There is an Academic Excellence Program in the Department. The purpose of the Program is to address critical academic needs in public schools and ensure that Maryland students have equitable access to high–quality instruction and targeted academic support by: Providing direct coaching support to teachers and administrators; Ensuring that the coaching support is consistently conducted in a manner that research has shown is likely to result in positive student outcomes; and Delivering targeted professional learning opportunities for educators and administrators to implement evidence–based instructional practices. Under the Program, instructional coaches and coordinators of professional learning shall provide educators in selected schools with: Coaching to improve instruction and the integration of evidence–based practices into the classroom; and Access to high–quality, job–embedded, and targeted professional learning opportunities. Under the Program, regional program managers shall oversee and coordinate the activity of instructional coaches and coordinators of professional learning in a designated region to ensure that local needs are considered and met. The Department shall enter into a cooperative agreement with a county board that elects to participate in the Program. Using accountability data, the Department, in collaboration with participating local school systems, shall identify the schools that are most in need of support from the Program. The Department shall prioritize selecting schools with: Low proficiency rates; and Declining achievement results in recent years. Within a selected school, administrators shall work with the Department to identify the teachers and other educators who will benefit most from the professional development opportunities provided by instructional coaches. During fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the Program shall focus on early literacy instruction and support of elementary school educators. In subsequent fiscal years, the Program shall expand its focus to incorporate other academic topics and grade levels, with particular attention paid to foundational mathematics instruction.