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The recommended ratio of school counselors to students is 250 to 1. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Mental health in focus as MD kids head back to school

As kids head back to school, advocates are calling for expanded access to school-based mental health services in Maryland and nationwide. The …

There are more than 800,000 students enrolled in Maryland's 24 local school systems. (Adobe Stock)

Experts remind MD parents to schedule checkups for back to school

As summer winds down, experts are reminding parents about an often-overlooked aspect of back-to-school readiness: an annual health checkup for …

Maryland schools served more than 34 million breakfasts during the 2022-2023 school year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD schools serving thousands fewer meals post-COVID

The latest Maryland School Breakfast Report finds tens of thousands fewer kids are being served post COVID. The end of pandemic era waivers two …

The initial phase of the Maryland Tutoring Corps Grant Program will reach 80,000 students in the state. (Adobe Stock/AntonioDiaz)

Report: Maryland ranks 22nd nationally in overall child well-being

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has published its annual Kids Count Data Book and the report showed the toll the pandemic took on educational progress…

People in prison in Maryland will be able to take higher education courses offered in Fall, Spring and Summer sessions. (Adobe Stock/AI)

MD expands prison educational access to all 12 state universities

In a new arrangement, people in prison in Maryland will have access to programs at all the state's public universities. The Maryland Department of …

More than 700 students from colleges and high schools across the nation will participate in the balloon launches during today's solar eclipse. (Adobe Stock/AI)<br />

Maryland students to study eclipse’s effect on atmosphere

As solar eclipse spectators are gathering in the path of totality, teams of students from Maryland and around the nation are preparing to launch …

Last year, Income Driven Repayment programs resulted in student loan cancellation for more than 800,000 borrowers nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Program could bring student debt cancellation for some MD borrowers

Marylanders with student debt may have an opportunity to have some or all of it forgiven but time is running out. The average student loan debt of …

Howard County had the highest credential attainment, at more than 72% of working-age adults. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: MD near top in number of adults with post-high school credentials

A new report assessing post-high school educational attainment shows Maryland doing better than most states, but says work remains to be done…

Congress is proposing gradually increasing the federal Child Tax Credit to $2,000 per child in 2025. (AI/Adobe Stock)

Report: MD children doing well overall, racial gaps persist

A new report looking at child well-being finds Maryland doing better than most, but racial disparities persist in the state. The Baltimore-based …

Baltimore City students can experience hands-on planting at Great Kids Farm. (Adobe Stock)

USDA announces partnership to reform school food procurement

October is National Farm to School Month and the Department of Agriculture has announced a new effort to improve students' access to high-quality food…

The Blueprint for Maryland's Future will increase education funding by $3.8 billion per year over the next nine years. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Nearly 50% of Maryland Teachers Working Second Job

As students head back to school, a recent poll of teachers in Maryland found many are facing financial hardships. The poll conducted over the summer …

The Latino population in Maryland is the 17th largest in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Widening College Completion Gap Between Latino, White Students in MD

A new report looking at Latino college completion rates across the country shows Maryland is doing better than most. The report from the non-profit …

The new Kids Count Data Book indicates 54% of 3- and 4-year-olds in Maryland were not enrolled in preschool programs between 2017 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland Ranks 21st for Child Well-being

The new Kids Count Data Book found the child care system still struggling in the wake of the pandemic. The Annie E. Casey Foundation report showed …

Placements in foster care group homes have decreased by 13% nationwide since 2006. (Adobe Stock)

Foster Care Report Shows Fewer in System, But Achievement Gaps Remain

A new report covering foster care trends among older children in the U.S. shows some improvements but critical achievement gaps remain. The …

A report from Generation Hope about child-care access for student parents finds 78% of student parents surveyed wished their college or university campus supported their child-care needs better. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Eliminating Child-Care Barriers for Student Parents

A new report highlights the need for better access to child care for college level student parents. The report, from Generation Hope, finds 92% of …

One in three Black college students is also a parent, according to the Institute for Women's Policy Research. (Adobe Stock)

Bowie State University to Boost Support for Student Parents

Students who are also parents face more challenges getting through college, but support for these students is getting an upgrade at Bowie State …

Experts say school-based grief groups are a good way for grieving students to learn coping skills. (Adobe Stock)

Supporting Students Through the Grief Process

Knowing how to approach the grief of others can be difficult, although things can get more complicated when addressing the grief of students in …

Tishman Speyer has been annually donating the milled lumber from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to Habitat for Humanity since 2007.(Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna)

Rockefeller Tree Lumber to be Used in MD Habitat for Humanity Homes

One of the more famous Christmas trees in the world will be coming home to Maryland as milled lumber. In 2021 a family in Cecil County was …

Research suggests observing bullying also can lead to adverse mental-health outcomes. (Waseem Ali Khan/Adobe Stock)

Bullying Prevention Month Brings Awareness to Victims, Perpetrators

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month and experts are reminding Marylanders to be aware of the patterns within bullying. The …

A 2017 Learning Policy Institute survey found teachers' dissatisfaction with standardized testing pressures was the most frequently listed reason for leaving the profession. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland School Districts Navigate Teacher Shortage

Maryland is part of the national trend of school districts struggling to meet student needs with a teacher shortage made worse by COVID. More than 5…

This year, more than 70% of attempts to restrict library resources targeted multiple titles. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland Libraries Call Attention to Censorship During Banned Books Week

Controversial books are nothing new, but the incidence of book challenges and bans has increased substantially in recent years. This week marks the …

Morgan State Launches College for Returning Adult Learners

Colleges and universities have had to rethink higher education in the pandemic, and make the learning experience more flexible. A new program at …

Multiracial bachelor's and associate degree students were the most likely of all racial and ethnic groups to report it was very difficult to remain enrolled in school in the fall of 2021, the report found. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Emotional Stress a Pandemic Challenge for College Students

Current and prospective college students in Maryland and beyond are struggling with pandemic-related disruptions which can jeopardize their studies…

In a new survey of HBCU students, 55% reported their housing situation was not secure at some point in the last year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: HBCU Students Face Obstacles to Meeting Basic Needs

The pandemic's lingering effects are being felt by some college students struggling to make it to graduation. A new report focuses on the barriers …

As part of the overhaul of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, military service members can get credit toward the program without an application. (Adobe Stock)

As Repayments Loom, Some Gain Student-Loan Forgiveness

Almost 27 million borrowers with federal student loans are set to start repayments in February, but some have succeeded in erasing their debt …

Maryland's Montgomery County Public Schools has changed School Resource Officers into 'Community Engagement Officers' this year. They're now located offsite, with no direct communications with school officials. (Wikimedia Commons)<br />

Report Shows Benefits of Funding Alternatives to Police in Schools

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Maryland's largest school district removed police officers from the hallways this fall, for the first time in 19 years, and a new …

During the pandemic, more than 20% of U.S. parents with children ages 5-12 reported their children experienced worsened mental or emotional health, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Mental Health in Spotlight as MD K-12 Schools Reopen

BALTIMORE, Md. -- As Maryland children prepare to return to school in the next few weeks, experts say ensuring their mental health is stable is a top …

The number of Maryland fourth graders who were not proficient in reading increased to 65% in 2019, according to a new report. (Adobe stock)

Report: MD Lawmakers Need to Keep Spotlight on Child Well-Being

BALTIMORE -- Advocates said Maryland lawmakers need to focus more than ever on helping children, as a new report shows the state dropped from 21st in …

Some incarcerated students who earned Georgetown University bachelor's degrees in the D.C. Jail system went on to help others behind bars. (Adobe stock)

As Pandemic Eases, MD Prisons to Get Bachelor’s Program

SILVER SPRING, Md. - As the pandemic fades, Maryland prisons are expected to open back up this summer and when they do, Georgetown University is …

Maryland's General Assembly is considering two bills that would reduce the number of police in public schools. (Adobe stock)

MD Groups Push for Reforms After Police Handcuff, Berate 5-Year-Old

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- Social-justice groups in Maryland's largest jurisdiction are calling on lawmakers to reform policing in schools after the …

About 47,000 Maryland grandparents are raising their grandkids and some struggle with supporting learning at home. (Adobe stock)<br /><br />

MD Grandfamilies Face Tough Decisions as Schools Reopen

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- As Maryland's largest school system continues its pandemic reopening phase today, multigenerational families are facing a choice of …

During the pandemic, adults and children are spending about 13 hours a day in front of screens, which experts say affects their eye health. (Adobe Stock)

Kids' Eye Health at Risk During Pandemic

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Remote learning during the pandemic has meant excessive screen time for children, and a Maryland heath care group is raising …

The number of Marylanders enrolled in the SNAP benefits program soared from 630,000 at the start of the year to almost 845,000 during the pandemic, a new report found. (Adobe stock)

Reports: Maryland Food Insecurity Skyrockets During Pandemic

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland is experiencing a hunger crisis during the pandemic, and schools will need to reach out to more low-income children with …

A new partnership received $400,000 in funding to begin tracking African American cultural sites in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. (Preservation Maryland)

Unique Project to Map Black History Sites in Chesapeake Bay Region

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - A new multi-state partnership aims to shine a light on hidden African American history in the Chesapeake Bay area. The National …

In addition to school closings and a ban on large gatherings, Maryland officials are closing the Port of Baltimore to passenger cruise ships in light of the new coronavirus. (Adobe Stock)

Coronavirus: MD Closes Schools, Bans Large Gatherings

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Maryland officials have announced the state's first case of community-transmitted new coronavirus. That has contributed to a series …

Baltimore�s Middle Grades Partnership students have a three-year retention rate of 78%. (Middle Grades Partnership)

Baltimore Program Offers Low-Income Teens More Tools for Success

BALTIMORE – More low-income middle school students in Baltimore are getting into academically rigorous high schools, and they credit the city's …

Child advocates warn that growing up in impoverished neighborhoods is a liability for success in adulthood. (Adobe stock)

More MD Children Drawn Deeper into Poverty

BALTIMORE – The number of children in Maryland living in concentrated poverty widened by 9,000 children since 2008, according to a new report …

According to a new poll, 50% of Maryland educators held a second job to make ends meet last year � up nine points from the year before. (Adobe stock)

Poll: More MD Teachers Buy School Supplies

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – As children go back to school Tuesday, almost all Maryland teachers say they pay for some school supplies out of their own …

Advocates say teaching the history of LGBTQ rights and disability rights in Maryland schools can help underrepresented students feel more accepted in the classroom. (Manny DaCunha/Adobe Stock)

MD to Teach LGBTQ, Disability Rights History in Schools

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Maryland Department of Education says it is looking to add curriculum that explores the history of the LGBTQ rights and …

The 2018 Maryland Report Card offers public access to more details on measures of success in the state's 1,400 public schools. (Wokandapix/Pixabay)

Are Disparities in MD's Educational Achievement Fixable?

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Achievement gaps persist between students of color and white students, according to a new analysis of Maryland's public schools…

Gov. Larry Hogan was the keynote speaker for the 2016 Honors Convocation at Morgan State University. (Joe Andrucyk/Maryland GovPics/Flickr)

Legal Battle for Underfunded HBCUs in Maryland Continues

BALTIMORE — A 12-year lawsuit filed by Maryland's four historically black colleges and universities against the state will continue in December…

Research shows that young adults who experienced foster care have worse outcomes than their peers in the general population across a variety of spectrums. (AnnieSpratt/Pixabay)

Data Reveals Rough Journey for Maryland's Foster Youths

BALTIMORE – New research uncovers the instability faced by Maryland youths in foster care, and the resulting negative outcomes experienced …

In Maryland, 59 percent of children of young parents live in low-income families, according to the latest KIDS COUNT policy report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Pixabay)

Report: Challenges Persist for Maryland's Young-Adult Parents

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The sleepless nights and increased costs that come with parenthood can be a rude awakening for anyone, but the challenge is …

Montgomery County Schools began the school year by offering free condoms at four high schools before expanding countywide. (Pixabay)

Montgomery Co. Public Schools Expand Free Condom Program

ROCKVILLE, Md. – After seeing a double-digit surge in chlamydia and gonorrhea, the Montgomery County school board voted unanimously Tuesday to …

The 2018 KIDS COUNT Count Data Book reports that 15 percent of Maryland's kids are at risk of being overlooked as people are counted for the 2020 U.S. Census. (Pixabay)

Barriers Persist for Maryland's Children of Color

BALTIMORE – A new report measuring the well-being of Maryland's kids continues to show a gap between children of color and their white peers…

AARP Maryland, the AARP Foundation and REAL School Gardens partner to build an outdoor classroom for southwest Baltimore students. (REAL School Gardens)

Outdoor Classroom to Help Baltimore Students Learn, Grow

BALTIMORE – In southwest Baltimore, an empty schoolyard will be transformed into an outdoor classroom and learning garden to help students …

Maryland lawmakers have passed a bill that could give school systems more flexibility with their school calendars. (Pixabay)

Maryland School-Extension Bill in Governor's Hands

BALTIMORE — Spring Break is considered a necessity for many students and teachers, but Maryland schools have been forced to cut into that …

A gunman is dead after wounding two fellow students with a handgun Tuesday morning at a high school in southern Maryland. (Pixabay)

Gun-Control Advocates: This is Happening Far Too Often

GREAT MILLS, Md. — In the wake of the latest school shooting, that took place at Great Mills High School, both sides of the gun control debate …

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MD: Education