In early 2025, it became clear that CCPS was facing a budget and staffing crisis.  In order to meet the Blueprint requirements, CCPS was faced with eliminating almost 100 teachers and educators and relocating another 90 staff.  The Carroll County community came together in support of their schools and advocated on behalf of a waiver from the State.  CCPS was ultimately given a 2-year waiver from meeting the Blueprint requirements and would instead work with the APA Consultants, the AIB’s trusted consultants.  Work with the APA Consultants began in Spring 2025 and in January 2026 CCPS reported that progress applying a base school methodology, along with coding existing expenses to Blueprint programs, brought the school system into a much more agreeable position in implementing Blueprint.  Next school year there may still be a reallocation of some resources from schools with fewer compensatory education (economically disadvantaged) students or schools with high numbers of compensatory education students who have been assigned additional resources in recent years.

Although the work with the APA consultants puts CCPS in an improved position, there are still challenges with making sure all schools have sufficient coverage of necessary staff such as reading specialists and interventionists to meet the needs of the students. The Board of Education, County Commissioners, and County Delegation should be ready to take advantage of any willingness by the Maryland General Assembly to modify the law in coming years to benefit our students.