History of Community Schools

Community schools have been present in some of Maryland’s local school systems for more than 25 years.

Prior to The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, both Baltimore City and Montgomery County had established community schools. A 2016 evaluation of Baltimore City’s community school strategy found that community schools had higher rates of daily attendance in elementary and middle schools and decreased rates of chronic absenteeism in community schools that had been established for five or more years. Additionally, families of students attending community schools were more likely to report being connected to the school, and students in grades 6, 9, and 10 were less likely to transfer to another school than students who did not attend community schools.

Recognizing the value of early community school strategies in Montgomery County and Baltimore City, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation in 2019 that defined and described various aspects of community schools. In 2021, The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future became law. The Blueprint reflects Maryland’s commitment to establishing and sustaining high-quality community schools that meet critical needs. Maryland is now home to more than 300 community schools serving students from 17 local education agencies.