◇ Program Summary
1. Maryland statewide exam results announced
Standardized test results released by the Maryland Department of Education Tuesday morning show that Maryland students made small gains in math and English language arts last year, but gaps between racial groups remain stark.
The State Board of Education reviewed data from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) administered in the spring of the 2023-24 school year. The test covers math and language arts for grades three through eight, as well as specific math courses such as Algebra I, Algebra II and geometry, and also includes science proficiency tests for fifth and eighth grades.
State Deputy Education Secretary Jeff Sanderson said students overall scored 3 percent higher in math and language arts than they did two years ago. However, he noted, “the change from the year before was minimal.”
The 2022-23 school year is the first comprehensive state assessment since students returned to in-person classes after the pandemic. Three years ago, a simplified version of the test was conducted to assess student performance during online instruction. MCAP test results are also part of the state’s annual report card and school star rating system, the most recent of which was released in March of this year.
Testing data from this spring showed that 48.1% of students achieved a passing level in language arts, while the overall pass rate in math was 24.1%. Overall scores increased in all tested grades, with 10th graders performing best with a pass rate of 55.3%. The only exception was geometry, where scores fell from 23.4% to 21.9%.
However, disparities between student groups remain stark. Although scores have risen for nearly all ethnic groups, disparities persist. For example, in math, the passing rate for Asian students in the 2023-24 school year was 54.6%, compared to 37.9% for white students, 12.1% for African American students and 11.9% for Hispanic/Latino students. In language arts, the passing rate for Asian students was 74.8%, compared to 65.2% for white students, 36.2% for African American students and 31.8% for Hispanic/Latino students.
Joshua Michael, chairman of the board, said a deeper analysis of the data would be conducted next month, including an assessment of schools in neighborhoods with concentrated poverty that provide poverty assistance and a variety of services such as tutoring, English-learning programs and food assistance.
2. Loudoun County Public Schools is considering allowing students to carry naloxone on campus
Loudoun County Public Schools is considering allowing students to carry naloxone, a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses, on campus. The proposal, part of the district’s newly revised student medication policy, was discussed at a Student Services Committee meeting last week.
A few months ago, Loudoun County came under the spotlight for parents not being notified of overdoses on campus, prompting Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to sign an executive order requiring schools to immediately report such incidents.
Under the new policy, students 16 and older can carry naloxone, also known as Narcan, in their backpacks after receiving training and certification. They can use the medication in an emergency, but must keep it in its original packaging and notify school staff immediately.
Jeannie Kloman, director of Student Health Services, stressed, “We want students to be trained and certified to use medications appropriately and to inform staff.”
However, school board member Deana Griffiths expressed concern that allowing students to carry naloxone could encourage drug abuse. Griffiths said, “I understand the original intention of doing this, but I am also worried that this may send a signal to students that they feel it is okay to take risks.”
Arlington Public Schools already allows students to carry naloxone and has trained 450 students. Loudoun County will continue to evaluate the potential impact of this proposal.
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