Wicomico County, MD – According to WBOC, Maryland lawmakers have allocated $5 million to establish a new campus of the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Wicomico County, addressing a long-standing gap in special education services on the Eastern Shore. This funding, part of the state’s fiscal year 2027 capital budget, marks a significant step toward providing specialized care for children with cognitive and physical disabilities closer to home.
The initiative stems from years of advocacy by local leaders, including the Healthy Minds for Shore consortium, the Greater Salisbury Committee, and Wicomico County Public Schools. Senator Mary Beth Carozza (R-District 38) highlighted the collaborative effort that brought together the Eastern Shore delegation and community stakeholders to prioritize this project. “What you really saw is our Eastern Shore delegation, the Healthy Minds for Shore, all these pieces come together and agree that this type of facility would make a real difference on the Eastern Shore of Maryland,” Carozza stated.
The Kennedy Krieger Institute, a renowned nonprofit organization, offers a comprehensive range of services integrated into the school day, including speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, clinical social work, and nursing. Dr. Aaron Parsons, with the institute, emphasized the breadth of support available: “Under our roof, you’ll see speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapy, clinical social work, nursing. Just a range of clinical services that are embedded into the students’ school day.”
Currently, the Eastern Shore faces a stark disparity in access to such facilities compared to other parts of the state. A map illustrating the distribution of Maryland Association of Non-Public Special Education Facility (MANSEF) schools shows that while Baltimore City has 11, Baltimore County 13, Prince George’s County 10, and Montgomery County 10, the entire Eastern Shore has only one—in Caroline County’s Benedictine School. This scarcity forces many families to travel long distances, often across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, for daily services.
Wicomico County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Micah Stauffer first raised the issue with Carozza, noting that a core group of students with intensive needs cannot be adequately served within the public school system. “He said, there’s a core group of students, it’s a smaller percentage based on the general population, but their needs simply cannot be met in the public school system with our current setup,” Carozza recounted. For example, some students currently commute across the bridge for specialized education, a journey that disrupts family life and engagement.
The new campus will serve as a MANSEF school, reducing these commutes and enhancing local support. Wicomico County Director of Communications and Community Outreach expressed enthusiasm: “Establishing a MANSEF school in Wicomico County would be a significant step forward in ensuring students with the most intensive special education needs can receive appropriate, high-quality services closer to home, reducing long commutes and strengthening family engagement.”
The $5 million allocation, matched by both the Senate and House at $2.5 million each, is included alongside other Wicomico County projects in the FY2027 budget, such as $2.4 million for TidalHealth Peninsula Regional inpatient units and $1.124 million for Salisbury University’s Blackwell Hall renovation. While the funding covers initial development, ongoing federal support is anticipated. U.S. Representative Andy Harris (R-District 1) supported the effort, stating, “Families in rural communities, including my district, lack the same resources as the Western Shore. I encourage Kennedy Krieger and their stakeholders to apply for grants and funding opportunities through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).”
This development promises a long-lasting partnership, improving education outcomes and health services for Maryland‘s Lower Shore residents. As planning progresses, the community anticipates transformative benefits for families long underserved in conservation of educational equity and safety in specialized care. For more information, visit WBOC.