Strategic-Plan-Final-Spread A - Flipbook - Page 28
28 STRATEGIC PLAN - PHASE 1
PRIORITY 04:
READY FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER
All Maryland students graduate from high school
college and career ready, and with an individualized
plan to succeed in college, career, and life.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future has the central goal of ensuring that all Maryland students are college
and career ready before graduation, thus signifying an ability to transition successfully to postsecondary
coursework at a two- or four-year institution of higher education and/or to the workforce. Maryland is
developing new college and career readiness standards, with the goal of having students assessed and
meeting the standards by the end of 10th grade.
Students meeting the college and career readiness standards will be prepared to succeed in multiple,
rigorous college and career pathways at no cost to students. These pathways will enable students
to develop in-depth knowledge of a subject area(s); earn post-secondary credits and/or in demand
industry-recognized credentials; participate in registered apprenticeships that meet workforce needs
and/or in rigorous college preparation programs.
All instruction and assessments in public schools will work toward this goal of preparing students to
be ready for college and career. Each student in Maryland public schools, regardless of the student’s
race, ethnicity, gender, zip code, socioeconomic status, abilities, or language spoken at home, will be
supported to meet the college and career readiness standards before graduation.
THE BLUEPRINT’S APPRENTICESHIP AND INDUSTRY CREDENTIAL GOAL
(a)(1) On or before December 1, 2022, the Career and Technical Education
Committee shall establish, for each school year between the 2023-2024
school year and the 2030-2031 school year, inclusive, statewide goals
that reach 45% by the 2030-2031 school year, for the percentage of
In 2021, Maryland had 57,423 graduates.
high school students who, prior to graduation, complete the high
To meet the 45% goal, 25,840 of these
school level of a registered apprenticeship or an industry-recognized
graduates would have needed to
occupational credential.
complete an apprenticeship or industry
(2) To the extent practicable, the Career and Technical Education
credential.
Committee shall ensure that the largest number of students achieve
In 2021, about 7% of graduates met
the requirement of this subsection by completing a high school level
these criteria.
of a registered apprenticeship program approved by the Division
of Workforce Development and Adult Learning within the Maryland
Department of Labor. (Education §21–204)
