The Maryland State Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 30 at the Maryland State Department of Education, 200 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore.  The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the 7th floor Board Room.  Items on this month’s agenda include the following:

9:55 a.m.         High School Performance
The State Board will hear a report on the latest Maryland graduation and dropout data, as well as on the 2013 performance on the High School Assessments. 

11:10 a.m.       Early Childhood Race to the Top
Maryland was one of nine states that received a Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Fund Grant two year ago.  MSDE officials will update State Board members on the progress to further strengthen the State’s early childhood development programs.  The State Board will be asked to approve the Early Childhood Family Engagement Framework.

11:30 a.m.       GED Test
The GED program, administered in Maryland by the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (DLLR), is going through a series of changes, including a move to online testing.  DLLR officials will update State Board members on the changes taking place, and the State Board will be asked to continue its partnership in the program, which allows those who pass the GED to receive a Maryland High School Diploma.

2 p.m.              Race to the Top
The State Board will hear MSDE’s monthly report on progress being made in the $250 million Race to the Top program.

NOTE: The State Board on Thursday, October 31 will hold a full-day retreat at the Maryland Science Center.