The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education has awarded a $6,873,449 Formula Grant under the Grants for State Assessments and Related Activities program (CFDA 84.369) to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), which operates as the Workforce Technology Center. This grant, valid from July 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, will support MSDE in developing, administering, and implementing high-quality academic assessments for Maryland's K-12 public education system. Key activities to be funded include aligning educational assessments with federal standards, coordinating NAEP participation, and disseminating assessment results. MSDE may sub-award portions of the grant to local educational agencies, school districts, universities, and community organizations to implement assessment-related activities across the state.