Maryland remains among the bottom ten states for access to afterschool programs. Budget reductions and the end of ESSER funding exacerbate this issue, threatening vital programs that support youth development. To address this:

• Prioritize dedicated funding for afterschool, summer, and mentoring programs.
• Integrate expanded learning into the full implementation of Community Schools.
• Collaborate with state and local entities to safeguard youth programming against funding cuts and look toward future expansion.

The Blueprint is currently funded only through fiscal year 2027. With Maryland’s education outcomes trending upward, it is essential to sustain this progress. Full and sustained funding will:

• Ensure Maryland’s students continue to thrive.
• Expand access to high-quality education across all communities.
• Preserve gains in equity and excellence for future generations.

During economic downturns, it is tempting for state and local governments to redirect funds. This must be avoided to maintain the integrity of the Blueprint’s five interconnected pillars:

• Fully phase in the Blueprint through 2030 without reductions.
• Uphold the original goals and purposes outlined in the law.
• Grant local governments additional taxing authority to address funding gaps and maintain equity in the local share.
• Conduct an updated adequacy study to analyze Blueprint Spending and COMAR's education requirements to determine the gaps and opportunities to refine the funding formula further to achieve positive student outcomes and address equity.

Effective implementation is critical to achieving the Blueprint’s goals. To this end:

• Expand state-level infrastructure support for Community Schools, including guidance, professional development, and technical assistance.
• Provide flexibility for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) with fewer than 40 Community Schools to use Concentration of Poverty Grant (CPG) funds for cross-cutting administrative needs.

The ENOUGH Act of 2024 introduced a new place-based grant program and tasked GOC with redesigning how poverty is measured in Maryland schools. To align efforts:

• Ensure place-based models complement Community School strategies for maximum impact.
• Engage stakeholders in providing feedback on GOC’s recommendations for the Neighborhood Indicators of poverty measurement before their submission to the Department of Legislative Services & the Legislature

The Rental Assistance for Community School Families Program and Fund (SB370/HB428) was established in 2025 to address housing insecurity, a critical issue for families in high-poverty schools. However, its initial appropriation fell short, and implementation was delayed. We call for:
Full appropriation of the legislated $10 million funding.
Immediate deployment of funds by the Maryland State Department of Housing, leveraging community school coordinators’ expertise to design an efficient distribution system.
Ensure that housing assistance is integrated seamlessly into the community school model to provide holistic support for families.