MD STUDENTS CONTINUE TO SHOW IMPROVEMENTS IN LANGUAGE ARTS, MATH: Test results released Tuesday by the Maryland State Department of Education show public school students making steady progress in math and language arts proficiency, but wide gaps remain between the scores of different demographic groups. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
- Students across Maryland are still struggling to learn algebra. The passing rate on the state’s Algebra I exam was 21.3%, behind only seventh- and eighth-grade math, according to annual test results released Tuesday. The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program tests students in grades 3-8 and some high schoolers in English, math and science. Algebra I exam results declined by 0.1 percentage points compared to 2025. Maya Lora, Allan James Vestal and Kasturi Pananjady/The Baltimore Banner.
- Here’s the bad news: Maryland students didn’t produce the most impressive scores on the state’s standardized test. The good news? Even though statewide scores have hardly budged since last year, students continue to bounce back from the pandemic slump, particularly in middle school English. Kristen Griffith, Allan James Vestal and Kasturi Pananjady/The Baltimore Banner.
ALLIES OF TRANSGENDER KIDS URGE STATE TO FIGHT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION: Allies of transgender children are urging state education officials to fight back against the Trump administration, which has threatened to punish a growing number of Maryland school districts over local policies that affirm students’ gender identities. The advocates testified Tuesday morning before the Maryland State Board of Education. Jessica Calefati/The Baltimore Banner.
DO STATE TASK FORCES BENEFIT LAWMAKERS OR JUST WASTE RESOURCES? For decades, Maryland lawmakers have sought answers and solutions by creating task forces, commissions and work groups. Among hundreds of studies launched since 2015, some groups have produced recommendations that have become law. Others never met or submitted reports, or they issued recommendations that were never acted upon. Former state Sen. Addie Eckardt, a retired psychiatric nurse, said multiple groups have studied nursing shortages, and the problem persists. Brooke Conrad/The Baltimore Sun.
MOORE CALLS FOR EPSTEIN FILES RELEASE WHEN ASKED ABOUT MILITARY SERVICE: Gov. Wes Moore was given a chance Thursday to settle months of questions about records that could illuminate his military service and financial interests. Instead, he answered with a message about someone else. Moore defended his commitment to transparency before pivoting. “Release the Epstein files,” the Democratic governor said. Gary Collins/The Baltimore Sun.
ECONOMISTS WARN OF RIPPLE EFFECT OF UM/UNION PAY DISPUTE: A dispute over pay raises for thousands of University System of Maryland employees could ripple beyond state workers, with economists saying the withheld raises may reduce consumer spending at local businesses. Tinashe Chingarande/The Baltimore Sun.
BA CO PLEDGES $25M FOR RAVENS HQ, TRAINING FACILITY UPGRADES: Baltimore County has committed up to $25 million to upgrade and expand the Baltimore Ravens’ headquarters and training facility in Owings Mills. The investment pledge was included in a new long-term agreement between the county and team, which allows the Ravens to keep their headquarters in Owings Mills for decades. Marcus Dieterle/Baltimore Fishbowl.
BA CO COUNCIL CONSIDERS REDUCING NUMBER OF SMOKE SHOPS: Residents, legislators and civic association leaders have long complained about Baltimore County’s many smoke and vape shops — their light-up-the-night signs, cartoon-themed pipes that appeal to minors, and late-night hours. In early August, the Baltimore County Council will consider a bill to reduce the number of shops and restrict where they can go. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
‘OBSESSED’ JUDGE IN B’MORE IG CASE SAYS DECISION WON’T BE QUICK: A judge overseeing an increasingly bitter legal dispute between Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming declined on Tuesday to reach an immediate decision. During an hourslong hearing, retired Baltimore Circuit Court Associate Judge Pamela White heard arguments on a motion from Scott’s administration to dismiss a lawsuit by the city’s inspector general. Cumming filed the suit against the administration in February, arguing that its officials were illegally blocking her office’s access to city documents as part of their oversight investigations. Emily Opilo/The Baltimore Banner.
- White described how much she has studied her “dog-eared” copies of both parties’ voluminous filings. “I have spilled coffee on them. I have asterisks. I have stickies all over the place,” she said. White said, declaring that she is “obsessed” with the “clear, unambiguous language of the charter’s Article X” that established an independent Office of the Inspector General. Fern Shen/Baltimore Brew.
18-MONTH DATA CENTER MORATORIUM PASSES MO CO COUNCIL: No new permits for data centers can be issued in the next 18 months, the Montgomery County Council decided in a unanimous vote Tuesday. The data center moratorium bill is a combination of separate proposals from Councilmembers Evan Glass and Will Jawando, who wanted to pause the facilities’ development for six months and two years, respectively. Ceoli Jacoby/Bethesda Today.
ELLICOTT CITY BUSINESSES RECALL DEADLY FLOODS OF 2016, 2018: On July 30, 2016, over 6 inches of rainfall hit the historic community of Ellicott City, causing devastating flooding and killing two people that night and a third who was repairing his building in the aftermath. Then, two years later, Ellicott City was hit by another historic flood, killing one person. Many businesses on Main Street had to rebuild completely. In 2026, Ellicott City is Howard County’s second-largest commercial hub. The business community looks back on what it overcame. April Santana and Sofia Montoya-Deck/The Baltimore Sun.
MTA CHIEF STEPS DOWN; MITCHELL TO HEAD LOBBYIST OFFICE: After five years running the agency that runs the state’s trains and buses, Holly Arnold is stepping down. Arnold said her last day as MTA administrator will be Sept. 1. A successor to run the agency that manages the state’s MARC trains, light rail, subway and bus systems is expected to be named shortly thereafter. Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr., a former delegate, former Baltimore City Council member and former senior adviser for Gov. Larry Hogan, has a new line for his resume: head of an Annapolis office for Washington-based lobbying firm BGR Group. Christine Condon and Will Hammann/Maryland Matters.
- Arnold, who has held several roles with the state transit agency over 14 years, was named its administrator by then-Gov. Larry Hogan in 2021 and continued in the role under Gov. Wes Moore. Daniel Zawodny/The Baltimore Banner.
The post State Roundup: MCAP results show some student progress in language arts, math; allies of transgender kids urge Education Board to fight Trump administration appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.
