MSDE to Strengthen School Safety - post

Maryland Awarded $3.6 Million in Federal Grants to Strengthen School Safety

U.S. Department of Education, Department of Justice Funds

BALTIMORE (October 3, 2018) – The Maryland State Department of Education has been awarded $3.6 million in federal grants designed to further strengthen classroom safety. Child care providers and program directors can review how these investments intersect with provider training and emergency-preparedness requirements by consulting MSDE training options such as MSDE Health & Safety Training and the MSDE‑approved 45‑Hour School‑Age Methods & Materials. Additionally, ChildcareEd offers MSDE‑aligned courses that meet many Maryland provider training needs: ChildcareEd MSDE Health & Safety Course Buy Now $35.00$30.00 and 45-Hour School Age Curriculum Buy Now $399.00$199.00. These ChildcareEd courses provide MSDE‑aligned, state-appropriate training that can help providers meet health, safety, and preservice requirements in Maryland.

A five-year, $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will allow Maryland to implement the Maryland School Emergency Preparedness Program, a partnership between MSDE, local school systems, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and local emergency managers.  In addition, a three-year, $1 million grant from the US Department of Justice, will allow MSDE to implement a new violence prevention model in schools across the State.

“Citizens here in our state and all across America want to know what government at all levels is doing to increase accountability and to implement common-sense reforms to keep our students safe,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Classrooms should never be a place of fear for our children, and no mom or dad should ever have to worry when they send their kids off to school whether their son or daughter is going to come home safely. Fortunately in Maryland we are ahead of the curve. We have already enacted many of the measures that other states are now just beginning to think about and these grants will help in our efforts.”

Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools, said the grants will allow MSDE to bolster the security of every classroom in Maryland.

“Learning simply cannot take place in a school where students and teachers don’t feel safe,” Dr. Salmon said. “These funds will help Maryland update and modernize emergency operations plans in schools throughout the State, and utilize state-of-the-art techniques to better identify potential threats to student safety.”

The two grants continue Maryland’s innovative efforts to improve school security.  For example:

• The U.S. Department of Education grant allows MSDE to implement the Maryland School Emergency Preparedness Program (MD-SEP). The MD-SEP will provide training and assistance to local systems in developing and implementing school emergency operations plans, developing or improving their links with community partners in school safety, and strengthen other aspects of emergency management. 

What will the Maryland School Emergency Preparedness Program (MD-SEP) actually do?

The federal Department of Education grant supports the Maryland School Emergency Preparedness Program (MD-SEP), a multi-year effort to modernize emergency operations plans, expand training, and strengthen links between local school systems and community emergency managers. Practically, MD-SEP funds will be used to update written emergency plans, deliver incident-command and reunification training, and promote multi-agency drills that include local public safety partners. School leaders and child care directors should treat MD-SEP as an opportunity to align center-level emergency plans with district and county procedures so actions are coordinated during an incident.

How does the Maryland Behavior Threat Assessment Model work and what does it mean for schools and child care providers?

The Department of Justice-funded initiative will pilot and scale the Maryland Behavior Threat Assessment Model alongside mental health training and intervention supports. Threat assessment is a structured, multidisciplinary process for identifying, assessing, and managing individuals who may pose a risk of violence. For early childhood and school‑age settings this means establishing referral pathways, defining staff roles for early identification, and ensuring access to mental-health resources. Providers should review local district threat-assessment policies and integrate clear reporting and follow-up steps into their program protocols. For training needs, consider MSDE-approved online courses that cover health, safety, and behavioral supports such as MSDE‑approved online training for child care providers and ChildcareEd's Threat Assessment & Mental Health Support course.

What practical steps should Maryland child care providers take now to align with these initiatives?

1. Review and update your site emergency plan to match local school/district expectations and local emergency management guidance. 2. Ensure staff complete MSDE health and safety courses and preservice training where required; see Preservice Training Requirements for Child Care Providers in Maryland. 3. Establish written communication and reunification procedures linked to county emergency operations. 4. Build relationships with local child care resource centers and local school safety stakeholders; this will streamline joint drills and information sharing. Helpful operational checklists and forms include the Maryland Home Daycare Checklist and the Required Maryland Child Care Forms (see links below). For targeted, MSDE‑aligned training, consider these ChildcareEd courses: ChildcareEd MSDE Health & Safety Course, ChildcareEd 45‑Hour School‑Age Methods Course, and ChildcareEd Threat Assessment & Mental Health Support course.

How will these grants affect licensing, training and funding opportunities for providers?

The grants create ripple effects for licensing and training: statewide training pushes may become required or strongly recommended for certain credential levels; some counties may offer funding or incentives to align provider training with MD-SEP priorities. Providers seeking to confirm licensing implications should consult the How to Get a Daycare License in Maryland guidance and the Maryland Child Care Credential program pages. Also review New Child Care Regulations in Maryland for 2026 to confirm any regulatory changes or COMAR updates that affect licensing and training. In addition, providers interested in grant opportunities or program enhancements should review 'Daycare Grants in Maryland for 2026' and local Child Care Resource Center supports to identify funding or partnership options.

Where can I find targeted resources and further reading on Maryland-specific responsibilities?

Actionable site pages and guides: How to Open a Home Daycare in Maryland, How to Get a Daycare License in Maryland, Required Maryland Child Care Forms, Maryland Home Daycare Checklist, How to Become a Child Care Director in Maryland, and MSDE Health and Safety Training for Child Care Providers. These pages help providers operationalize the policies and training priorities described above.

Summary

Maryland's $3.6M in federal grants (Department of Education and Department of Justice) will accelerate emergency-preparedness planning and introduce a statewide approach to threat assessment and mental-health intervention. Child care providers should update their emergency plans, confirm staff completion of MSDE health and safety trainings, and connect with local emergency managers and child care resource centers to align practices. Use the linked MSDE-approved courses and guidance pages above to meet training and licensing expectations.

Key topics: #schoolSafety #Maryland #MSDE #preparedness #childSafety

References

• Unique Collaborative Event To Focus On Strengthening ... (Maryland Public Schools press release) — supports the claim that Maryland stakeholders coordinate school-safety preparedness.
• Education, Maryland State Department of - Functions (Maryland State Archives) — documents MSDE's leadership role in school-safety structures.

• The U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance Grant allows MSDE to implement the Maryland Behavior Threat Assessment Model and Mental Health Training and Intervention Support Initiative. The grant, one of just six awards granted to states with populations greater than five million, is designed to quell school safety issues before they affect students. The program will help fulfill legislative mandates established by the Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018.