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Five years into implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, Maryland’s sweeping education reform plan is approaching a pivotal moment.

On this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Sarah Sample kicks off a new series examining how the Blueprint is playing out on the ground and what could come next as lawmakers prepare for the 2027 legislative session. Her first guest is Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director of the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland (PSSAM), who brings the perspective of the school system leaders charged with putting the ambitious reform plan into practice.

The conversation looks at where the Blueprint is delivering results, including expanded pre-K, dual enrollment, career-focused opportunities, community schools, and greater access to programs in historically under-resourced districts. But five years of implementation have also brought significant challenges, from rising special education costs and competing education priorities to inflation, school construction needs, and mounting pressure on state and local budgets.

With the Blueprint’s interim evaluation due later this year and major budget decisions awaiting lawmakers in Annapolis, Sarah and Mary Pat discuss what superintendents want policymakers to understand about implementation, where adjustments may be needed, and why Mary Pat says the biggest takeaway for the years ahead is to “stay the course.”

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