Maryland
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.
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.
“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.
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.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Maryland Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 19, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Midday: 9-7-6
Evening: 9-9-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Midday: 8-9-6-5
Evening: 5-4-6-8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
Midday: 4-1-8-4-3
Evening: 3-8-7-7-7
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 19 drawing
9 a.m.: 13
1 p.m.: 15
6 p.m.: 08
11 p.m.: 02
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Bonus Match 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
06-19-27-30-36, Bonus: 12
Check Bonus Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Keno
Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Maryland Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes above $600, winners can claim by mail or in person from the Maryland Lottery office, an Expanded Cashing Authority Program location or cashiers’ windows at Maryland casinos. Prizes over $5,000 must be claimed in person.
Claiming by Mail
Sign your winning ticket and complete a claim form. Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID and a copy of a document that shows proof of your Social Security number or Federal Tax ID number. Mail these to:
Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center
1800 Washington Boulevard
Suite 330
Baltimore, MD 21230
For prizes over $600, bring your signed ticket, a government-issued photo ID, and proof of your Social Security or Federal Tax ID number to Maryland Lottery headquarters, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD. Claims are by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This location handles all prize amounts, including prizes over $5,000.
Winning Tickets Worth $25,000 or Less
Maryland Lottery headquarters and select Maryland casinos can redeem winning tickets valued up to $25,000. Note that casinos cannot cash prizes over $600 for non-resident and resident aliens (tax ID beginning with “9”). You must be at least 21 years of age to enter a Maryland casino. Locations include:
- Horseshoe Casino: 1525 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD
- MGM National Harbor: 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD
- Live! Casino: 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD
- Ocean Downs Casino: 10218 Racetrack Road, Berlin, MD
- Hollywood Casino: 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway, Perryville, MD
- Rocky Gap Casino: 16701 Lakeview Road NE, Flintstone, MD
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Maryland Lottery.
When are the Maryland Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 11 p.m. ET Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 Midday: 12:27 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 12:28 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.
- Pick 3, 4 and 5 Evening: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- Cash4Life: 9 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash Pop: 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
- Bonus Match 5: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- MultiMatch: 7:56 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
- Powerball Double Play: 11 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Maryland editor. You can send feedback using this form.
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — A t-bone crash involving a motorcycle left a 24-year-old Hampstead man dead on Saturday evening.
It happened around 6:30pm, along Marriottsville Road in Howard County.
That’s where a Yamaha FZ09 was heading northbound when it collided with an oncoming Nissan Rogue that was trying to make a left turn onto Warwick Way.
“Preliminary investigation suggests the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed,” Howard County Police said in a press release.
The motorcycle rider later died at University of Maryland Shock Trauma.
Police say the Nissan driver, who was not hurt, remained on scene and cooperated with investigators.
Marriottsville Road was reopened after being closed for about three-hours.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Maryland Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 18, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from April 18 drawing
24-25-39-46-61, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 5
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 18 drawing
Midday: 9-4-0
Evening: 9-3-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 18 drawing
Midday: 8-3-0-6
Evening: 7-2-1-2
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 18 drawing
Midday: 5-3-8-8-7
Evening: 6-7-3-8-9
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 18 drawing
9 a.m.: 03
1 p.m.: 14
6 p.m.: 10
11 p.m.: 08
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Bonus Match 5 numbers from April 18 drawing
06-20-33-34-36, Bonus: 11
Check Bonus Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from April 18 drawing
02-38-45-53-63, Powerball: 21
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Keno
Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Maryland Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes above $600, winners can claim by mail or in person from the Maryland Lottery office, an Expanded Cashing Authority Program location or cashiers’ windows at Maryland casinos. Prizes over $5,000 must be claimed in person.
Claiming by Mail
Sign your winning ticket and complete a claim form. Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID and a copy of a document that shows proof of your Social Security number or Federal Tax ID number. Mail these to:
Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center
1800 Washington Boulevard
Suite 330
Baltimore, MD 21230
For prizes over $600, bring your signed ticket, a government-issued photo ID, and proof of your Social Security or Federal Tax ID number to Maryland Lottery headquarters, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD. Claims are by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This location handles all prize amounts, including prizes over $5,000.
Winning Tickets Worth $25,000 or Less
Maryland Lottery headquarters and select Maryland casinos can redeem winning tickets valued up to $25,000. Note that casinos cannot cash prizes over $600 for non-resident and resident aliens (tax ID beginning with “9”). You must be at least 21 years of age to enter a Maryland casino. Locations include:
- Horseshoe Casino: 1525 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD
- MGM National Harbor: 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD
- Live! Casino: 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD
- Ocean Downs Casino: 10218 Racetrack Road, Berlin, MD
- Hollywood Casino: 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway, Perryville, MD
- Rocky Gap Casino: 16701 Lakeview Road NE, Flintstone, MD
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Maryland Lottery.
When are the Maryland Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 11 p.m. ET Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 Midday: 12:27 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 12:28 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.
- Pick 3, 4 and 5 Evening: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- Cash4Life: 9 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash Pop: 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
- Bonus Match 5: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- MultiMatch: 7:56 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
- Powerball Double Play: 11 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Maryland editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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