Tag: Marylands

  • Maryland’s Frederick County Public Schools Partners with Public Consulting Group to Modernize Special Education Services


    BOSTON, Jan. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Public Consulting Group (PCG) is proud to announce it’s been awarded a contract by Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) through a competitive bidding process to implement EDPlan, PCG’s leading platform for supporting special education and specialized student populations. FCPS will roll out the EDPlan platform starting in the 2025-2026 school year, which will elevate the way the district plans, implements, and manages students’ individualized education plans (IEPs) and increase family engagement.

    “PCG’s Maryland-focused team is excited to partner with FCPS educators and families to bring this transformative platform to life,” said Brooke Bell, Associate Manager at PCG. “Our solution is designed to empower educators, engage families, and support students with the tools they need to succeed.”

    The project represents a significant investment in the future of special education within the district, FCPS’ Director of Special Education, Specialized Programs, and Supports, Troy Keller, emphasized the importance of this shift. “When I joined FCPS in 2020, it was clear that our existing IEP system was not meeting the needs of our educators or families,” Keller stated. “With this new platform, we’re addressing those concerns head-on by providing a system that is both efficient and adaptable.”

    PCG’s EDPlan platform is built on a foundation of subject matter expertise in supporting students who are members of special populations groups. EDPlan brings a secure process-based approach that considers the needs of all stakeholders including teachers, administrators, and families. EDPlan will provide FCPS families with an easy-to-access parent portal and the ability to receive student IEPs translated into a family’s home language on the same day they are generated. 

    PCG’s partnership with FCPS builds on its history of collaboration with the district, including a comprehensive review of the district’s special education program. The firm remains committed to providing innovative, impactful solutions that help schools meet the diverse needs of their communities.

    About Public Consulting Group

    Public Consulting Group LLC (PCG) is a leading public sector solutions implementation and operations improvement firm that partners with health, education, and human services agencies to improve lives. Founded in 1986, PCG employs approximately 2,000 professionals throughout the U.S.—all committed to delivering solutions that change lives for the better. The firm is a member of a family of companies with experience in all 50 states, in Canada, and in Europe. PCG offers clients a multidisciplinary approach to meet challenges, pursue opportunities, and serve constituents across the public sector. To learn more, visit www.publicconsultinggroup.com.

    Media Contact

    Alyssa Brown, Corporate Director of Communications and Public Relations
    (617) 488-9084
    [email protected]

    SOURCE Public Consulting Group



    Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) in Maryland is proud to announce a new partnership with Public Consulting Group (PCG) to modernize and enhance special education services for students.

    This collaboration aims to improve outcomes for students with disabilities by implementing innovative solutions and best practices in special education programming. PCG is a leading provider of education and human services consulting, and their expertise will help FCPS streamline processes, improve compliance, and ultimately provide better support for students with special needs.

    “We are excited to partner with PCG to enhance our special education services and better meet the needs of our students,” said Dr. Terry Alban, Superintendent of FCPS. “This partnership will enable us to leverage the latest technology and best practices to ensure that every student receives the individualized support they need to succeed.”

    Through this partnership, FCPS will have access to PCG’s specialized tools and resources, including data analytics, professional development, and compliance monitoring. This will help FCPS identify areas for improvement, track progress, and make informed decisions to better serve students with disabilities.

    “We are committed to providing high-quality, individualized education for all students, including those with special needs,” said Dr. Alban. “By partnering with PCG, we are taking an important step towards modernizing our special education services and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

    The collaboration between FCPS and PCG represents a significant investment in the future of special education in Frederick County. By leveraging the expertise and resources of both organizations, FCPS is poised to deliver more effective and efficient services to students with disabilities, ultimately improving outcomes and fostering a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students.

    Tags:

    Maryland, Frederick County, Public Schools, Public Consulting Group, Special Education, Modernize, Services, Partnership, Education Reform, Innovative Solutions, School District Collaboration, Student Support, Disability Services, Technology Integration, Enhanced Learning Opportunities

    #Marylands #Frederick #County #Public #Schools #Partners #Public #Consulting #Group #Modernize #Special #Education #Services

  • Maryland’s GOP congressman Andy Harris remains undecided on speaker Johnson’s future

    Maryland’s GOP congressman Andy Harris remains undecided on speaker Johnson’s future


    Rep. Andy Harris, Maryland’s lone republican congressman and Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, remains undecided on whether he will support Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on Frida, when the House of Representatives is expected to decide who will lead Congress.

    Congressman Harris is concerned with the current national debt, which now amounts to $36.19 trillion, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury, and is critical of Speaker Johnson’s handling of the budget.

    “Since President Trump’s historic election to bring down spending, deficits, and inflation, the ‘Republican’-led House has INITIATED $300 billion in unpaid for new spending, without even ATTEMPTING offsets to prevent skyrocketing the deficit and debt. Future generations deserve better,” the congressman told FOX45. “I am now undecided on what House leadership should look like in the 119th Congress.”

    On Dec. 21st, the House approved a stopgap measure to keep the government funded. Rep. Harris was one of 34 Republican representatives who voted against the spending bill.

    In an interview with FOX45 on Dec. 20th, Harris said he was still supportive of the Speaker, but added that some of his Republican colleagues were “much more questionable” of leader Johnson.

    ALSO READ | Key Bridge funding at risk as Maryland lawmakers oppose trimmed spending bill

    “I am still supportive of Speaker Johnson. There are some of my colleagues who are much more questionable after what has happened in the last two weeks. But, again, we still have a while to go not only on this ball, but until January 3rd. We’ll see what develops,” Harris said.

    On Dec. 30, only a few days prior to the Speaker’s vote on Jan. 3, President-elect Donald Trump endorsed Speaker Johnson. “Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

    GOP Rep. Thomas Massie from Kentucky said that, while he supports and respects Trump, he does not plan to protect Johnson’s leadership.

    “I respect and support President Trump, but his endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan. We’ve seen Johnson partner with the democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget,” Rep. Massie wrote.

    As his influence grows in Congress, some have suggested that Congressman Harris himself might be a good fit for the speakership. “His stock has been rising. It’s certainly plausible he could be a name out there,” Flavio Hickel Jr., a political science professor at Washington College in Chestertown, told FOX45’s media partner, The Baltimore Sun.

    However, during an interview with Rob Finnerty from Newsmax on Monday, Harris said that his “undecided” position is not in reference to him seeking the leadership position.



    In the midst of the turmoil surrounding Speaker Johnson’s future, Maryland’s GOP congressman Andy Harris has yet to make a decision on where he stands. With tensions running high within the Republican party, Harris’s hesitation to choose a side has left many constituents wondering where his allegiance truly lies.

    As the debate over Speaker Johnson’s future continues to dominate headlines, Harris’s indecision has not gone unnoticed. Some have criticized him for not taking a firm stance on the issue, while others believe that he is carefully considering all aspects before making a decision.

    Harris’s constituents are eagerly awaiting his announcement on how he plans to vote on the matter. As one of Maryland’s representatives in Congress, his decision could have a significant impact on the outcome of the vote.

    As the pressure mounts for Harris to make a choice, all eyes are on him to see which direction he will ultimately choose to go in. Only time will tell where his allegiance truly lies in this high-stakes political battle.

    Tags:

    Maryland GOP congressman, Andy Harris, Speaker Johnson, Republican Party, undecided, future, Congress, political news, Maryland politics, leadership, House of Representatives, GOP, Andy Harris on Speaker Johnson, Congressional decisions, Republican congressman, political stance, Maryland representative, Speaker of the House.

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  • Maryland’s Andy Harris is losing faith in Speaker Johnson. Could he be a contender for the role?

    Maryland’s Andy Harris is losing faith in Speaker Johnson. Could he be a contender for the role?


    In October 2023, Maryland Rep. Andy Harris saw values in newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson that matched his own.

    Harris, the state’s lone Republican in the congressional delegation, was optimistic and confident about the kind of leader he believed Johnson would be. At the top of the list was the Louisiana Republican’s promise to bring up individual spending bills instead of large, jam-packed omnibus bills Congress had become known for. Those last-minute deals were kryptonite to fiscal conservatives who demanded more transparency and wanted voters to see how the government was spending their money.

    “He’s exactly the kind of leader the House, Washington, and America needs in this time of national and global crisis,” Harris said of Johnson at the time.

    A little over a year later, Harris is reconsidering “whether the current leadership is what we need.”

    “Before the last couple of weeks, I was in his corner, but now we should consider what’s the best path forward,” Harris said Thursday on Fox Business.

    After a chaotic end to the legislative session before the holidays, Republicans are debating who should lead them as House speaker — one of the most powerful political positions in Washington, D.C., and third in the presidential line of succession. It’s also a role Harris could be groomed for as his influence grows in Congress.

    Harris represents Maryland’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the Eastern Shore, Harford County and part of Baltimore County. He is also the chair of the House Freedom Caucus, a powerful group of lawmakers who try to steer the Republican Party toward fiscal conservatism.

    The caucus frequently calls for reducing spending and the size of government, and its members have rejected bipartisan deals. Some members were among the eight lawmakers who ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy for working across the aisle to avert a shutdown in 2023.

    But this year the speaker race comes at a more frantic time, with some Republicans asking President-elect Donald Trump to back Johnson to ensure they can easily certify his victory on Jan. 6. Johnson has remained close to Trump, including at the recent Army-Navy game in Landover, yet the president-elect has indicated he wouldn’t stop someone from challenging him for the speaker’s gavel.

    Harris previously told The Baltimore Sun that the House Freedom Caucus would be working to deliver Trump’s agenda. On Thursday, he said Trump needs “strong leadership” on Capitol Hill, especially while tight margins mean Republicans can’t afford to lose many votes.

    Could Harris, who has been a reliable and loyal supporter of Trump, be an option for House speaker?

    “His stock has been rising. It’s certainly plausible he could be a name out there,” said Flavio Hickel Jr., a political science professor at Washington College in Chestertown.

    But whether Harris, who did not respond to multiple requests for comment, wants the job or Johnson would be pushed aside is “almost impossible to predict, Hickel said.

    It’s reasonable to think Johnson would have at least one more legislative foray before facing serious talk of replacing him, the professor said.

    “I think Johnson might get the first crack at moving Trump’s legislative priority,” Hickel said. “If he fails at that or it falls apart, Andy Harris and others might try to position themselves to be next in line.”

    On the other hand, skeptical Republicans are already showing signs they want a new speaker in January — something Trump opened the door for with his criticism of debt negotiations before the holidays.

    In a joint statement Dec. 18 with Vice President-elect JD Vance, Trump encouraged Republicans to “GET SMART and TOUGH” during last-minute negotiations on legislation to avert a government shutdown.

    “If Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, then CALL THEIR BLUFF,” the statement said.

    The statement immediately drew criticism from Democrats, as several Republicans and billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk called for shutting down the federal government until Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

    That chaos prompted Republicans like Harris and Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry, who previously chaired the House Freedom Caucus that Harris now leads, to soften their support of Johnson.

    “I think that (Johnson) has done an admirable job under tough conditions, but I’m going to keep my options open,” Perry said Friday on Fox Business.

    Some Republicans, like Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, are undecided. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has said he will vote against Johnson.

    “A weak legislative branch, beholden to the swamp, will not be able to achieve the mandate voters gave Trump and Congress in November,” Massie said on X.

    Harris previously told The Sun he also thought the voters gave Trump a mandate, and he said the House Freedom Caucus would help the incoming president pass his agenda.

    Even if he’s not the next speaker, Harris can still wield considerable power in the next Congress, according to Hickel.

    “The House Freedom Caucus, with Harris as their chairman, might decide to act as a more unified block against Johnson and any deal with Democrats,” he said. “If they’re not acting in a unified way, Harris is still chair of a powerful and influential caucus, and I’d look for him to leverage that.”

    _____



    Maryland’s Andy Harris is losing faith in Speaker Johnson, leading many to speculate if he could be a contender for the role. As tensions rise within the Republican party, Harris has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with Johnson’s leadership. With his strong conservative beliefs and track record of standing up for his constituents, Harris could potentially be a formidable candidate for Speaker of the House. Stay tuned as the drama unfolds in Washington D.C. #AndyHarris #SpeakerJohnson #HouseSpeakerContender

    Tags:

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    2. Speaker Johnson
    3. Andy Harris contender
    4. Maryland politics
    5. House of Representatives
    6. Republican Party
    7. Congressional leadership
    8. Maryland congressman
    9. Andy Harris news
    10. Speaker of the House

    #Marylands #Andy #Harris #losing #faith #Speaker #Johnson #contender #role

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