AIB and Salisbury University tell subcommittee Blueprint work is under way; lawmakers press on dual‑enrollment and equity

The Accountability and Implementation Board, which oversees implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, told the Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee that it has focused on technical assistance and plan reviews while addressing early implementation challenges.

Laura Hyde, budget analyst for the AIB, told the committee that AIB’s fiscal 2025 operating allowance falls to about $3,000,000 from the FY24 working appropriation, primarily because one‑time Blueprint Fund allocations and several grants ended. “AIB's fiscal 2025 budget decreases from the '24 working appropriation by $2,900,000 or approximately 50% to $3,000,000,” Hyde said, adding that roughly $2.5M of the FY25 allowance is for salaries and wages, with $437,000 for contractual services and a remaining administrative balance.

An AIB representative described the board’s technical assistance strategy: a competitive program that paired 22 of 24 local education agencies (LEAs) with “strategic facilitators” to support blueprint implementation, plus MOUs with technical partners such as the Maryland Longitudinal Data System (MLDS) Center to align outcome measures. The board said it has reserved funds to continue phase 2 technical assistance into FY25 if the AIB determines the intervention is producing value.

A Salisbury University representative presented institutional data on enrollment, retention and student support. The university said it raised retention to about 80% and expanded merit scholarship funding by 21%, awarding nearly $17,000,000 in financial aid this academic year. The presenter described partnerships with local community colleges and said the institution is taking steps to stabilize transfer enrollment and to address retention disparities for underrepresented students, noting targeted advising and midterm‑grade interventions as tools.

Committee members pressed the AIB about public communications, data transparency and specific program impacts. Several lawmakers said they want clearer public reporting of the AIB’s results so constituents can see concrete progress and understand how implementation affects local systems. The AIB representative said the board is hiring communications staff and working to align targets with the State Board of Education ahead of a joint meeting scheduled for Feb. 27.

Dual enrollment was a focal point of questioning. Legislators raised concerns about the implementation of a 75% payout formula for community colleges, whether preexisting MOUs permit different arrangements, and reports that some community colleges feel pressured to coordinate uniformly. The AIB representative said the board has not issued guidance contrary to statute and encouraged LEAs and community colleges to negotiate arrangements that expand access while recognizing funding constraints; the representative noted that a statutory or negotiated fix might be required if parties cannot compromise.

Board member Leggett, arriving late, emphasized both the scale of Maryland’s learning‑loss challenge and the early positive signals AIB cited: expanded full‑day pre‑K enrollment, higher participation in childcare credentialing, more teachers pursuing national board certification, apprenticeship participation growth and nearly 90 new community schools. He said phase 2 technical assistance will target resource allocation and county‑level partnerships to sustain progress.

The hearing record shows follow‑up requests for additional AIB detail, including explanations for a roughly 40% vacancy rate among authorized AIB positions, timelines for filling staff, documentation on contractual spending and more granular evidence of program impacts. The committee did not adopt legislative changes during the session; AIB and institutional witnesses agreed to provide written responses and to return for updates.