School Improvement in Maryland
Board Members' Guide

What Do Board Members Need To Know?

Understanding Maryland Standards

Understanding State Assessments

  • How does Maryland assess student learning? • MSA • HSA
  • What do the assessments test? • MSA • HSA • Mod-HSA
  • What do the assessments look like? • MSA • HSA
  • How are the assessments scored? • MSA • HSA
  • How were standards set? • MSA • HSA

Analyzing Data Results

Welcome, Board Members

Lillian M. Lowery, Ed.D., Maryland State Superintendent of Schools

"Our teachers, our administrators, our parents, and our students are working together to move schools forward. Education is the cornerstone to Maryland's future, and I believe we're building a strong foundation for decades to come."

Recent Feedback

Board Members share their perspective on how MDK12.org has assisted their work.

“MDK12.org allows us to help our teachers look at trends in data, especially critical subgroups. We can monitor our targets as AMO increases each year. The questions/processes provided to guide us through analysis of data to impact instruction are extremely valuable.”

—McCutcheon, Laura and Hankins, Laura, Gaithersburg Elementary, MD

“This site has been instrumental! We will continue to surge forward as a professional learning community as long as we have the mdk12.org in our side pocket!”

—Lance Dempsey, Principal, Shady Grove Middle School

Share your perspective here

Data Explorer

Use these multi-media tutorials to better understand your accountability data.

How MSDE Calculates Graduation Rate

How Dropout Rates are Calculated

Board Members' Resources

Additional websites to support your work.

Expanding Perspectives

How will Maryland's NCLB waiver change accountability?

Mary Gable, Assistant State Superintendent Division of Academic Policy

“Every school and subgroup will now have individual targets for growth.”
Mary Gable, Assistant State Superintendent Division of Academic Policy

Other Questions
What is the College Readiness Criteria?
Why do we need high school assessments?
How do districts help students pass HSA?

News From The Board

February 26, 2013

Maryland ranks number one again in Advanced Placement - it's 7th year running – but digs in to try to get even better! It's getting near crunch time for the Teacher-Principal Evaluations - we'll have an update. For the 3rd time in 7 years, Maryland has a national finalist in the Teacher of the Year competition, you'll hear from Rhonda Blankenship of Cecil County - and more!

View prior board meetings

“I intend to work closely with educators and parents to make certain our next generation is ready for the world that awaits.”

—Lillian M. Lowery
Maryland State Superintendent