The Maryland State Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting Tuesday, February 26 at the Maryland State Department of Education, 200 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore.  The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the 7th floor Board Room.  Items on this month’s agenda include the following:

9:45 a.m. Advanced Placement
The College Board on February 20 announced that Maryland topped the nation in AP success for the seventh consecutive year.  College Board and MSDE staff will discuss those results with the State Board, as well as recent SAT and PSAT data.

10:45 a.m. Early College
The State Board will hear a presentation of MSDE’s initiative with the Maryland Association of Community Colleges to increase college readiness.  The Early College plan provides students the opportunity to take college level courses while still in high school, giving them a chance to complete college early.

2 p.m.  National Teacher of the Year
Maryland’s latest finalist for National Teacher of the Year, Rhonda Blankenship, will meet with the State Board.  An English/Language Arts Teacher at Rising Sun High School in Cecil County, Ms. Blankenship will compete with three other finalists for national honors next month.  The announcement on a national winner will be made in April.

2:10 p.m. Race to the Top Update
The State Board will be provided with an assessment on the progress being made on all 55 projects included in Maryland’s Race to the Top program.