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State Board of Education discusses new policy that may hold 3rd graders back who struggle with reading

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State Board of Education discusses new policy that may hold 3rd graders back who struggle with reading


BALTIMORE — For the last 10 years, the level of reading proficiency among Maryland students has plummeted.

69% of students didn’t reach proficiency in reading in 2022.

It’s why state superintendent Dr. Carey Wright tasked the Literacy Programs and Initiatives Branch of the State Department of Education with creating a new policy to help students improve their reading.

“Students who are not reading proficiently in third grade are four times more likely to not graduate from high school, and if these students happen to also be from a low-income family and happen to be minority, they are eight times more likely,” says Dr. Tenette Smith.

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The focus of the policy is to notice students who are struggling early and give them, their teachers, and their parents extra help to improve their reading.

But there is also a part of the policy calling for the state to hold back students in third grade if they can’t read at the required level.

Laura Daly, a mom of two, says she is glad the board is having this conversation.

“I think it’s potentially a good idea as long as we know there are actual interventions that are going to yield results, because I think if we are just holding them back just for the sake of holding them back, if we’re just going to put them through the same cycle that they already went through and essentially failed, that’s not really doing anybody good,” says Daly.

Although many board members are eager to increase the number of students who are proficient in the state, some have reservations about the idea of holding third graders back who are struggling.

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“I don’t want us to put the cart before the horse; this is a massive impact on students, and I feel like if we do it too soon before everything is in place, then we are doing something negative to students,” says Rachel McCusker.

“Who loses if we enact this? The answer is overwhelmingly going to be black and brown students,” says Nick Greer.

Although we don’t know how many students would be held back under this policy, the research states it could be up to 10,000 students in the state.

“I don’t think we have the space in the state of Maryland, and I don’t believe we have the teachers in the state of Maryland to have massive students repeating the third grade,” says Dr. Susan Jackson Getty.

The state department of education is scheduled to vote to consider adopting this policy in September.

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If they vote in favor of the policy as it was presented today, the state board will enact the policy in two years, meaning students going into first grade this fall will be the first group of students impacted by the time they get to third grade.

There will be an opportunity for public comment on the literacy policy at a state board meeting in August.





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SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned

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SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned


Advocacy groups are raising concerns over a warehouse in Washington County that is slated to become an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility after dozens of black SUVs were moved to the warehouse’s parking lot on Sunday.

“When federal enforcement vehicles begin lining the warehouse lot, it sends a clear message about what’s taking shape in our community,” said the organizer of Hagerstown Rapid Response, Claire Connor. “We refuse to let ICE quietly plant roots in Washington County without transparency, accountability and community consent.”

The 825,620-square-foot warehouse is located at 16220 Wright Road in Williamsport. Access to the facility was blocked by orange traffic barriers and signs outlining regulations and “governing conduct on federal property” with the Department of Homeland Security emblem at the top of the page.

In late January, Washington County issued a news release stating that on Jan. 14, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to the county’s historic district commission and department of planning and zoning regarding the property.

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Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia

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Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia


An adult man was killed in a police-involved shooting in Columbia early Sunday, prompting an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division.

Howard County police said officers were called on March 1, at about 12:09 a.m., to an apartment building in the 6400 block of Freetown Road for a report that involved an adult male threatening to harm himself.

According to police, at about 12:22 a.m., officers encountered the man outside the building. The man approached officers while holding a knife and ignored commands to drop the weapon, police said. Officers then shot the man.

ALSO READ | Gas leak explosion, fire in Prince George’s County leaves 1 injured

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Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officersrecovered a knife near the man.

No officers were injured, and the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras.

The Independent Investigations Division is investigating.

Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576–7070 or by email atIID@oag.maryland.gov.

The IID willgenerally releasethe name of the decedent and any involved officers within two business days of the incident, although that period may be extended, if necessary,pursuant toIID protocol.

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TheIID willgenerally releasebody-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 20 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.



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AM showers Sunday in Maryland

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AM showers Sunday in Maryland




AM showers Sunday in Maryland – CBS Baltimore

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Greg Padgett has your Saturday evening forecast | 2/28/2026

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