Pillar 3: College and Career Readiness
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Every student graduates high school college and career ready.
Pillar 3 establishes rigorous standards and clear pathways that prepare students to graduate high school ready for the next phase of their lives, whether pursuing higher education, entering a technical career, or joining the workforce.
Central to this vision is a realigned instructional system, with curriculum and assessments built on high-quality instructional materials, which guarantees that what students learn, how they are assessed, and what they are expected to achieve are consistently aligned with college and career readiness standards. A key focus is ensuring that all students demonstrate growth and proficiency in critical areas such as reading and mathematics, providing a strong foundation for success in their chosen pathways.
Outcomes
| Outcome ID | Outcome | Baseline Data | Annual Data Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.A | Increase the percentage of grade 3 students scoring proficient in reading. | 46% (2023-2024) | August |
| 3.B | Increase the percentage of grades 3-8 students scoring proficient in reading. | 47% (2023-2024) | August |
| 3.C | Increase the percentage of grade 5 students scoring proficient in mathematics. | 29% (2023-2024) | August |
| 3.D | Increase the percentage of grades 3-8 students scoring proficient in mathematics. | 27% (2023-2024) | August |
| 3.E | Increase the percentage of grade 8 students scoring proficient in science. | 25% (2023-2024) | August |
| 3.F | Increase proficiency on all state assessments for each student group*. | See Data Dashboard | August |
| 3.G | Decrease gaps in proficiency on all state assessments between student groups*. | See Data Dashboard | August |
| 3.H | ncrease the percentage of students demonstrating growth on statewide assessments at each grade level and in each student group*. | Once new accountability system is implemented | August |
| 3.I | Increase the percentage of students who meet the CCR standard by the end of 10th grade in each student group*. | Anticipated Fall 2026 | October |
| 3.J | Increase the percentage of students who meet the CCR standard by high school graduation in each student group*. | Anticipated Fall 2026 | October |
| 3.K | Increase the percentage of students in each student group who complete at least one component of a Post-CCR Pathway, such as earning postsecondary credit, AP/IB exam with qualifying score, a career-connected learning experience, or an Industry-Recognized Credential. | Anticipated Fall 2026 | November |
| 3.L | Increase the percentage of high school students participating in the high school level of a registered apprenticeship. | Anticipated Fall 2027 | November |
| 3.M | Increase the percentage of Maryland students who graduate high school in 4 years. | 88% (2023-2024) | February |
* Student groups include: students with disabilities, multilingual learners, students attending Community Schools, economically disadvantaged students, race/ethnicity, and gender groups.
The Strategic Plan Data Dashboard offers an interactive view of our department's progress toward achieving the goals in MSDE’s Strategic Plan. Explore baseline and trend data for each outcome, organized by the five pillars of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.