Maryland Senate Approves $2.5M for Eastern Shore Behavioral Health School

The funding will support a new special education facility to serve students on the Eastern Shore.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 9:04am

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The Maryland Senate has approved a $1.8 billion fiscal year 2027 Capital budget that includes $2.5 million for a new Kennedy Krieger Eastern Shore behavioral health school in Wicomico County. The school will serve students with the greatest mental health needs who cannot be accommodated in public schools, and will also allow teachers and school personnel to better focus on students in their classrooms.

Why it matters

The Eastern Shore has long lacked a dedicated special education facility, with only one of the state's 70 MANSEF (Maryland Association of Nonpublic Schools Special Education Facilities) located on the Eastern Shore. This new school will help fill a critical gap in the continuum of special education services for the region.

The details

The funding for the new behavioral health school was requested by Sen. Mary Beth Carozza, R-38, and supported by the Healthy Minds for Shore consortium, the Greater Salisbury Committee, Wicomico County Public Schools, and other Eastern Shore stakeholders. Wicomico County Public Schools Superintendent Micah Stauffer has been a vocal advocate for the new facility, citing the urgent need for expanded special education services on the Lower Shore.

  • The Maryland Senate approved the $1.8 billion fiscal year 2027 Capital budget on March 27, 2026.
  • For the past three years, stakeholders have been advocating for a new special education facility to serve the Eastern Shore.

The players

Mary Beth Carozza

A Republican state senator representing Maryland's 38th district, who made the official funding request for the new behavioral health school in the Senate capital budget.

Micah Stauffer

The superintendent of Wicomico County Public Schools, who has been calling for the development of a new Lower Shore MANSEF school as a state capital priority.

Healthy Minds for Shore

A consortium that has been advocating for the new special education facility to serve the Eastern Shore.

Greater Salisbury Committee

A group that has been involved in advocating for the new behavioral health school.

Wicomico County Public Schools

The local school district that has been supporting the development of the new special education facility.

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What they’re saying

“The need for this behavioral health facility is real and urgent, and I am very grateful that Senate leadership included this Shore priority in this year's capital budget. It will benefit both the students with the greatest mental health needs who cannot be served in the public schools and students and families statewide as it will allow teachers and school personnel to focus on the students in their classrooms.”

— Mary Beth Carozza, State Senator

“The Eastern Shore has long lacked a dedicated special education facility, with only one of the state's 70 MANSEF (Maryland Association of Nonpublic Schools Special Education Facilities) located on the Eastern Shore. This new school will help fill a critical gap in the continuum of special education services for the region.”

— Micah Stauffer, Superintendent, Wicomico County Public Schools

What’s next

The fiscal year 2027 Capital Budget now moves to the Maryland House of Delegates for consideration.

The takeaway

This new behavioral health school represents a significant investment in addressing the mental health and special education needs of students on Maryland's Eastern Shore, a region that has historically lacked access to these critical resources.