[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6195166,"mediaKeyId","3862773-8de413bcac322251fe8c96d65561132c","parentId",3862773,"title","Student asks board to restore optional class rank so seniors can choose to display it","audioSeconds",57,"startMs",10766000,"endMs",10823000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862773-8de413bcac322251fe8c96d65561132c&start=10766&end=10823","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862773-8de413bcac322251fe8c96d65561132c/thumbnail_10766000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6195166/Maryland/Student-asks-board-to-restore-optional-class-rank-so-seniors-can-choose-to-display-it","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195166-153ff465a7ec1d2b121e4ae9d5c0c7f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771006330&Signature=cVPSRMGlRroo53xRtaRv0SNqfkrlBuzYpjKj~JofA8Qkwww8EJB3u5QWPhv-vpvbgypeHjYJcHBwCGcC9c65j2ZlDG9WHPHIYi-ypHitjIZaDvsUwp~6yF-tql8IIXoa5aifSs3ksO71YMEx7nNnRSFS~m9hjvv5mNhb52hcHQiVrRF4kXzOsk9dBIDK9mYjOB0pgadw7gDN3S8TVXyuzgoXJbvOnxweENmOJoQnjjfdpHv9oCywAtMWlv6~r5-WYqDcC6TzyMIzv8ra6uVHo57Hk9yf8VsaI4qpjharvWAW30x56wQ9mO4q4y30vVpnSxcSgsJePRmPIehdPvrUKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-19T01:42:49Z","article","A Chesapeake High School rising senior asked the Anne Arundel County Board of Education to change the district\u0000s grading policy so class rank would be available as an optional item for students to include on transcripts and applications.

Michelle Fadell spoke during the public comment period and asked the board to \"remove the word not\" from the district grading policy that currently states AACPS \"may not calculate class rank for students.\" She said the change would simply allow students to access their rank and decide whether to include it on college applications or resumes.

\"This isn't about pressure,\" Fadell said. \"It's about having a choice. ... Class rank can also help with college admission and scholarships. If a student is first in their class, that is a major accomplishment. So why should we take away that ability to share it? Making class rank optional doesn't hurt anyone.\"

The comment was made during the meeting\u0000s public-comment portion and trustees did not vote or take immediate action on the request. The board will consider policy matters through its policy committee process if members request a formal review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Public Session 6-18-2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Chesapeake High School senior asked the board during public comment to change policy so students could opt to include class rank on transcripts and resumes; the request was a public comment and no action was taken at the meeting.","taxTitle","Anne Arundel County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",14430,"location","Maryland","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6195170,"Board ratifies multiple staff agreements; teachers and many employees receive 3% COLA",206,10195000,10401000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862773-8de413bcac322251fe8c96d65561132c&start=10195&end=10401","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862773-8de413bcac322251fe8c96d65561132c/thumbnail_10195000.jpg","/articles/6195170/Maryland/Board-ratifies-multiple-staff-agreements-teachers-and-many-employees-receive-3-COLA","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195170-f4fb799054f90d9a73cbc3806d9f2986/orig.mp4?Expires=1771006330&Signature=GEzBEbXfaH-zHfT9nJ1zzldl6r-sNeIDzNN~HuBxXx5VS6MYAINrugmaDYzep4FUXO9YmYl00WeFljm4XJxxUWdkgYR0ux5qKl8YfdJImEddlVHqMxmGX1QH2xgEwJgZQqkPjA46GJa5h2j2X8CGnHwBoZ326DcgbQV2B-WXI2TlbtErrwpVVHDRiJA1zlZ4ZJF2YlXb4rBqQssye6w0QQHT5VBI8JCoyGCuD-bQWluEZoQqPbsYNcgFRskkpLquMf2d8hSTdykEcakIuUSE541JiUXX2kb171qRQjMhasZCGusIR7AfW~DuNtvJjjHtrD9omECdca4pxxZiFWjDhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Education on Wednesday ratified tentative agreements and established terms of employment across multiple employee groups for fiscal year 2026. The votes were unanimous (8–0) on the items brought before the board.

Highlights reported by district negotiators and staff:
- Teachers (Unit 1, Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County, TAC): the tentative agreement includes a step increase for eligible employees, a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA), modifications to the AACPS career ladder and continuation of the telework pilot for 12‑month employees. TAC ratified the agreement on June 16, 2025.
- AFSCME (Unit 3, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 1693): the tentative agreement includes a step increase for eligible employees, a 3% COLA, an updated salary scale reflecting an $18/hour starting wage and a new provision on staff expectations for student interactions. AFSCME ratified the agreement on June 14, 2025.
- Non‑represented units (Units 5 and 6): unit 5 and unit 6 employees will receive a step equivalent and a 3% COLA.
- Units without a settled negotiated agreement (Unit 2 and Unit 4): the board established terms of employment for FY26 as set by administration. For both units, the district reported no step or COLA for FY26. District staff said those terms remain in effect pending a successor agreement.

Other cross-cutting provisions: the board approved a short-term four‑day work week for summer 2025 (June 25 through Aug. 5) and the telework pilot will expire for certain units on June 30, 2025, per staff presentations.

Melissa Rawls, executive director of employee relations, thanked union leaders and negotiating teams for collaboration. Delania Akendoyo, AFSCME president, was acknowledged in remarks recorded by staff.

Why it matters: The agreements set FY26 compensation and workplace provisions for the majority of district employees and were part of the board\u0000s consent and action agenda. The board ratified unit 1 and unit 3 agreements and set terms for other units in roll-call votes recorded 8–0.","The board ratified tentative agreements and established terms of employment across bargaining units: a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and step increases for several units, an $18/hour starting wage in one unit and negotiated provisions including a summer four‑day work week and a telework pilot timeline.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6195175,"Board adopts FY2026 operating, capital budgets as staff warn of special-education funding gap",938,6822000,7760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862773-8de413bcac322251fe8c96d65561132c&start=6822&end=7760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862773-8de413bcac322251fe8c96d65561132c/thumbnail_6822000.jpg","/articles/6195175/Maryland/Board-adopts-FY2026-operating-capital-budgets-as-staff-warn-of-special-education-funding-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195175-c185c01096a900bac70058ed2d6bc8eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771006330&Signature=NxyFj3~zj6PhRFToiX1ZxBtJaGb-6PZ604WCP8TeYlCm3PGJmJI8sk4hH4qlFKFR2OtRPgbbNkrN7SuSE~cyrUalDnihuOaaMu4-4nqTDOKwXKGBLQ0GlgnSEDJQr-lae1KnsVFozGQlr9qga~qCtYo9a-FCXME9oCoJj0NJzWgMPalH6R9mkIDE7uTPLeO8jMl8exvNsDv5kOqtMMCBZVwKZxmv4SynfUwDMRnDNUFXYMINmgqorJ0t~KOttOLTaOwGcU0W2SNb68DLDvA3VIopeicgFp2GnGBqN75-708Dk2a~G0Qt-sJ04UvqQPj~jF8D4Ij-kwavCTuuUVoMtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anne Arundel County Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to adopt the FY2026 operating and capital budgets as approved by the county council, while Chief Financial Officer Matt Stanski told trustees the district faces a structural mismatch between special-education costs and state revenue that will force school-level reallocation in the near term.

Stanski briefed the board on the district\u0000s work to tag and allocate roughly $1.3 billion in Blueprint-related revenue and about $284 million in non‑Blueprint general‑fund items. He described a multi-step process the finance team has completed to align budget accounts with the state\u0000s reporting templates and methodologies and to move centrally budgeted, school-based expenses (utilities, maintenance, technology and CTE center costs) into school-level budgets where MSDE and the AIB require school-level allocation.

The CFO provided the following fiscal details during the meeting:
- The district reported fiscal-year trends showing growing expenditures for transportation, nonpublic tuition and special education while state revenue increases for those categories have been comparatively small.
- For FY24, Stanski said special-education revenue was about $33.44 million versus almost $170 million in special-education expenses (excluding related employee benefits); including benefits, he said the expense approaches $200 million.
- Under the state\u0000s minimum‑school‑funding (student-weighted) rules, Stanski said the district must supply school-level budgets and expenditure reports to the state: an early July expenditure report, school-level FY26 budget data in August, final audited FY25 data by Oct. 15, and a midyear report on Jan. 1.

Stanski outlined the AIB compliance timeline the district expects to follow: reduce gaps in compliance by 50% in FY26 for affected schools, and reach full compliance for all schools by FY27 unless the district pursues and qualifies for a statutory waiver. He advised that waiver requests require a plan, timeline, public engagement and supporting data.

Board members pressed staff on consequences and remedies. Board member Dana Shelheim said rising class sizes in her district are a visible consequence of reallocations intended to meet the student‑weighted formula: \"This is the pillar that has resulted in the ballooning of class sizes in my district,\" she said, and asked staff to explain what can be done. Stanski and Superintendent Dr. Bedell told trustees they will provide school-level data and monthly updates and reiterated that the state formula is redistributing existing funds and that the \"pie is not big enough,\" Stanski said.

Why it matters: The board\u0000s adoption of the FY26 budgets makes the county council\u0000s funding decisions official for AACPS. At the same time, the district faces a major implementation challenge: state formulas and reporting rules require school-by-school redistribution of staff and budgets and will highlight gaps between state funding levels and actual local special-education costs.

Board action: The board adopted the FY2026 operating budget and capital budget as submitted by the county council. Votes were unanimous (8–0). Staff said they will return with school‑by‑school minimum-funding analyses, proposed allocations and monthly progress reports.","The Board approved the county council\u0000s FY2026 operating and capital budgets; staff warned of large gaps between special-education expenditures and state revenues and outlined a state-driven minimum-school-funding compliance schedule that will require school-level budget adjustments.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6195180,"Anne Arundel updates Blueprint rollout: pre-K seats, teacher incentives and school supports expanded",6644,379000,7023000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862773-8de413bcac322251fe8c96d65561132c&start=379&end=7023","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862773-8de413bcac322251fe8c96d65561132c/thumbnail_379000.jpg","/articles/6195180/Maryland/Anne-Arundel-updates-Blueprint-rollout-pre-K-seats-teacher-incentives-and-school-supports-expanded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195180-7e2c5d94c4e21e394683b4711d920e0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771006330&Signature=eldwHNoKPMChgLg1KHMDSkOsfm9xhSrqcPXNFBC69H-r1R39K8~NQwWxb-3Bv89DQuCnf-uqlNcwu8MwFfh9yXq6MdN0Pi-YxIau8K62Et5PuOC8eXMtm4UZ7RTyqKozx0xiVM3YAGzE4Alz6S6Ekr88AXgpCtkco4w0o-ZK6PAbuTYpLCVTk73olxbO-5K0ZI3YTdaT~j-JqIjViYi4HSLf91IneAsWdLTzCjii~oyb4jQIGX8BMVJPQnUpEf-IyipPkPCAZ96UxIDH71F-RI0xNFgym-Khiot7Ctbv9PqjrUN-TRmDsnMKswnMSWownQgclAemR5~5THWVO1Scaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Anne Arundel County Public Schools staff presented a progress report Wednesday on implementation of the state\u0000s Blueprint for Maryland\u0000s Future, outlining gains in prekindergarten access, teacher incentives and school-based student supports while noting timing, space and transportation constraints.

Shannon Pugh, the district\u0000s director of strategic initiatives and a Blueprint implementation coordinator, opened the presentation and summarized the program\u0000s goal: \"the goal of blueprint is to eliminate opportunity gaps and ensure all students are, graduate globally competitive and prepare for post secondary education work in life,\" she said.

The report gave a table of near-term and multi-year requirements and the district\u0000s progress. Key details reported to the board:
- Prekindergarten: AACPS has transitioned almost all classrooms to full-day pre-K and expects to offer about 2,760 seats for 4-year-olds in the next school year. The district emphasized that seat availability depends on physical classroom space and that the pre-K rollout prioritizes families by income tiers (tier 1 at 300% of the federal poverty level first). Pugh noted a family-of-four tier-1 threshold of about $93,000 and a tier-2 threshold (360%) of roughly $112,000, numbers the district uses to allocate seats.
- Early intervention: Blueprint-funded transitional supplemental instruction (TSI) supported 51 early-intervention staff this year to provide intensive phonics-based help (Orton-Gillingham) for K–5 students identified at tier 3 and tier 2 levels; the district reported measurable growth for students who received those supports.
- Teacher compensation and career ladder: The district has met state deadlines to increase pay and accelerate a teacher career ladder tied to National Board Certification. Pugh and staff highlighted local research presented by district psychometrician Dr. Mei Wang showing a statistically significant difference in median MCAP student-growth percentiles for students eligible for free and reduced-price meals whose teachers are National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs).
- NBCT growth: The district said 125 educators were initial NBCT achievers in December 2024, placing AACPS third among Maryland counties that month and fifth nationally in that December cohort, and noted long-term growth in the total number of NBCTs in the district.
- College and career readiness: Blueprint funding is paying AP/IB exam fees, dual-enrollment courses and industry certification costs. The district reported rising participation in AP, dual enrollment and CTE pathways and described the state\u0000s more rigorous \"completed pathway\" metric (for example, more demanding AP completion criteria) that will appear on state accountability dashboards.
- Career and technical education: AACPS described work to expand pathways such as Project Lead The Way and noted that a study cited in the presentation found an $11 return on every $1 invested in CTE in the cited Oregon study. The district emphasized work to grow \"career coaches\" and stronger middle‑school exposure to careers.
- Community schools and mental-health supports: The presentation listed 48 schools qualifying for community-school designation under the three‑year 55% FRPM (free- and reduced-price meal) threshold for FY26 and noted Blueprint-funded substance‑abuse services expanded to every secondary school.

Board members asked several operational questions. Dr. Matthew Stanski, chief financial officer, and Pugh addressed transportation for pre‑K students: students attending the school that would be their assigned kindergarten school can ride buses, but students placed elsewhere present logistical challenges and the district is exploring options because transporting 4‑year‑olds differs from transporting older children. On dual enrollment, Pugh said district leaders are studying models (for example, where high‑school teachers deliver credit-bearing classes on the high‑school campus) and have visited Frederick County\u0000s model.

Pugh emphasized equity goals: the county is attempting to place NBCTs and lead teachers in higher‑need feeders and to grow NBCT cohorts \"in every feeder.\" She also warned that some Blueprint technicalities\u0000for example, requirements to prioritize NBCTs in low‑performing schools and to limit novice teachers in high‑need classrooms\u0000require deliberate placement strategies.

Why it matters: Blueprint reshapes state and local resource flows and program expectations. The district told trustees it is expanding seats and services but that classroom space, transportation and state reporting rules will determine the pace of change. Trustees and staff flagged areas for follow up, including precise seat counts by cluster, plans to scale intervention roles beyond FY27 funding changes, and continued analysis of whether NBCT placement and career-ladder incentives reach the intended, high-need schools.

For now the board heard data and plans rather than votes; staff said they would return with additional, school‑level implementation details and timelines.","District staff told the Board of Education that Anne Arundel County Public Schools is expanding prekindergarten seats, accelerating national board teacher incentives and using Blueprint funding for dual enrollment, CTE and mental-health supports while flagging transportation and funding-compliance challenges.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Student asks board to restore optional class rank so seniors can choose to display it

Board ratifies multiple staff agreements; teachers and many employees receive 3% COLA

Board adopts FY2026 operating, capital budgets as staff warn of special-education funding gap

Anne Arundel updates Blueprint rollout: pre-K seats, teacher incentives and school supports expanded