The Board of Education of Anne Arundel County is scheduled to vote on changes in its policy regarding graduation requirements for students at its next meeting, set for Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
The Board is not making substantive changes to Policy IIC, but will discuss the matter for the third time at a public meeting because Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell is proposing to reduce the number of overall credits required to graduate from 26 to 23 and make a one-half credit high school course a graduation requirement. Both changes would be included in Administrative Regulation IIC-RA, which is the purview of the Superintendent. The change in the number of credits is aimed at opening additional opportunities for students and creating schedule flexibility to take advantage of those opportunities.
Wednesday’s meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the Carol S. Parham Building, located at 2644 Riva Road in Annapolis. It is open to the public and subject to normal space limitations in the Board Room.
The Board will also meet in a public session at 4 p.m. for the sole purpose of voting to immediately go into closed session, during which time it will discuss confidential matters as permitted by the Maryland Open Meetings Act including, but not limited to, legal advice, personnel, and negotiations. Closed session is not open to the public.
A complete agenda for the meeting can be found on the Board meeting page. More information on agenda items will be posted on the AACPS website in the Board Docs section under the Board of Education tab.
PUBLIC COMMENT AT BOARD MEETINGS
The Board will hear public comments from up to 10 total speakers (virtual and in-person combined) per agenda item during a single public comment section in the early portion of the meeting. Additionally, up to 10 speakers can comment on non-agenda items.
Procedures and protocols for public comment, including items for which the Board will not accept comment, can be found on the Board meeting page. Links to register for public comment or submit written comment will be live on the Board meeting page at 3 p.m. on the Friday before the Board meeting.
The general session of the meeting will be broadcast live on AACPS-TV and on AACPS’ YouTube channel.
FY2027 BUDGET WORKSHOP
The Board will hold a public workshop on Dr. Bedell’s recommended Fiscal Year 2027 Operating and Capital budgets at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. The workshop will be held in the Board Room at the Parham Building and will be open to the public.
The Board heard public testimony on the budget at two public hearings earlier this week. No budget-related public testimony will be taken at the workshop, at the January 14, 2026, meeting, or at the February 18, 2026, meeting at which the Board is scheduled to adopt its budget request. Should the Board offer amendments at the February 18, 2026, meeting, testimony will be taken on the amendments only. The Board has also scheduled time to meet on February 19, 2026, if it is necessary to complete work on its budget request.
The workshop will be broadcast live on AACPS-TV and on AACPS’ YouTube channel.
Dr. Bedell’s full Fiscal Year 2027 operating and capital budget recommendations, as well as a text of his budget address and a Budget in Brief document can be found on the AACPS budget page at www.aacps.org/fy27budget.
BOARD COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Board of Education’s committees will hold upcoming virtual meetings according to the following schedule. The meetings will not be broadcast, but those wishing to listen to the meetings can access them by telephone through the codes listed below.
Policy Committee: 3 p.m., February 3, 2026. Call 301-960-3676, enter the Conference ID 213 335 382#.
Budget Committee: Noon, January 20, 2026. Call 301-960-3676, enter the Conference ID 943 958 79#.
Equity Committee: Noon, March 24, 2026. Call 301-960-3676, enter the Conference ID 644 861 382#.