At the July meeting, Dr. Briggs provided an update on the district's work under the Blueprint for Maryland's Future and on recent grant activity.

Dr. Briggs said Wicomico County Public Schools submitted its 2025 career-ladder submission to the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) by the July 1 deadline. He said the AIB acknowledged receipt and that its initial review showed the submission met the minimum technical requirements to proceed to a full content review. Dr. Briggs said the AIB will hold a new statewide series of LEA progress monitoring conferences this year in place of a written plan submission, and that the district requested to hold WCPS's conference in early October.

On grants, Dr. Briggs reported that in June the Maryland State Department of Education awarded Wicomico County Public Schools just over $1,900,000 through the Maryland Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant. The award will be used over a five-year period to support the Wicomico Read and Lead program, aimed at improving literacy for students in grades six through 12 by strengthening reading instruction, funding professional development for educators and increasing family-engagement opportunities.

Dr. Briggs also said the district submitted a $120,000 grant application in June; Dr. Reager (the district's grants lead) will provide an update on that application at an upcoming work session.

Dr. Briggs said the AIB's new monitoring approach is intended to be a collaborative, two-way dialogue focused on student outcomes rather than a repetitive written submission process. He told the board the district will update members as the AIB's review and any follow-up requests unfold.