This message provides HCPSS staff with an annual update about the Low Performing Schools identified for the 2024-2025 school year and the impact of these changes on National Board Certified (NBC) teachers. Learn more about Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future and the NBC teacher pay increase.
What are the Low Performing Schools for the 2024-2025 school year?
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) created two categories of Low Performing School identification:
- State Defined (Required) - schools identified as 1-star and 2-star schools in 2019 and 2022 accountability. HCPSS had no State Defined schools in 2022-2023 & 2023-2024.
- Local Flexibility (Optional) - bottom 10% of local schools in the state accountability system. At the March 24, 2022 BOE meeting, the Board voted to designate all of the Local Flexibility schools below for the incentive pay.
The HCPSS schools designated as locally Low Performing Schools for the 2024-2025 school year are:
- Cradlerock Elementary School (Continued Local Flexibility)
- Harper’s Choice Middle School (State Defined)
- Lake Elkhorn Middle School (State Defined)
- Oakland Mills Middle School (Continued Local Flexibility)
- Wilde Lake Middle School (Continued Local Flexibility
- Long Reach High School (New Local Flexibility)
- Oakland Mills High School (Continued Local Flexibility)
- Homewood Center (Continued Local Flexibility)
How Does This Impact HCPSS Staff?
Swansfield Elementary School is no longer identified as a Low Performing School for the 2024-2025 school year. HCPSS NBCT staff, in eligible roles, at Swansfield Elementary School:
- Continue receiving the $7,000 incentive pay if they are currently eligible in 2023-2024.
- Not receive the $7,000 incentive pay if they achieve NBCT status as of December 2024.
- Not receive the $7,000 incentive pay if they transfer into the school or are hired by the school during the 2024-2025 school year.
Background on NBC Teacher Salary Increase
The Blueprint increases the salary by $10,000 of National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) who are actively teaching in Maryland public schools. For the purpose of identifying which NBCTs will receive the $10,000 income supplement, Maryland House Bill 1300 (p. 122) defines “teacher” as “a certified public school employee who is primarily responsible and accountable for teaching students in the class.”
NBCTs staying or moving to a Low Performing School will receive an additional $7,000 added to their salary. As long as they stay at that school, an NBCT will continue to earn the salary increase, even if the school shows improvement and is no longer identified as a low performing school. A new list of possible schools for designation will be provided each year by MSDE. The HCPSS Board of Education will then make decisions on which schools will be designated as low performing.
While HCPSS honors and supports the Blueprint distinction and incentives to recruit NBCTs to work in low performing schools, NBCT certification isn’t the only distinction that determines teacher mastery or responsiveness to students and community. For this purpose and aligned with provisions in the teacher contract and HCPSS policy, staff selection remains a school-based decision. NBCTs who express an interest in transferring to an identified school will be considered along with all other transfer candidates and will not receive special consideration due to their NBCT status.