Carroll County, MD, schools are facing a crisis. Due in part to the ambitious state law called Blueprint for Maryland's Future, 90 staff positions are being cut (including reading specialists, media specialists, a counselor, and an Assistant Principal). 100 teachers will be moved to schools with prioritized populations, resulting in huge class sizes in some schools, especially in the southern end of the county (e.g., up to 44 kids per elementary school class- the high estimate for Eldersburg Elementary). 

Blueprint requires counties to spend the money from the state in a certain way. It prioritizes funding for kids who are learning English, have disabilities, and qualify for Free/Reduced Meals. We understand those kids have extra needs and should have extra resources. 

However, ALL Maryland children deserve adequate investment. No child deserves to have to try to learn in a class of 40+ children. Carroll County kids receive the least amount of funding per student of all the counties in the state ($8922 from the county, $7836 from the state, FY24). Carroll County kids deserve better. 

No K-12 teacher should have to try to teach a class of 40+ kids. Our excellent Carroll County teachers and specialists need our support. 

We need our elected lawmakers and leaders, across all levels of government (Maryland legislature, Carroll County Commissioners, and state and local Boards of Education), regardless of political affiliation, to find solutions to this crisis. 

The Maryland State Legislature is in session now through April. We ASK THEM TO: Give our county sufficient investment for ALL of our students, or give us exemptions and flexibility that allow us to ensure that our students get the education they deserve. 

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Dear petition signers,

Thank you so much for your support! I know everyone has so many demands on their time these days, but if you want to do more, don't stop here---

Level up: Contact your elected local and state representatives! Tell them how this problem affects you and that we need solutions. An email is fine; a call is better. Their names and contact information can be found at: https://carrolleducationcoalition.org/ Check out the information on their website as well. 

Level up: Go to Blueprint meetings led by the Carroll County Board of Education! Tell them how this problem affects you and that we need solutions. 

Dr. Cynthia McCabe, Superintendent of Carroll County Public Schools, will be hosting the first of two community town halls to provide updated information on the implications of Blueprint on our schools on Wednesday, March 5, at 6:00 p.m. at Century High School (cafeteria), 355 Ronsdale Road Sykesville.

An additional town hall will be held on Wednesday, April 2, at 6:00 p.m. at the Carroll County Career and Technology Center (cafeteria), 1229 Washington Road, Westminster.

Resource: 2/12/25 CCPS Blueprint Fiscal Compliance Workgroup Report (this shows how the county is responding to Blueprint requirements): https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1739968141/carrollk12org/cl54nxioamze6kzeybqh/FinalReportoftheSuperintendentsBlueprintFIscalComplianceWorkgroupUPDATED021220251.pdf