the end of 2022, those prices fell to $15-$20 for the same amount.

In the last eight weeks, those prices have edged back up to $40 for an eighth of an ounce, according to Van Wingerden.

The increases are common in states moving to adult use sales. Dispensaries are ordering more products than before in anticipation of increased demand. In turn, that has pushed retail costs up, according to Tilburg.

Many believe those prices will continue to increase for a while.

Shortages, as in the early years of the medical cannabis program, could also be a reality for two years or more. Eventually, existing licensees and new licensees will help the market catch up, said Van Wingerden.

Wilson said he plans to keep an eye out for “ridiculous prices.”

“It’s a great concern that demand will outstrip supply for a time,” said Wilson. “I’m assuming it will.”

And while Wilson hopes prices will remain reasonable, he said there isn’t much the legislature can do.

“I am not that kind of Democrat,” Wilson said. “It’s very hard for me to go in and try to do some kind of price control.”

Supply issues raise concerns about how much market share illicit sellers will retain.

“One of the primary goals of the legislature in passing the cannabis reform act was to take market share from the illicit market as fast as possible,” said Tilburg. “You see varying degrees of success across the country with different states, but an illicit market still exists in every jurisdiction in the country.”

“The illicit market continues to exist in every state including Colorado, Oregon, Washington that are on a decade of legal cannabis,” he said.

Legislators in the last year made it clear that one of the goals of moving to legal recreational sales was to curtail illegal sales and related violence.

“That’s one of my biggest concerns,” Wilson said, adding that he did not think supply issues “would create any more of an illicit market” than what exists currently.

Shellenberger, the Baltimore County prosecutor, said the effects of legalization bear watching.

“If this is supposed to have a positive effect for our society then it would be that the black market goes away and therefore violence goes down,” said Shellenberger. “That will be an interesting thing to see.”

By Bryan P. Sears

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

On Eve of Big Party in his Honor, Hoyer’s Plans Remain Unknown

June 22, 2023 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

A venerated political leader celebrates his 84th birthday.

A widower for over a quarter century, he’s about to get married.

His longtime chief of staff is leaving his office for another job.

And his extraordinary career is going to be toasted at a massive political gala that’s being headlined by the most powerful Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th) at a Democratic rally in 2022. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

If this was an ordinary political leader, all of these developments would suggest a valedictory, the winding down of a political life well lived, and a rolling, well-deserved send-off.

But U.S. Rep. Steny Hamilton Hoyer (D-5th) is no ordinary political leader.

The most senior Democrat in the House of Representatives, the longest-serving member of Congress in Maryland history, Hoyer is the Energizer Bunny of Free State politics. His vitality and zeal for public service outpaces politicians half his age.

So as Hoyer prepares to be the guest of honor at Thursday evening’s annual dinner for the Maryland Democratic Party, as he prepares for his wedding Saturday to Elaine Kamarck, a political thought leader in her own right, there’s rampant speculation about whether he will seek a 21st full term in 2024, or if he’s finally ready to turn the keys to the 5th congressional district, which includes Southern Maryland, parts of Prince George’s County and a small piece of Anne Arundel County, over to someone else.

Even Hoyer’s closest friends, former staffers and longtime Capitol Hill denizens say they aren’t sure whether he’s running for reelection.

“I have less an idea of what he’s going to do than what I’m going to do — and I have no idea what I’m going to do,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th), who is contemplating a run for U.S. Senate and has promised to announce his decision early next month.

Hoyer’s office was not able to make the congressman available for an interview by Maryland Matters’ deadline Wednesday evening.

Hoyer’s political career, which began with his election to the state Senate in 1966, is legendary, and barely needs repeating. Until January, he was in the highest echelons of House leadership, and remains an important adviser to Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the new House minority leader who has tasked Hoyer with heading a newly-created Regional Leadership Council for House Democrats.

At home, Hoyer, along with retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D), whose political career also began in 1966, is the undeniable leader of Maryland’s congressional delegation. And he’s one of the prime cheerleaders for Democratic candidates and causes in the state. For some of his fellow elected officials, it’s inconceivable to even think of life without Hoyer.

“He’s running. He hasn’t told anybody he’s not running,” said state Del. Brian M. Crosby (D-St. Mary’s), one of just two Democrats, along with Hoyer, who represents a district in St. Mary’s.

Crosby called Hoyer the “ultimate professional,” consistently maintaining relationships with key agencies at various levels of government, such as the U.S. Department of Navy’s command of Naval Air Station Patuxent River in St. Mary’s, one of several important military installations in the 5th District. The others are Joint Base Andrews in Prince George’s County, Naval Support Facility Indian Head in Charles County and Fort Meade Army Base in Anne Arundel County.

“We have 11 military installations in Maryland. Hoyer has been one of the main driving reasons that we have 11 and they’re thriving,” Crosby said. “It’s not just military personnel and not just [Department of Defense] contractors. It’s restaurants. It’s stores. That all has a runoff effect. He’s [brought] that and it started in St. Mary’s.”

Still, should Hoyer ever choose to leave office, in this election cycle or in the not too distant future, a long roster of Democrats would line up to try to replace him — including, possibly, Crosby. Other potential candidates, according to a range of political professionals, include, in alphabetical order:

Bowie Mayor Tim Adams
Former Prince George’s County Councilmember Monique Anderson-Walker
Charles County Board of Commissioners President Reuben B. Collins II
State Sen. Arthur Ellis (Charles)
Prince George’s County Councilmember Calvin Hawkins
State Sen. Michael A. Jackson (Prince George’s)
Del. Jazz Lewis (Prince George’s)
Former state Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters (Prince George’s)
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman
Former Del. Jay Walker (Prince George’s)
House Economic Matters Committee Chair C.T. Wilson (Charles)

Mckayla Wilkes, who challenged Hoyer in the 2020 and 2022 Democratic primaries, is trying again this cycle. While she’s still a heavy underdog in a race against Hoyer, the 19% of the vote she racked up against the incumbent in 2022 becomes a decent base to potentially build from in a multi-candidate open-seat primary.

Other candidates could also get into the race; if Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) loses the 2024 election to replace Cardin in the Senate, an open-seat run in the 5th District in 2026 could be appealing for her, if Hoyer retires then.

Hoyer’s retirement could also lead to Maryland electing a third House member who is a person of color. While Reps. Glenn Ivey (D-4th) and Kweisi Mfume (D-7th) represent overwhelmingly Black districts, the population of the 5th District is split evenly between Black and white residents. But Black voters and other people of color make up the clear majority of the Democratic electorate.

Greenbelt City Councilmember Colin Byrd, who briefly challenged Hoyer in the 2022 cycle, when he was 27 years old, before pivoting to a long shot bid against U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D), said he would not run against Hoyer again now that Greenbelt has been moved into the 4th District.

While he praised Wilkes for articulating progressive positions on issues like education, criminal justice reform and poverty, Byrd predicted Hoyer would be tough to beat. Byrd said that from his own viewpoint, he’s “grown in maturity, wisdom, and clarity about how government and politics actually works in Maryland…and more mindful and appreciative of Congressman Hoyer’s work over the years.”

Byrd also noted Hoyer’s advantages in fundraising, tenure, established political connections in Southern Maryland and stature on Capitol Hill.

“These types of strengths are pretty tough obstacles for any potential challenger to overcome,” he said.

‘He wants to deliver the FBI headquarters to the state’

Hoyer is going through some life changes. He turned 84 last week, and he’s getting married to Kamarck, 72, a veteran of the Clinton administration and a senior fellow in the Governance Studies program as well as the director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institution, in a private ceremony Saturday that will be attended only by their immediate family.

Several friends and Capitol Hill veterans say Hoyer has a new “spring in his step” since his engagement to Kamarck.

Hoyer is also losing his chief of staff, Alexis Covey-Brandt, who is taking a yet-to-be-announced position in the administration of Gov. Wes Moore (D). Covey-Brandt has been Hoyer’s top aide for a dozen years and her career in his office began in 2003.

As for Thursday night’s Democratic gala, at a massive catering hall in Woodlawn, Democratic leaders insist it isn’t meant to usher Hoyer into retirement but is simply a chance to pay tribute to his unparalleled career at an opportune moment. In an email touting the event, Maryland Democratic Chair Yvette Lewis said it would “honor Rep. Steny Hoyer for his years of leadership.”

Some friends and associates believe Hoyer will stay for at least one more term because he has unfinished business in Washington, D.C., and in the district. He’d love to see the Democrats restored to the majority in 2024 — which many national nonpartisan political analysts see as an even shot — so he can truly help Jeffries and the next generation of leaders develop a governing agenda. If the Democrats are in control, he’d be in line to become chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.

And at home, Hoyer badly wants to help Prince George’s County land the proposed new FBI headquarters, which would certainly be a capstone to his career.

“He wants to deliver the FBI headquarters to the state,” Crosby said.

Hoyer raised $138,233 in the first three months of 2023 and finished March with $707,447 in his campaign account. But as a senior Democratic leader, he has routinely given most of his campaign cash away to other Democratic candidates and committees — a pattern that’s likely to continue whether he seeks reelection or not.

The next round of Federal Election Commission reports, reflecting campaign fundraising and spending from April 1 to June 30, are due to be released on July 15.

By Josh Kurtz and William J. Ford

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Breaking Down the Blueprint: Major changes for Maryland Early Childhood Education

June 19, 2023 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

Rene Averitt-Sanzone, executive director with The Parents’ Place of Maryland, is one of many early childhood advocates who support Maryland’s plans to dramatically expand prekindergarten programs during a 10-year education reform effort.

The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future sets early childhood opportunities as its first pillar, or priority. That includes universal access to prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-old children.

As prekindergarten opportunities expand, school systems must also ensure early childhood curricula are more inclusive for children with disabilities, Averitt-Sanzone said.

Her goal for success: “Really finding a way to make a place for our little ones with disabilities in the pre-k classrooms,” she said. “We can’t do any of that stuff if we are not supporting the teachers and child care providers. We operate from a place of collaboration and partnership.”

Other planned reforms in early childhood education include working with families to make them aware of expanded access. And teaching assistants will be required to earn an associate’s degree or child development associate credential by the 2027-28 school year.

The expanded pre-K structure is proposed as a mixed-delivery system, where public schools and private child care providers both serve young children.

Bill Hudson, executive director for Family Child Care Alliance of Maryland, said there remain challenges. For example, if more children ages 3 and 4 attend prekindergarten in a public school, that could decrease enrollment at child care centers and family child care providers.

The state has previously relied heavily on a network of private child care providers. Maryland has about 4,000 family child care providers that can enroll up to eight children, Hudson said. In comparison, neighboring Pennsylvania had about 1,300 last year and there were around 1,400 in Virginia.

“The area of Maryland is about a quarter of Pennsylvania. Lots of families depend on family child care [in Maryland],” he said. “I’m a fan of the Blueprint in what it’s trying to do to make high quality pre-k done well in family child care…but [in order] to get to where we are to where we collectively want to be, there’s a lot of work to do.”

The state’s Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board is tasked with reviewing the education reform plans from all 24 local school systems across the state. School officials submitted their first plans in March, which outlined work that began last school year and in preparation for the 2023-24 school year.

The board could start approving local reform plans next month.

The initial plans include answers to more than two dozen questions and statements about how local school systems would improve learning for the younger children, including the operational changes that will be necessary at local school buildings.

To give a flavor of the scope of work that school systems are undertaking to facilitate such a broad expansion of early childhood education, we’ve compiled all or part of the responses of each school district to one question in the planning report:

“What operational changes is the school system planning to make to support the expansion of Pre-K? Consider the impact of the expansion related to operating systems, schedules, talent pipelines, physical space and facilities, resource allocation, etc. How will the school system include the Pre-K expansion in its short and long-term planning?”

Allegany – “Operationalizing the expansion of Pre-K will remain a focus in Allegany County. In FY23, the district supported expansion of full-day Pre-K into middle and elementary schools by dedicating space, altering staff schedules, modifying transportation routes, and adding administrative assignments. A Pre-K center, namely the Westmar Early Learning Center (WELC), in the western region of Allegany County at Westmar Middle School, was created. That site was chosen due to underutilization of space in the school building. Pre-K staff including teachers and instructional assistants were reassigned to the WELC. Additionally, a full-time Assistant Principal was assigned to the building to support the new program. Although implementing new full-day Pre-K programs in several of the district’s elementary schools may require long-term construction plans for new classrooms, expansion into schools with existing space will take priority. In the future as needed, ACPS will collaborate with community agencies to utilize any available, appropriate space to establish Pre-K sites. Additionally, modifying and increasing transportation resources to accommodate access to regionally placed programs within the county will be considered.”

Anne Arundel – “AACPS has converted 4-year-old Pre-Kindergarten programs to full-day in 61 schools. This year we launched 3-year-old Pre-Kindergarten in eight schools. The multi-year approach has allowed AACPS to meet the Blueprint requirements of one certified teacher and one qualified Teacher assistant/Paraprofessional in each classroom. As we continue to expand Pre-Kindergarten opportunities to eligible families, we will adjust operational needs as necessary.”

“Planning for Pre-Kindergarten Spaces: AACPS has surveyed AACPS buildings to identify educationally sufficient space for potential Pre-Kindergarten classroom expansion and we are exploring non-traditional options such as space in middle and high schools and commercial real estate locations for possible expansion. The pre-Kindergarten expansion was also a consideration in our most recent redistricting plan. Once a redistricting plan is approved, we will better project future location sites. Funding for future Pre-Kindergarten expansion will require local and state funding sources. A Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten addition fund currently exists for expanding Pre-Kindergarten at our school facilities, but this fund will most likely not meet our future demand needs. We must consider building Pre-Kindergarten centers, leasing, and retrofitting leased facilities, and expanding our capacity in other ways to meet all the Blueprint requirements related to space and expansion of Pre-Kindergarten.”

Baltimore City – “Full-day pre-k is currently offered in the large majority of City Schools’ elementary and elementary/middle schools. To determine the extent of operational changes necessitated by expanded pre-k eligibility, City Schools, in partnership with the ECAC, will work with the Baltimore City Health Department during SY23-24 to identify the likely population of 3- and 4-year-olds in individual school zones by year for the next ten years through consideration of factors such as census, birth rate, and other data, as well as the existence of other pre-k providers and care settings in individual neighborhoods. (As noted in question 1, some of this research already exists.) This analysis will provide data to fold into City Schools’ annual process of making enrollment projections, used to inform facilities, budget, staffing, and other decision-making.

“Budgeting and resource allocation: City Schools uses a per-pupil funding formula, with pre-k allocations flowing to schools based on their pre-k enrollments, largely in the form of “locked” positions for pre-k staff. This process is not anticipated to change. However, program costs will continue to exceed dedicated funding, at least in the initial years of Blueprint Act implementation.”

Baltimore County – “BCPS is making numerous operational system changes to support successful prekindergarten expansion including merging early childhood general and special education sessions to eliminate parallel instructional models and best utilize space and human resources to serve children. BCPS includes special education staffing requests in prekindergarten expansion budget request. Appropriate Board policies and rules will be reviewed to ensure that the needs of three- and four-year old students are addressed. Transportation routes, equipment and staffing will be modified to address full-day programs. New prekindergarten curriculum is being piloted in school year 2022–23. Guidelines for scheduling, particularly for special areas (arts/physical education/music/etc.) will be shared with school-based leaders and teachers to ensure consistency across full-day programs. BCPS will support current staff members in their efforts to obtain the Child Development Associate (CDA) or Associate degree, allowing those individuals to apply for paraeducators positions. New partnerships and cohorts are being formed with local colleges and universities to support “grow our own” efforts to increase the number of qualified staff members.”

Calvert – “Short Term Operational Changes:

Move all 4-year-old programs to full day and ensure each of the 12 elementary schools houses at least one full day classroom. These classrooms will be funded by a combination of grant funding and local funding. (Linked artifact: CCPS Prekindergarten Programming Sites
Increase staffing for the 4-year-old program by hiring 12 additional IAs and 1.5 prekindergarten teachers.
Work with transportation to the extent possible to keep students in their home zoned school.
Development of procedures and guidelines to manage student enrollment for public and private providers.
Determine changes needed for staffing, staff recruitment, and resource allocations.

Long Term Operational Changes:

Determine the programming shifts appropriate for moving from self-contained regional special education programs to inclusive prekindergarten settings.
Create a study committee to plan for the implementation of a 3-year-old program.
Study committee’s plan for the implementation of a 3-year-old program will include logistics of location, space, curriculum, time allocations, staffing, and transportation.
Work with the department of human resources to determine a recruitment plan specifically for early childhood educators and instructional assistants.”

Caroline – “When considering the expansion of PreK, CCPS is faced with the challenge of finding space for the classrooms, specifically PreK-3. We have been fortunate to find space in the elementary schools or PreK-4 classrooms even with the fluctuation of numbers over the last few years. However, elementary schools are near capacity to add a PreK-3 classroom. When looking for available space in the county, considerations regarding distance from the school, utilities, and construction costs to make classrooms would need to be addressed. CCPS could also look for a space that could house multiple classrooms to form an early childhood center within the county. However, each of these options have costs associated with them. Staffing is also a challenge. Currently, in our PreK program, each classroom has a teacher, teaching assistant, and part-time tutor. Throughout this school year, we have had vacancies for both teaching assistants and tutor positions. In expanding PreK-3, we would need to address the need for additional staff. Currently, the PreK-3 teachers are certified special education teachers since the program is an inclusive special education program.”

Carroll – “Additional staffing will need to be hired to include more full-time equivalent teachers (FTE) in special areas and additional hourly support in prekindergarten classrooms and non-academic settings to ensure the 10:1 student/teacher ratio is maintained across all settings during the school day. CCPS continues to recruit certified early childhood teachers each year. Hiring certified Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers has not been an issue in the past. To ensure all instructional assistants earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential to continue in their positions, a meeting was held with all current instructional assistants to share and provide an opportunity that would allow each instructional assistant to earn the CDA certificate through grant funds. In addition to the Associate of Arts and CDA certificate programs established at Carroll Community College, a local private college, McDaniel College, is also starting an early childhood teaching program to help with the increased demands for employment opportunities in this field.”

Cecil – “As CCPS operationalizes the expansion of Pre-K, we have considered both short- and long-term impacts. In the short term, we are continuing to enhance structures for family access to Pre-K and information about the program. CCPS is evaluating spaces that could be used for Pre-K classrooms across the system. In addition, central office leadership is collaborating with building level leaders to discuss expansion plans. As a system, CCPS is examining the overall process for enrolling and managing Pre-K students. The online enrollment system provides families with immediate access to online registration for Pre-K programs. CCPS has also considered the impact that additional Pre-K sections will have on school master schedules. Specifically, providing teachers with negotiated planning time will require additional sections of special areas classes. The school system is currently reworking master schedules with these considerations in mind. As a district, we are excited to work with the Cecil School of Technology’s Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM) program to begin enrolling students in the Child Development Associate (CDA) program as soon as possible.”

Charles – “Physical Space and Facilities: Starting in 2023-2024, CCPS will open a pre-K facility on the campus of the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) in La Plata, located near the center of the county. The facility will have a capacity of around 100 students. CCPS will use the facility to address capacity issues at surrounding schools. For 2024-2025, CCPS will convert the Transition School in Waldorf to a pre-K facility. The Transition School has been used as a swing space over the last six years while several schools have undergone major renovations. The Transition School has a capacity of around 400 students, which will provide relief to surrounding schools with capacity issues as it is in a highly populated portion of the county. This will also provide space for CCPS to begin a 3-year-old program. This early learning center will have the same offerings as the early learning center at CSM. CCPS submitted a request for funding to place relocatable classrooms at schools with capacity issues at a projected cost of $17.8 million. The relocatable classrooms would be used for an older grade level classroom in order to provide classroom space inside the building to expand pre-K.”

Dorchester – “As PK3 programs are expanded in DCPS, as well as Tier 2 students in PK4, DCPS will rely on various talent pipelines to recruit certified early childhood teachers. These pipelines include:

Chesapeake College offers an Associate of Arts in Teaching degree that will transfer to a university, and Child Development Associate (CDA) courses for teaching assistants.
DCPS partners with Salisbury University to place teaching interns in designated professional development schools in DCPS.
Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM) program offered at our career and technology center for juniors and seniors in high school that are interested in pursuing a career in teaching.
Various job fairs to recruit teacher applicants.
University of Phoenix offers an online program that leads to Maryland certification in early childhood education, allowing DCPS staff to continue working while pursuing their teaching degree.
DCPS has direct billing agreements with multiple higher education institutions that offer both in-person and online programs.
Maryland LEADS grant provides funding for DCPS TAM students to earn a bachelor’s degree, teaching assistant funding to earn teacher certification, and funds for teaching assistants to earn their CDA.
R4K grant provides funding for teaching assistants to earn their CDA credentials.”

Frederick – “We have added Innovative Pre-K Programs at two of our high schools; both classrooms are successfully implementing full day Pre-K with classes of 20 students each. The Pre-K classroom is staffed by a certified ECE teacher and a teaching assistant. High school students completing Child Development Associate (CDA) coursework are actively engaged in the Pre-K classrooms by doing observations and running small group instruction. This approach not only created classroom space for Pre-K, but also facilitated classroom hours for CDA students. This program will be expanded to two additional high schools in 2023-24, with the expectation that it will be in all ten comprehensive high schools in future years. We would like to build on our high school CDA program noted above to hire graduating students as teaching assistants. In the long term, we hope to build a pipeline for those teaching assistants to pursue their ECE degrees via a Grow Your Own program similar to one we have developed for special educators with Maryland Leads grant funds. The challenge, however, is finding additional resources to support the creation of this pipeline.”

Garrett – “GCPS currently offers universal full day pre-K4 programming to students in Garrett County. In order to expand pre-K opportunities, GCPS implemented two Pre-K3 classrooms this year for the first time. These classrooms service eligible students for full days for five days a week. They provide high-quality experiences for students and their families that will close learning gaps. These students receive transportation on the regular GCPS buses. Schools adjusted their schedules to ensure students receive resource classes with adjusted times. GCPS adopted a new curriculum to help support instruction for all of our Pre-K classrooms including the new Pre-K3 classrooms. GCPS is planning to expand with two additional Pre-K3 classrooms next year. We will be applying for funding for this in the Expansion Grant for 2023-2024. A new Pre-K3 classroom will be added to Grantsville Elementary and another will be added to Broad Ford Elementary. Grantsville Elementary has been recently renovated and has room for an additional classroom. Route 40 Elementary is in close proximity to Grantsville Elementary and can also send their students who meet the criteria.”

Harford – “Long Term Facility Plan: The long-term plan requires increasing elementary school capacity. The Harford Academy at Campus Hills project is planned to replace the current school for students with significant disabilities requiring separate placement per their IEP with a new combination school to include an elementary school. The new elementary school capacity will include pre-k classes including regional specialized preschool programs and free up capacity within the development envelope to accommodate additional pre-k classrooms. Additionally, HCPS has requested local funding to complete a scope study to evaluate addition/modernization potential at schools with the highest systemic needs. This CIP will enable HCPS to remain fiscally responsible in addressing school facility systemic needs while addressing capacity needs. However, with limited capital funding, adding permanent capacity to schools for program expansion will further defer necessary systemic and replacement projects.

Below is a list of additional operational impacts and changes needed to support the expansion of pre-k.

Ensure funding is available for an Early Childhood Teacher Specialist to support HCPS pre-k and community programs.
Ensure funding is available for additional staffing (teachers and assistants).
Ensure funding is available for additional special area teachers to support full day pre-k students.”

Howard – “HCPSS is planning incremental increases to the number of available slots for eligible students. Initial efforts have focused on the conversion of the existing half-day programs for 4-year-olds to full-day programs for eligible 4-year-olds. Planning has also included additional slots for the expansion of the programs to address the increased service range. The initial focus of expansion has been on the full utilization of all available existing HCPSS spaces to increase the number of available Pre-K slots. Strategies include full or maximized utilization of traditional classroom spaces and conversion of spaces used for other purposes (e.g., offices, conference rooms, third-party occupied rooms) through construction projects. Additional Pre-K classrooms and related spaces are strategically planned in future capital projects to maximize existing projects, schools, and to create new regional centers. HCPSS stakeholders regularly meet to discuss plans for future space utilization, identify the associated benefits and challenges, and provide potential solutions for limited capacity.”

Kent – “Because KCPS currently provides publicly funded full-day pre-K to all 4-year-olds, no operational changes will be required for Fiscal Year 2024. However, in order to meet the Blueprint’s requirement for Tier 1 3-year-old pre-K by 2032, KCPS will need to secure additional resources such as iPads, curriculum, and professional development; additional staff including three new full-time teachers, three new instructional assistants, one new bus driver, and an assistant for the bus; facility upgrades including age-appropriate furniture, cubbies, sinks, toilets, and sensory rooms; and a new bus. This will require a significant investment. In FY23, KCPS has pursued both the MD Rebuilds Grant and a Full-Service Community Schools grant unsuccessfully and will continue to search for grant opportunities to operationalize the expansion of pre-K as soon as possible.”

Montgomery – “The Early Childhood Unit will work with the Division of Capital Planning and Real Estate to identify buildings that have space in schools throughout the county. Structural changes including the conversion of additional part day Pre-K classes to full day classes. Each class has a capacity of 20 children. When a school has part-day Pre-K classes, the configuration consists of an AM session of 20 students and a PM session of 20 students using the same classroom. As MCPS converts part-day Pre-K classes, we will consider building capacity. In some cases, this will mean taking the AM and PM sessions and finding space within the same building. In other cases, it may be necessary to find space in a different location. Based on enrollment data, the Early Childhood Unit is considering the conversion of part-day seats to full-day in areas of the county with high need. It should also be noted that these full-day classes will be inclusive of students with disabilities. This includes the creation of full-day, inclusive classes in newly renovated elementary school buildings that did not have Pre-K classes prior to their renovation. All newly built and renovated elementary buildings include space for one Pre-K classroom.”

Prince George’s – “PreK in the district has expanded to all available spaces. As schools move their 6th grade students to middle school buildings, PGCPS is working with CIP to upgrade the classrooms to house more prekindergarten students with limited or no access to quality child care, regardless of income (i.e., adding bathrooms to classrooms and age-appropriate playground structures). PGCPS has developed a proposal for expansion going forward. Any construction of new buildings at the elementary or PreK-8 level will also include multiple PreK classes. The number of PreK classes will be adjusted based on need within the community as much as the building construction guidelines will allow.”

Queen Anne’s – “QACPS is in the first year of a three-year plan to bring full-day pre-k to all of our elementary schools. Operationally, we are making improvements to our online enrollment system so that families can enroll and upload documents into our system. Families with limited or no internet access will still be able to enroll at their respective school. As we expand pre-k we do not know exactly what the demand will be, and what proportion of income tiers our families will fall in. We are also going to open enrollment earlier, starting in March. Enrollment process improvements will allow us to collect data earlier to be able to make pre-k enrollment decisions and projections more accurately moving forward. Fortunately, our 3-year plan for pre-k expansion will not require additional space beyond what we currently have and will not require many additional resources. We have had declining enrollment and at this time we do not anticipate that we will require additional staff for pre-k. We believe we will be able to shift teachers within schools to cover expansion during this initial three-year rollout.”

St. Mary’s – “As Pre-Kindergarten continues to expand, there are space concerns with available classrooms. As additional classes are brought on, a careful review of existing space, relocatable classrooms, and other options are being considered. Further, if new schools are built, additional space would become available for Pre-Kindergarten classrooms. Childcare providers offering three-year-olds placement in a Pre-Kindergarten program would allow SMCPS to find adequate space for four-year-olds. During the past year with the implementation of full day Pre-Kindergarten for all four-year-olds, a master schedule was developed that ensured all required components were addressed for students. National, state, and local early childhood staffing shortages present a challenge. SMCPS continuously recruits new talent, assists paraeducators in pursuing teaching credentials, and the Teacher Academy of Maryland in SMCPS is including Pre-Kindergarten for potential teachers who may wish to consider early childhood.”

Somerset – “Long term planning: Possible additional Pre-K 3 spots will be added in the future through partnerships with local providers. UMES Child Development Center has recently expressed some interest in pursuing Pre-K programming in the future. Though they would not be ready to do this in the upcoming school year, they have expressed interest in opening up one or two classrooms in the coming years and would have the added capacity of 20 additional Pre-K 3 slots. Continue reaching out to local childcare providers and assisting providers who wish to continue working towards EXCELS level 4 and/or wish to become an eligible private provider. Continue to provide joint professional development opportunities. Since SCPS has completed the accreditation process, SCPS will use its expertise to assist private providers with this process. Design a common pre-k information and application platform for SCPS and partner providers.”

Talbot – “TCPS is currently performing a comprehensive review of current infrastructure to determine which facilities can support additional Pre-K classrooms and outdoor areas with shaded options that meet the accreditation requirements. Additionally, TCPS is reviewing the number of non-certified staff who work with Pre-K students and offering supportive strategies for these individuals to earn certification, which we have extended to candidates in our local Grow Your Own program and Teacher Academy. TCPS continues to allocate adequate funding for maintaining essential instructional materials to ensure Pre-K programs can deliver high-quality instruction to all students. While we have expanded to include all 4-year-olds, we will continue gathering information from registration forms and collaborating with private providers, including those providers who serve 0–2-year-olds, to determine the capacity for supporting full-day Tier I 3-year-olds in the future.”

Washington – “During the past 5 years, WCPS has continued expanded Pre-K programs to provide universal Pre-K for all 4-year-olds. WCPS provides a certified teacher in every Pre-K classroom. Our paraprofessionals who do not have an AA degree have the opportunity to earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential through WCPS. WCPS Pre-K expansion has resulted in provision of at least one Pre-K program in every elementary school, and two Pre-K programs located in two different high schools. WCPS is currently able to meet the needs of all 4-year-old students. WCPS Pre-K programs located at the high schools that partner with the Teacher Academy of Maryland Programs and allow high school students to have hands-on learning experiences. These experiences include high school students completing observations, writing lesson plans, and providing instruction in small groups and in one-on-one settings. The experiences also provide the opportunity for students to reflect on data. As WCPS plans for the building of new elementary schools, the plans will include 3-and 4-year-old Pre-K slots for at least 75% of the kindergarten enrollment numbers.”

Wicomico – “Wicomico County Public Schools has been a recipient of the PreK Expansion Grant for the past 5 years. Currently, our 11 elementary schools house 7 full-day Prekindergarten three-year-old classrooms and 37 full-day Prekindergarten four-year-old classrooms. The county is challenged with increasing the number of classrooms due to physical space limitations within buildings. The proposed plan is to transition 5 of the Prekindergarten three- year-old classrooms to Prekindergarten four-year-old classrooms. The PreK Expansion Grant was awarded to 4 of our partnering childcare sites which have enrolled 64 children. WCPS will continue to support these sites and encourage additional childcare sites within our community to apply for PreK Expansion Grant funding.”

FY 24 2 Prekindergarten three-year-old classrooms with a total of 30 students.
FY 24 4 Prekindergarten four-year-old classrooms with a total of 840 students.
FY 24 Private Providers propose 3 Prekindergarten three-year-old classrooms with a total of 54 students.
FY 24 Private Providers propose 3 Prekindergarten four-year-old classrooms with a total of 60 students.
FY 24 One newly interested private provider proposes 2 Prekindergarten three-year-old classrooms with a total of 28 students.
FY24 Head Start commits to enrolling three-year-olds in their Early Head Start program.

Worcester – WCPS will make the following operational changes to support the expansion of PreK both in the short term (ST) and long term (LT):

Operating Systems – securing star seats/booster seat/harnesses; (ST), reviewing bus routes to ensure that bus transportation is available; (LT), and the addition of bus aids (LT), as needed.
Schedules – when we apply for the expansion gran this year, we will need to ensure that gym and music (specials) are offered to our students and that teachers have opportunities for planning and that there is the appropriate number of adults for supervision during recess (ST/LT).
Talent Pipelines – recruitment of early childhood teachers, paras with either an AA or CDA, and special educators, support existing PreK teaching assistants with their CDA/AA degree (ST/LT), creating partnerships with local universities and community colleges, local pipelines (grow your own); (ST/LT), increase Professional Development schools in partnership with Salisbury University (LT).
Physical Space /Facilities – repurposing classroom space (LT).
Resource Allocation – Continue to apply for PreK expansion grant, 2024/utilize blueprint funds in the future to purchase: furniture, supplies and materials of instruction, salaries and fixed charges, curriculum, and technology (ST).
Food Service- ensure that the food service has the appropriate number of meals allocated (ST/LT).

Click through to read earlier roundups of Blueprint reform efforts on college and career readiness and efforts to hire high-quality and diverse educators.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated to correct the year by which early childhood educators must meet new training requirements.

By William J. Ford

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Poll: About 60% of Marylanders Oppose Plan to Mandate Electric Car Sales by 2035

June 12, 2023 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

Six in 10 Maryland voters oppose a plan to end the sale of gas-powered vehicles in the state in 12 years.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced this year that the state would recommit to aggressive climate goals involving the sales of electric vehicles. A poll released by Annapolis-based Gonzales Research & Media Service found a majority of voters oppose the plan even if it meant significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. The opposition increases when those surveyed were asked to factor in the higher cost of purchasing an electric vehicle.

“People will say well, which is it? It’s both. It’s life. That’s how life works,” said pollster Patrick Gonzales, adding that Moore’s policy “is a question that is going to be debated for years.”

The messaging of an environmental benefit lands well with Democrats, especially those who identify themselves as progressives. Even so, the poll shows Democrats are not immune to pocketbook pressures and will factor those concerns into their decisions.

The poll of 841 voters registered in Maryland who said they were likely to vote in the 2024 general election was conducted between May 30 and June 6. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 points.

The firm released the results of one question in the two-part poll to Maryland Matters ahead of the release of all results later this week. The other parts of the poll will measure voters’ approval of President Joe Biden and Moore, the direction of Maryland and the country, and several other state issues.

In March, Moore announced the state would require all new car sales be electric vehicles by 2035.

The decision is expected to result in nearly 1.7 million fewer gas-powered cars and trucks sold in Maryland by that year. The projected decrease in greenhouse emissions could result in health benefits. An analysis by the Maryland Department of the Environment estimates the potential value of decreases in respiratory and cardiovascular illness and associated lost workdays at nearly $40 million annually.

Moore’s announcement followed a similar decision made by California regulators in August.

Voters surveyed by Gonzales were first asked if they supported Moore’s announcement.

Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they supported the decision. Of those 14% were in strong support and another 23% said they somewhat support it.

Sixty-one percent said they opposed the plan, including 50% who were strongly opposed.

About two-thirds of independents joined 95% of Republicans in opposition to the ban. Roughly 55% of Democrats said they favored the change.

“It really shows to me that distinction between Democrats and Republicans and, as is so often the case in Maryland, the independents kind of come in and it’s decided based on which way they’re leaning,” said Gonzales.

All those surveyed were asked two additional questions gauging support based on environmental and economic factors. The order of the questions was rotated for each person surveyed, according to Gonzales.

A majority of those surveyed, 54%, said they oppose the decision even if it meant a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions; 44% said they would support it.

Among those who said they would support it based on reduced emissions, 31% said they were in strong favor of it — an increase of 17 points.

“That dramatic increase in the strong support, most of that is coming from those who said they ‘somewhat support’ right out of the gate,” said Gonzales. You’re not taking diehard opponents and turning them into supporters.”

When asked to factor in the cost of Moore’s decision, 68% said they would oppose its implementation by 2035.

Gas-powered vehicles remain cheaper to buy than the electric alternative.

Consumers on average paid $49.507 for a new vehicle at the end of 2022. The upfront cost of an electric vehicle is decreasing. The average cost of a new electric vehicle was more than $61,400 during the same period, according to Kelley Blue Book.

When asked to factor in an increased cost, 29% of those surveyed said they support Moore’s announcement. The number of those in strong support fell to 10%.

Meanwhile, 68% said they would oppose it when costs are factored in. That includes 55% of Democrats and 72% of independents — increases of 12 and 7 points respectively among those voters who said they would oppose the plan before being asked about greenhouse gas emissions or costs.

Gonzales said Maryland voters tend to be more progressive-leaning until it affects their personal finances.

“I think that’s part of it,” said Gonzales, adding that electric vehicles still have not matched their gas-powered counterparts in many ways.

Gonzales said he believes concerns about range and cost will lessen as technologies improve.

“It’s such a big leap to suggest we’re going to ban gas cars at this point, because we don’t have any viable alternatives,” said Gonzales. “If electric cars could get increased range without needing a charge and the price came down, then you know, all of a sudden you’re in.”

By Bryan P. Sears

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The Mid-Shore Faces Code Red

June 8, 2023 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

Photo by Spy Agent 7

As of Wednesday, a majority of Maryland is under an air quality advisory due to smoke wafting in from raging wildfires in Eastern Canada, and state environment officials are warning that Marylanders should limit their exposure outside.

“Fires over Quebec continue to produce prodigious smoke which is being continuously funneled on northerly flow towards the Mid-Atlantic. Presently a concentrated plume of smoke is working south through Pennsylvania and New York towards the eastern half of Maryland,” according to the state’s Department of the Environment’s most recent air quality forecast discussion.

The smoky air began rolling in Tuesday evening, bringing in fine particles that are lung irritants, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

High concentrations fine particles brought in through wildfire smoke can lead to a variety of symptoms, ranging from “relatively minor (e.g., eye and respiratory tract irritation) to more serious health effects (e.g., exacerbation of asthma and heart failure, and premature death),” according to the EPA.

Additional health effects attributed to short-term wildfire smoke exposure includes coughing, phlegm, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

While more Northern cities are experiencing the brunt of the smoke and suffering from reduced air quality due to the wildfires in Canada, Maryland is catching a fair amount of smoky air.

Air quality is indicated through the air quality index (AQI), a metric that ranges from 0 to 500 AQI, with lower numbers meaning better air quality, according to AirNow, a partnership between federal environmental and health agencies. “Good” air quality index ranges from 0 to 50.Maryland Department of the Environment reports that most of Maryland is experiencing “unhealthy” air quality due to wildfires in Canada. Credit: Maryland Department of the Environment

In Maryland, Garrett and Allegany counties are under a “moderate” air quality advisory, at 89 AQI, the Maryland Department of the Environment reports. In this area, people who are uniquely sensitive to air quality are recommended to reduce outdoor excursion.

At 112 AQI, Washington County’s air quality is considered “unhealthy” for sensitive groups, which includes children, older adults and people with respiratory disease or heart disease. These groups are recommended to take precautions and limit prolonged outdoor exertion, according to AirNow

All of Maryland’s remaining counties and Baltimore City are under a Code Red at 151 AQI, meaning that all residents should limit prolonged outdoor exertion and sensitive groups should avoid outdoor activities, according to AirNow.

The governor’s office released a list of tips to keep healthy during poor air quality:

• If you have lung or heart disease, stay indoors.
• Air conditioning can improve the air quality indoors.
• Masks (like N95s, KN95s) will reduce the particles that you breathe, but they can also make it harder to breathe.
• Be alert for breathing problems in children, especially children with lung problems like asthma.
• Check on neighbors and relatives with chronic health problems.

“The health and safety of Marylanders is our top priority. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information is available,” Gov. Wes Moore (D) said in a statement.

Current projections from the state environmental department indicate that some reprieve from smoky air is likely to arrive between Thursday and Friday, when a majority of the state is expected to move from an “unhealthy” air advisory to “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

By Danielle J. Brown

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Moore Signs Order to Protect Trans People and Medical Providers on Ban Gender-Affirming Care

June 7, 2023 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

Gov. Wes Moore issued an executive order this week declaring that state agencies shall “take whatever action is necessary and coordinate to protect” people or entities involved with providing gender-affirming care from legal punishments by other states. The order also prohibits sharing medical records of transgender individuals for potential investigations.

Moore (D) signed the executive order during a LGBTQIA+ reception Monday evening and follows his recent proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month in Maryland.

“In the State of Maryland, nobody should have to justify their own humanity,” Moore said in a written statement. “This order is focused on ensuring Maryland is a safe place for gender affirming care, especially as other states take misguided and hateful steps to make gender affirming care cause for legal retribution.”

The executive order says that Moore, as governor, shall “refuse to surrender, on demand of the executive authority of any other state, any person who…is charged with a criminal violation of a law of another state where the violation alleged involves the provision of, assistance with, securing of, or receipt of” gender-affirming treatment permitted under Maryland law.

Transgender rights activists are celebrating the executive order.

“Now, anyone seeking or providing gender affirming care in Maryland will be safe from out of state litigation,” the Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition tweeted Tuesday about the executive order.

Many transgender and nonbinary people seek medical treatments such as hormone replacement therapy or puberty blockers to encourage or discourage development of certain secondary sex characteristics and align with their gender identity.

Meanwhile, other states have attempted to restrict transgender people from accessing gender-affirming care, specifically targeting the care of transgender minors.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, which is tracking the progress of bans on gender-affirming care for minors, more than two dozen states have passed such bans, and seven states are currently considering them.

Many of those state efforts to ban or restrict gender-affirming care for trans kids have been challenged through the courts.

On April 26, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint challenging a Tennessee law set to go into effect July 1 that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The DOJ says that the Tennessee law violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

Just Tuesday, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction on bans against gender-affirming care for three Florida families, potentially spelling trouble for the state’s new laws banning gender-affirming care for minors, according to States Newsroom affiliate, Florida Phoenix.

by Danielle J. Brown

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Maryland Restarts Water Quality Permitting Process for Conowingo Dam

June 3, 2023 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

Maryland environmental officials are restarting a controversial permitting process that would eventually enable Constellation Energy to continue operating the Conowingo Dam for another half century.

The future of the dam along the Susquehanna River, considered a significant source of Chesapeake Bay pollution, has been the object of regulatory wrangling and litigation for several years.

In December, a federal appeals court vacated a decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to grant Constellation a license to keep generating hydroelectric power at the dam.

The judges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that FERC had violated the federal Clean Water Act in giving the permit, after the state of Maryland and Constellation scrapped a water quality certification process they had originally agreed to. That agreement between the state and Constellation prompted a coalition of environmental groups, led by Waterkeepers Chesapeake and the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, to sue; the court agreed with them that FERC “had no authority to issue a lease based on a private settlement arrangement” between the state and the national energy giant.

The court ordered that FERC merely grant Constellation an annual license for Conowingo Dam until the legal and procedural issues can be resolved.

On Thursday evening, officials at the Maryland Department of the Environment notified Constellation and the environmental groups that launched the lawsuits that the agency would renew the process for awarding Constellation a water quality permit. That permit, which was originally issued in 2018, is necessary for FERC to grant the 50-year license to Constellation to continue generating hydropower at the dam.

In a letter from MDE Assistant Secretary Roberta James to attorneys representing the parties in the lawsuit, the state said it was giving Constellation and the environmental groups 60 days to respond, offering them “the opportunity to supplement that information [from the 2018 review process] by providing any new, updated, and relevant information which the parties would like the Department to review.”

Separately, Maryland Matters has learned that MDE is also opening a 30-day comment period for members of the public to express their views about water quality issues at the dam in writing. The agency would then begin to assemble the feedback from the public and the parties in the lawsuit in August and would issue a renewed permit, with potentially different standards and guidelines from the original permit, at an undetermined date.

“Ensuring a revitalized Chesapeake Bay for the benefit of all Marylanders is a top priority,” Maryland Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain said in a statement. “As we move ahead with the reconsideration of the 2018 Water Quality Certification we will be transparent, we will welcome input and we will work collegially with all parties for a healthier and more vibrant Bay.”

Conowingo Dam is a major regional energy installation, but it also plays an important role in the health of the Chesapeake Bay. It is designed in part to catch much of the sediment and nutrient pollution that comes from upriver in Pennsylvania, which, according to federal and regional environmental regulators, is the source of much of the agricultural pollution that in the bay.

However, powerful storms can tax the dam’s capacity, pouring millions of pounds of pollution into the Susquehanna and the Chesapeake — potentially jeopardizing Maryland’s attempts to meet the federal government’s pollution reduction goals for the bay.

Two months ago, all 10 members of Maryland’s congressional delegation wrote to McIlwain, urging her to ensure that environmental protection measures for the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay watershed are central to any new licensing agreement that FERC would consider for the dam.

“As you know, the Chesapeake Bay is both a national treasure and an economic engine for our region, and for decades the federal government and watershed states have worked together to clean up this vital resource,” the lawmakers wrote.

By Josh Kurtz

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