$5.5M Grant To HCPSS Will Help Elementary Students In 3rd-5th Grades With Disabilities

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Howard County Public School System has been selected as one of two local school systems to participate in the Maryland State Personnel Development Grant through the Maryland State Department of Education. The $5.5 million will be spent in the next four years between MSDE and the two participating school systems as a way to improve the mathematics proficiency of elementary students with disabilities in third through fifth grades and narrow the opportunity and achievement gaps for these learners.

Two HCPSS schools, Hanover Hills and Jeffers Hill elementary schools, will become state and national demonstration sites for creating and delivering specially designed instruction in mathematics with embedded social-emotional supports for students and instructional coaching for staff.

“I am proud to be a part of this type of work, and to know that we are co-creating something that possibly could be replicated throughout our county and beyond,” Terri Savage, executive director of special education for the HCPSS, said. “This is an opportunity to improve student outcomes by focusing on how to address all of a child’s needs and helping them to persevere. By supporting their mathematics competencies as well as their social-emotional learning, it keeps students engaged in the classroom, ready to learn, and working alongside their classmates.”

HCPSS will spend the next year collaborating with MSDE to develop plans for the use of the grant funding. These plans may include investing in math coaches, professional learning on SDI, consultants and instructional materials.

To help special educators learn new methods and strategies to support students with disabilities in third through fifth grades, funds may be used by teachers for professional learning opportunities and to carve out time to plan, review data and develop lessons.

“I am thrilled that two of our schools were selected to participate in this valuable work,” HCPSS Superintendent Michael Martirano said. “These additional resources will support many of our youngest learners with disabilities, equipping special educators with additional resources and skills needed to thrive in challenging situations.”