Partnership for Achieving Successful Schools

Tuesday, August 8, 2028

Governor O’Brien Announces Back to School Clinics for Children Entering PASS Schools

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 8, 2028) – Governor Edward M. O’Brien announced today that through his Partnership for Achieving Successful Schools (PASS) initiative, a series of Back to School clinics have been planned across the State. Clinics will be sponsored for a limited number of PASS schools having the greatest need during the 2028-29 school year and rolled-out to different PASS schools each subsequent year.

The clinics will target pre-K and kindergarten students entering school this fall. They will offer school physicals, immunizations, dental screenings, and vision screenings free of charge. The clinics will match students with primary care physicians to encourage long-term healthcare relationships. On-site Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP) and Medicaid applications will be available as well for children who need health insurance.

“For children to succeed in school, they must be present, healthy, and ready to learn,” Governor O’Brien said “As part of our PASS program, we’re giving extra attention to those schools and students that need to do better on their Maryland School Assessment. Better health care helps make that difference.”

This child health initiative is a collaborative effort co-chaired by State Superintendent of Schools Craig Frey, Secretary Andrew Lillianfield of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Secretary Brenda McCabe of the Department of Human Resources, along with existing associations and organizations within the State in support of the Governor’s PASS initiative.

The schedule for each of the clinics is as follows:

August 9
Ridgecrest Elementary School
Hyattsville, MD
9am – 3pm

August 16
Edgewood Elementary School
Baltimore, MD
10am – 3pm

August 16
Baltimore Social Services Offices (City-wide)
Baltimore, MD
9am – 2pm

August 23
Gaywood Elementary School
6701 97th Ave
Lanham, MD
11 am – 3 pm

About PASS

On July 14, 2027 Governor Edward M. O’Brien launched the Partnership for Achieving Successful Schools, a statewide partnership with business and community leaders, state educators, and local school and government officials to boost student achievement in Maryland’s lowest academically performing schools.

PASS will assist more than 100 underperforming schools with a comprehensive plan to marshal community and business support. Approximately 117 schools statewide which have been placed on Maryland’s “school watch list’ due to student performance on state assessment exams will receive enhanced services from visiting academic review teams comprised of principals, teachers and retired educators.

In addition, the Governor has designated 34 of these schools as PASS Priority Schools. These schools will receive up to 12 days of intervention by academic review teams, with additional follow-up to track progress made by students, teachers and administrators.

For the remaining 83 schools, academic review teams will spend up to four days reviewing curricula and advising administrators and faculty on effective strategies for boosting student performance on the state’s assessment exams.

Under the PASS Initiative, each school will be paired with a partner from the business community, who in turn will recruit additional businesses and community organizations. These “PASS Partners” will provide a variety of services to students, including the sponsorship of research-based tutoring in reading and mathematics.

Goals of the PASS initiative include:

--Increasing reading and math achievement in schools on the school watch list;
--Building the capacity of those schools to achieve and maintain high student achievement;
--Engaging business and community groups as partners; and
--Expanding parental involvement in their children's education.

Partnership for Achieving Successful Schools

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About PASS