Talbot Schools to Walk Families Through New State Endorsements for Students on the Alternate Track, Nov. 17

EASTON, MARYLAND — Talbot County Public Schools will hold an evening workshop Tuesday, Nov. 17, for families of students who are assessed under Maryland's alternate academic standards, on three endorsements those students can now earn on the state's Certificate of Program Completion.

The endorsements are additional designations on the certificate that identify a student's achievement in three areas, according to the Maryland State Department of Education. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the department says, all students turning 14 or older who take part in Maryland's Alternate Education Framework have the opportunity to work toward one. Its frequently asked questions say students in the framework are considered participants unless the family has opted out in writing.

There are three. The Postsecondary Education endorsement covers skills that support learning after high school. The Career and Work Readiness endorsement covers skills for jobs or training programs. The Community and Citizenship endorsement covers skills for independence and taking part in community life. A student may work toward and earn one, two or all three. The state says the endorsements are meant to help teachers, employers and community programs understand a young adult's skills and plans.

The decisions run through each student's individualized education program, or IEP, team. When a student turns 14, the state says, the IEP team will discuss the endorsements, the skills needed to earn them and how they fit the student's goals after school, and families receive information about the student's progress before each IEP meeting. The state's FAQ says endorsements are earned through in-person observations and IEP team feedback, based on mastery of each endorsement's competencies: at least 70% of them and three in each standard area for Postsecondary Education, 60% and two for Career and Work Readiness, and 50% and one for Community and Citizenship. The FAQ also says that starting this school year parents receive a copy of a completed attainment rubric before the annual IEP meeting so they can weigh in on which endorsements and skills to pursue. Families with questions, or who want to opt out, are told to contact the student's case manager.

Andrea Wolters, the district's transition facilitator, will present the workshop, which covers what the endorsements are, what they mean for a young adult and how families can help. It begins at 6 p.m. at the Talbot County Education Center, 12 Magnolia Street, Easton. The district asks families to RSVP to Stacey Behrens at sbehrens [at] talbotschools.org.