In 2021, state leaders in Maryland enacted the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a law aimed at transforming the state’s education system. One of the law’s five interconnected pillars focuses on ensuring that all high school graduates are college- and career-ready through opportunities for advanced coursework, like dual enrollment courses, and quality work-based learning and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. The law also establishes a College and Career Readiness Standard that all 10th grade students must meet through performance on state assessments or through demonstrations of mastery.
To further support postsecondary readiness, state leaders in Maryland have adopted graduation requirements that ensure students who receive a high school diploma are able to apply to the state’s public institutions of higher education. State law also requires CTE programs to incorporate work-based learning opportunities that require the application of academic knowledge and skills outside of the classroom. In addition, state leaders have also developed a Work-Based Learning Continuum to help school systems implement high quality work-based learning experiences.
Maryland state leaders have the opportunity to accelerate high school transformation efforts by creating a Portrait of a Graduate reflecting the broad set of competencies that all Maryland graduates should have by the end of high school.
