By Senator Cory V. McCray
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t just speak about education—he spoke about empowerment. The ability to think beyond limitations, break cycles and build legacies. That is what education should be about. That is what we are fighting for.
Maryland’s investment in The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future isn’t just policy—it’s a commitment to rewriting narratives. It ensures that no child, no matter their zip code, is denied access to opportunities that fuel success. Yet, proposed budget cuts now threaten to undo the progress we’ve fought for.
For too long, students—especially in Baltimore—have been boxed in by systemic barriers. Underfunded schools. Limited access to career pathways. A cycle that keeps too many young people from realizing their full potential. The Blueprint was designed to change that script by prioritizing career and college readiness, expanding early childhood education, and directing resources where they’re needed most. This isn’t about preserving the status quo. It’s about building a future where circumstance no longer dictates success.
Since its introduction in 2018 and passage in 2021, the Blueprint has set a new standard—ensuring students leave high school ready for something greater. This is economic mobility in action. It’s an investment in Maryland’s workforce, its economy and its future leaders.
And one of the most powerful examples of its impact? The Baltimore Career Coaching Initiative (BCCI).
Through a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, Baltimore City Public Schools, and Baltimore City Community College, career coaches are embedded in all 115 middle and high schools—not just talking about careers, but actively guiding students toward opportunities that change lives. In just one semester, over 16,000 students have engaged in structured career exploration, learning to identify their strengths, skills and interests with intention.
More than 3,700 students have pinpointed two to three career paths, while 3,000 middle schoolers have learned to articulate their transferable skills—setting the foundation for their futures.
The numbers prove its impact. Students with career coach support are 10 times more likely to attend hiring events, internships, and career fairs. This isn’t just about preparing them for a job—it’s about preparing them for ownership over their futures.
I’ve seen it firsthand. I have led efforts to expand apprenticeship awareness because I understand what workforce development means for a young person’s trajectory. I’ve taken students inside IBEW Local 24’s Apprenticeship Program, where they don’t just see a job—they see a career, a legacy, a way to build wealth.
At the same time, I’ve walked the halls of Patterson Park Charter School, where Career Coach K-Shaud is changing lives daily—connecting students to real-world opportunities, showing them a vision beyond their circumstances.
This is how transformation happens. When access meets preparation. When vision meets execution.
And this isn’t just about career exposure—it’s about career readiness. Over the past four months, career coaches have facilitated more than 700 hands-on workshops focused on building real skills. Middle-schoolers are learning about Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, while high-schoolers are writing resumes, gaining financial literacy, and preparing for the real world. They aren’t just being told what’s possible—they’re being given the tools to make it happen.
Now is not the time to step back. Schools that have benefited from Blueprint funding—like Johnston Square Elementary and Dr. Bernard Harris Elementary—should not have to fight for resources that are already changing lives. Concentration of poverty grants, literacy coaching programs, and career readiness initiatives aren’t luxuries—they are necessities. They define whether a school thrives or merely survives.
This is about more than money—it’s about values.
Do we believe in education for all children, or just for some?
Are we willing to watch the gains of several years of progress be erased, or will we double down on our commitment?
The answer should be clear.
The Baltimore Career Coaching Initiative isn’t a program—it’s a movement. It started with eight career coaches in eight schools. Now, it has expanded to 45 career coaches in every middle and high school. It is fully aligned with the Maryland State Department of Education’s Career Development Framework—ensuring that students don’t just graduate with a diploma, but with a plan, with skills, with direction.
This is a six-year model, designed to carry students from sixth grade through high school graduation. It is a long-term strategy to build a workforce that is skilled, prepared, and ready to lead Maryland into the future.
Dr. King said that intelligence plus character is the goal of true education. The Blueprint is more than a policy—it’s a promise. And promises should not be broken.
Now, we must fight to keep it.
Cory McCray is a proud son of Baltimore and a graduate of Fairmount Harford Institute. As a Maryland State Senator representing the 45th District, he brings a working-class perspective to Annapolis, championing policies that uplift and empower his community.
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