Executive Summary

Howard County is rated Exceeds on Pillars 2 (High Quality & Diverse Teachers and Leaders) and 3 (College and Career Readiness), and Meets on Pillars 1, 4, and 5. The Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) approved all seven components of the 2024 implementation plan on December 19, 2024, releasing FY25 funds.^[1] Later submissions, including the 2025 Career Ladder, were approved without further revisions.^[2]

Teacher workforce indicators are the district's strongest area. National Board Certified teachers grew from 15 in 2021-22 to 179 in 2025-26, and teacher vacancies fell from 65 to 32.8 between 2022-23 and 2025-26.^[3] The minimum teacher salary of $61,500 exceeds the $60,000 Blueprint requirement.^[3] Student outcomes are also improving. Grades 3-8 ELA proficiency reached 64.3% (up from 57.4% in 2021-22) and math proficiency reached 47.3% (up from 40.8%), while 70.3% of SY2024-25 high school completers met the College and Career Readiness standard.^[3]

Key challenges remain. Teacher retention of 77.5% is below the 78.6% district target, and only 4 of 9 Minimum School Funding programs are budgeted for FY26, with full compliance not expected until 2028.^[3] Private age-4 Pre-K enrollment fell from 179 in 2022-23 to 89 in 2025-26,^[3] chronic absenteeism has plateaued (17.4% districtwide, 24.5% in community schools),^[3] and the Howard County Education Association (HCEA) declined to co-sign the 2025 Level 4 submission.^[4]