TOWSON, MD – Following Tuesday’s release of data by the Maryland State Department of Education, Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Darryl Williams issued a letter to the community:

Dear Team BCPS,

In just one week, our schools will welcome about 115,000 students, and I want you to know how we will raise the bar and close gaps to prepare each student for the future.

2019 student assessment results on the MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program) were released today by the Maryland State Department of Education based on what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. In English language arts (ELA) and math, far too few of our students are meeting or exceeding expectations. Our performance also differs widely by race and ethnicity, and based on whether students are receiving services from three programs: special education, English for speakers of other languages, and free and reduced-price meals (FARMS).

Although no data set can tell the entire story about our students’ performance, I believe we have to reexamine our practices. We can and must do better. Every one of our children is capable of learning, and it is our job to support their academic success. I am committed to leading change that gives every student the opportunity to learn at higher levels, and that accelerates growth for students who are further behind.

Last week, I shared this urgency with school and central office leaders based on similar data from 2018. I also announced the first of our comprehensive changes over the next few years.

Here’s what we are doing differently:

• Supporting students by name and by need based on stronger school professional learning communities, where leaders and educators use data to discuss equity and instructional practice.
• Intensifying staff awareness of racial equity and opportunities for children to learn.
• Strengthening English language arts by addressing the unique ways that students learn to read, and by ensuring culturally responsive instruction.
• Completely overhauling our math curriculum.
• Guiding school goals and actions through a streamlined School Progress Plan (school improvement) process.
• Driving how central office supports schools based on the needs of students, teachers, and school leaders.
• Focusing the budget process for 2020-2021 on raising the bar and closing gaps.
• Analyzing all available data in new ways to guide further action, including input from my 100-day entry plan and ongoing opportunities to hear from our community

Our performance and gaps are our baseline, but there is no limit to where we will take all students. Access my full letter including 2019 results and the one-page summary.