State of the Schools 2018

September 14th, 2018

HCPSS Superintendent Michael Martirano today issued the following statement:

I recently presented the State of Howard County Public Schools at an event hosted by Bright Minds Foundation. Parents and community members play an important role in our the success of our school system and students, so I want to share with you highlights of our progress and plans for moving forward.

I am pleased to say that the state of our school system is strong. HCPSS has come a long way during the 16 months since I returned to Howard County, and we can all point with pride to our progress. We have added school capacity, enhanced student and school safety, strengthened student supports, and amplified our focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. We have built stronger partnerships with families and community leaders, improved responsiveness and transparency, and set our system on a fiscally sustainable course. Most importantly, we have established a culture of care, where relationships matter and decisions are based on the heart as well as the bottom line.

I firmly believe that we now have the right structure and culture in place, and we are well positioned to accelerate further progress. We have established a systematic strategic plan–the Strategic Call to Action–to guide our work and priorities. It identifies 15 Desired Outcomes that emphasize student-centered practices, inclusive relationships, and responsive, efficient operations.

As we move forward, we are focusing our efforts to improve services, supports and outcomes in six critical areas, including students living in poverty, mental health, restorative practices, early learning, innovative college and career pathways, and student and community voice.

I encourage you to review details of our progress and plans in the full text of my State of the Schools address and our newly expanded Strategic Call to Action.

I’m excited about the year ahead, and I look forward to our continued work together to nurture and prepare all of our 58,000 children to achieve and thrive.