HCPS Blueprint

We are excited to share a draft Blueprint implementation plan that reflects the conversations, activities, and initiatives that HCPS Blueprint committees and work groups have undertaken to unpack and plan for the numerous milestones set forth by the legislation known as the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

HCPS is required to submit an implementation plan on March 15, 2023, to the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB), which is the governing board overseeing the implementation of this legislation. All local education agencies in Maryland are required to use a template for Blueprint plans created by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), which includes specific questions, data tables, and artifacts required for submission.

HCPS Director of Strategic Initiatives, Katie Ridgway, explains the exciting public release of the draft implementation plan in a video, HERE.

To review a DRAFT version of the HCPS Blueprint implementation plan, please access it HERE.

HCPS is committed to stakeholder feedback through our implementation committees, work groups, advisory councils, community forums, Board of Education public meetings, and through our online information and survey. An online survey to collect feedback on the draft plan is available through March 6, 2023, HERE. Blueprint committee members are encouraged to read the sections that apply to their committee’s work and provide feedback, as this feedback will help shape the future of your committee meetings. Thank you in advance.

Please take a moment to look at the end of each pillar in the implementation plan, as stakeholder committees are listed, so many of you are a part of those groups. In pillar five, HCPS Blueprint writers and contributors are individually listed. The dedication of these individuals has been incredible. Their expertise and professionalism are impressive, and Harford County is all the better for their roles in serving our students. Thank you to all.

Pages 5-38

The Early Childhood requirements of the Blueprint focus on expanding access to high quality prekindergarten through both public (HCPS) and private prekindergarten providers. To see a one-page summary of this pillar, click HERE.

The following are sample questions about early childhood required in the Blueprint Implementation plan. See the HCPS draft plan for detailed draft answers.

• Describe how the school system will increase participation among eligible Tier I 3- and 4-year-olds in Pre-K so that all 4-year-old children and nearly all 3-year-old children from low-income families who wish to enroll in full-day Pre-K shall be served by FY 25 and FY 32, respectively. Identify the challenges that prevent families from enrolling students or the school system from meeting the enrollment need and the strategies the school system will utilize to overcome the identified challenges.
• What operational changes is the school system planning to make to support the expansion of Pre-K?
  
• Describe the strategies the school system will employ to meet the targets for the distribution of public and private Pre-K slots set forth by the Blueprint beginning with SY 2022-23 and beyond.
• How will the LEA collaborate with private providers to maximize resources and overcome challenges?
• Discuss how the school system will work with providers and educator preparation programs to support teaching assistants in obtaining the necessary certificate or degree to meet the credentialing requirements set forth by the Blueprint by the beginning of SY 2025-26?
  
• Describe the LEA’s plans for expanding support for families through Judy Centers.

Pages 39-72

The Elevating Educators requirements of the Blueprint focus on the long-term recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers through the implementation of a career ladder, goals for diversity recruitment and retention, and sustainable talent pathways for educators. To see a one-page summary of this pillar, click HERE.

The following are sample questions about elevating educators required in the Blueprint Implementation plan. See the HCPS draft plan for detailed draft answers.

• Using historical hiring data and additional relevant context, in what grade levels and subject areas has the school system struggled to recruit prospective teachers?
• What challenges exist for the LEA in hiring staff that matches the diversity of its student population?
• What types of programs or initiatives does the school system currently have or plan to launch to leverage Grow Your Own strategies and Alternative Preparation Programs to expand the teacher pipeline?
  
• Describe how the school system will encourage and incentivize current teachers to pursue National Board Certification, including teachers from groups historically underrepresented in the teaching profession.
  
• Describe the essential activities that will drive the school system’s efforts to phase in the implementation of the Career Ladder.
• What methods will the school system use to encourage or incentivize teachers to obtain master’s degrees in fields that require special expertise or have shortage areas?

• Reading: Pages 75-100
• Math: Pages 101-117
• College & career Readiness: Pages 111-151

The requirements of the Blueprint that align with the HCPS North Star Initiative focuses on high quality curriculum and instruction, college and career readiness, pathways for students that include free dual enrollment, and pathways for students who require additional support. To see a one-page summary of this pillar, click HERE. Please take note, the Maryland State Department of Education has included an emphasis on reading and math curriculum in this template.

The following are sample questions about reading, math, and college and career readiness required in the Blueprint Implementation plan. See the HCPS draft plan for detailed draft answers.

• Does the school system have a comprehensive literacy plan for English language arts that is aligned to the science of reading and that will prepare students for college–level credit–bearing course work upon graduation?
• Does the school system have a comprehensive plan for mathematics that begins with pre-kindergarten and prepares students for college–level credit–bearing course work in mathematics upon graduation?
  
• Discuss the LEA’s plans to ensure all freshmen are on track to graduate.
  
• Describe the individualized services, support, and instruction the school system will provide students who did not meet the CCR standard on time, including culturally responsive lessons, project-based and problem-based pedagogy, and/or varied instructional timing.
• Describe the activities the school system will use to ensure all middle and high school students are aware of the post-CCR pathways, including career counseling.
  
• Describe the LEA’s current and anticipated Advanced Placement offerings, including the AP Capstone Diploma Program.
• Describe the LEA’s current and anticipated Dual Enrollment program, including the number of college credits available if students were to take every course offered and whether courses are completed in a coherent sequence to support a particular area of concentration.

Pages 152-175

The Student Supports requirements of the Blueprint focus on expanding services and supports to all students who need it including English language learners, special education students, student experiencing poverty or homelessness, and student with behavioral and mental health challenges. To see a one-page summary of this pillar, click HERE.

The following are sample questions about student supports required in the Blueprint Implementation plan. See the HCPS draft plan for detailed draft answers.

• How will the school system share important information and engage English learner families in increasing activities to support students?
• Discuss the strategies the LEA uses to ensure all teachers of special education students (general education and special education) can provide instruction effectively for this service group.
  
• Identify the strategic partnerships between schools, the school system, and community organizations in the areas of academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and family and community engagement.
  
• Discuss the challenges that exist in meeting students’ behavioral health needs and how the LEA overcomes these challenges.
• Describe how the school system screens students to identify and provide services to meet their behavioral health needs, including how it ensures services have been provided and if additional services are needed.
• How does the LEA engage families in identifying and providing behavioral health supports for students?

Pages 176-187

The governance requirements of the Blueprint focus on stakeholder engagement, quality control, project management, accountability, funding, and compliance.

The following are sample questions about these foundational elements of the Blueprint Implementation plan. See the HCPS draft plan for detailed draft answers.

• Describe how the LEA identified and selected the individuals responsible for developing and writing its Blueprint Implementation Plan, including consideration for an individual’s position, experience, expertise, or membership in a particular stakeholder group.
• Discuss how the LEA ensured that its Implementation Plan included teacher and principal voice throughout the development of the Plan.
• discuss how and when the individuals responsible for writing the LEA’s Blueprint Implementation Plan engaged community members at large, including the local school board, and any other key groups across all pillars in the development of its Blueprint Implementation Plan.
• Discuss who will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Blueprint Implementation Plan, including annual progress monitoring, and revisions or amendments as needed.
• Discuss the role of the local school board in the approval and/or oversight for the LEA’s Blueprint Implementation Plan if applicable.

• HCPS Draft Implementation Plan
• Video Introducing Draft Plan
• Feedback Survey for draft implementation plan
• HCPS Blueprint Website

• Director of Strategic Initiatives: Katie.Ridgway@hcps.org
• Strategic Initiatives Administrative Assistant: Ashley.Bowley@hcps.org
• Career Ladder Sub-committee HCPS Co-chair: Rebecca.Gault@hcps.org
• Student Supports Sub-committee HCPS Co-chair: Bernard.Hennigan@hcps.org
• North Star Sub-committee HCPS Co-chair: Mike.OBrien@hcps.org
• Early Childhood Sub-committee HCPS Co-chair: Heather.Kutcher@hcps.org

February 6, 2023