Anne Arundel public schools announce redistricting briefing, public hearings

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education has announced a public briefing and two public hearings as part of Phase 2 of the school district's comprehensive redistricting process.

The goal of Phase 2 of the redistricting process is to ease overcrowding for schools in the Annapolis, Arundel, Broadneck, Crofton, Severna Park, South River, and Southern clusters.

Phase 1 of the redistricting plan adjusted school boundaries to balance enrollment, reducing over-utilized schools from 13 to none and increasing well-utilized schools from 41 to 54. It also included a "Legacy Student" provision allowing rising 12th-graders to remain at their current schools, minor feeder pattern changes for 16 schools, and minimal transportation impacts. That portion of the plan began in Nov. 2023, and was completed in Aug. 2024. 

Six plans for Phase 2 are under consideration, four introduced at the board's Sept. 17 meeting and two added Oct. 15.

A finalized plan for Phase two is set to be adopted in November, with implementation through Aug. 2026. 

Details on each plan are available on the AACPS website.

In March, some parents told WJZ they worried that redistricting would be harmful if the plan causes students to move to different school communities far away from where they live. 

Public briefing set for Thursday, Oct. 23

District staff will present details of the two most recent proposals, Superintendent's Recommendation 3 (SR-3) and Board Recommendation 3 (BR-3) at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in the Board Room of the Parham Building. No public testimony or comment will be taken.

The Board proposal builds on the Superintendent proposal, adding amendments the board included in earlier plans. Those amendments keep certain neighborhoods at their current schools and allow high school juniors and seniors to remain in place. BR-3 would impact the fewest students of all six proposals, shifting about 700 students.

First hearing scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27

The Board will hold its first public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, in the Parham Building.

Registration to speak or submit written comments opens at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, on the AACPS Board Meeting webpage, and closes at noon Saturday, Oct. 25.

Those wishing to testify can register to do so in person or virtually.

Speakers are limited to two minutes and must address one or more of the six plans. Testimony on unrelated topics will not be accepted.

Second hearing set for Monday, Nov. 3

A second public hearing will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, in the same location. Registration opens at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, and closes at noon Saturday, Nov. 1.

The same testimony procedures and time limits apply.

Speakers may not register on behalf of others and may testify at only one of the two hearings, the county said.