Tag: featured

News, The Pulse investigates

Governor signs bill meant to lower acceptable levels of lead in school drinking water; 13 Arundel water sources exceed the ‘intended’ lead content

Photo by Evangeline Fox

By Caitlyn Freeman 

Governor Larry Hogan signed The Lead Reduction and Remediation Act, which includes a non-binding expression of intent from The Maryland General Assembly to reduce the acceptable lead content in school drinking water sources to five parts per billion (ppb), into law on May 13th, 2019. 13 drinking water sources (ten non-consumable and three consumable) at Arundel High School previously tested positive for contents of lead higher than five ppb but tested lower than the state-mandated 20 ppb action level for lead in drinking water sources. Since the new law is non-binding, and the water sources are in accordance with state law, they continue to operate.

Continue reading “Governor signs bill meant to lower acceptable levels of lead in school drinking water; 13 Arundel water sources exceed the ‘intended’ lead content” →

CRASC, News

Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils hosts officer information night

By Natalie Adams

Chesapeake Regional Association of student Councils (CRASC) held their second officer information night on Wednesday, May 1st at the Parham Building. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about the positions available, ask questions, see the Secretary of Education in action, and experience a typical Board of Education (BOE) meeting.

Continue reading “Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils hosts officer information night” →

AACPS, News, Outside Arundel

County Executive Pittman’s budget proposal reduces requested Capital and Operating budgets for AACPS

By Caitlyn Freeman

Anne Arundel County Executive, Steuart Pittman, announced his $1.7 billion proposal for the county budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 on Wednesday, May 1st. According to Pittman’s budget brief, $733.3 million is appropriated to Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), which accounts for 51 percent of the total county budget.

Continue reading “County Executive Pittman’s budget proposal reduces requested Capital and Operating budgets for AACPS” →

AACPS, News

Board of Education for AACPS votes on redistricting for Crofton Area High School

By Natalie Adams

The Board of Education (BOE) for Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) voted to adopt the Option one redistricting proposal for Crofton Area High School at their meeting on Wednesday, April 17th. This option will relocate students in the Two Rivers and Waugh Chapel communities to the Arundel feeder system starting the 2020-2021 school year.

Continue reading “Board of Education for AACPS votes on redistricting for Crofton Area High School” →

AACPS, Opinion

College admissions, scholarships, and overall well-roundedness: why class rank is still important

By Ian Dinmore

Recently, it has been proposed that the class rank system in Anne Arundel County be abolished. The champion of this issue is our student representative on the school board, Josie Urrea. Urrea, a senior at Severna Park High School, the current Student Member of the Board (SMOB), and Vice President of the Board of Education (BOE), claims that class rank creates a toxic environment where students are pitted against each other, saying this occurs across the county. Her solution is to terminate the class rank system, with it the valedictorian and salutatorian awards, and focus more on the cum laude honors system that was implemented in 2017.

Continue reading “College admissions, scholarships, and overall well-roundedness: why class rank is still important” →

AACPS, News

Board of Education for AACPS begins discussion on abolishing class rank

By Caitlyn Freeman 

The members of the Board of Education (BOE) for Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS)  began deliberations on the school system’s grading policy during the meeting of the BOE on Wednesday, April 3rd. After discussion, the board voted to send forth a policy change, which would abolish the class rank system starting in the 2021-2022 school year, to public comment for a period of 30-days.

Continue reading “Board of Education for AACPS begins discussion on abolishing class rank” →

AACPS, News

Board of Education for AACPS votes in support of bill to create training for special education advocates

By Caitlyn Freeman 

The Board of Education (BOE) for Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) voted to support Maryland Senate Bill (SB) 1016 during the meeting of the board on Wednesday, March 20th. The bill would require the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to create a “Voluntary Ethical Special Education Advocate Certificate Program” for those who are special education advocates.  Continue reading “Board of Education for AACPS votes in support of bill to create training for special education advocates” →

AACPS, News

Accusations of bias and discrimination fly at latest Crofton Area High School redistricting meeting

By Natalie Adams

The Board of Education (BOE) for Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) held a meeting open to public comment on the proposals for redistricting for the Crofton Area High School on Tuesday, March 19th at Arundel High School. At the meeting, parents and community members made claims of discrimination and bias towards the proposals, redistricting committee, and other attendees.

Continue reading “Accusations of bias and discrimination fly at latest Crofton Area High School redistricting meeting” →

AACPS, News

The Board of Education for AACPS revises and adopts Dr. Arlotto’s recommended budget

Photo via Twitter

By Caitlyn Freeman

The Board of Education (BOE) for Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) adopts a $172 million capital budget and a $1.27 billion operating budget for fiscal year (FY) 2020 during the meeting of the board on Monday, February 25th.

Continue reading “The Board of Education for AACPS revises and adopts Dr. Arlotto’s recommended budget” →

AACPS, News

Arundel’s Global Community Citizenship Class becomes a countywide graduation requirement

Photo by Natalie Adams

By Caitlyn Freeman 

The Board of Education (BOE) for Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) passed a motion 8-0 on Wednesday, February 6th making the Global Community Citizenship class, which was piloted at Arundel High School, a countywide graduation requirement starting in the 2019-2020 school year.

Continue reading “Arundel’s Global Community Citizenship Class becomes a countywide graduation requirement” →