Marcella E.

Franczkowski

,

MS

Education

Ms. Franczkowski received a dual bachelor's of science in special education and elementary education from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1978. She obtained her master’s equivalent certification in administration and supervision from McDaniel College in 1982, followed by Master’s of Science in special education with a specialization in administration and supervision from Johns Hopkins University in 1991. 

Ms. Franczkowski is an appointed adjunct faculty member with the Johns Hopkins University, School of Education, where she has served as an instructor of multiple courses in the autism certificate program and Master’s of Special education. Ms. Franczkowski has served on multiple state and national committees and task forces focused on children’s education, development, and overall well-being. Notably, she has chaired The Maryland Committee on Restraint and Seclusion Regulations, the national Significant Disproportionality in Special Education Workgroup, the Role of School Psychologists in Identification of Emotional Disabilities Advisory Committee, and the Special Education State Advisory Council for Maryland.  Additionally, Ms. Franczkowski co-chaired the Maryland Commission on Autism and the Mental Health Steering Committee. 

Policy

Ms. Franczkowski is well regarded as one of the most influential shapers of Maryland’s early intervention and special education and is recognized nationally for her innovative and impactful leadership. During her tenure with MSDE, Maryland became the first in the nation to expand early intervention services through age four via the “Extended IFSP Option.” This pioneering practice enabled thousands of children to prolong intensive early intervention services to reduce the need for costlier and more restrictive special education services later and improve the transition of young children and families into the K-12 system. 

Ms. Franczkowski led a systemic, strategic planning effort that still guides Maryland’s efforts to narrow the performance and outcome gaps between children with disabilities and their typically developing peers. This work saw Maryland focus on four key imperatives: early childhood, access, equity, and progress; secondary transition; and professional learning. Ms. Franczkowski then led a multi-faceted and coordinated approach to data-systems design and integration, policy development and implementation, creation, and deployment of innovative, evidence-based practices, and using scientific practice to guide the examination of what works. Recognizing the importance of consistent and aligned communication, engaged stakeholders, and partners, Ms. Franczkowski was known for translating research into policy and practice that was relatable to all audiences.    

Numerous organizations have recognized Ms. Franczkowski’s public service work, and she is the recipient of multiple honors and awards. She received the 2022 Transition Professional of the Year Award from Maryland Works. The 2020 Heritage Award from the National Association of State Directors of Special Education. She was cited as a Friend of Dyslexia from the advocacy group Decoding Dyslexia Maryland in 2018. She was named the 2017 Harbour Hero from The Harbour School. In 2016, she received the Anne Arundel County Senate Delegation’s Public Interest Award and a separate Community Leadership Commendation. In 2015, she was awarded the Senate Autism Ambassador award and the Parent’s Place of Maryland Leadership award. In 2014, Ms. Franczkowski received the Ambassador Award for Exemplary Contributions and Leadership from the Maryland Assistive Technology Network. 

Publications and Notable Presentation Experience 

Franczkowski, M. (2022, August). Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program and the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Early Childhood Advisory Council, Baltimore, MD.

Franczkowski, M. (2022, February). Professional Learning Outside the Box: Supporting Teachers of Students with Disabilities During COVID-19 and Beyond! Common Ground Presentation, Baltimore, MD.

Franczkowski, M. (2021, November). The Alternate Framework. Maryland Assessment Group (MAG) Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M. (2021, November). Accessibility for Teaching and Learning. National Federation of the Blind Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M. (2021, October). The Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program. Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M. (2021, September). Restore. Evolve. Transform. Developmental Disabilities Council, Baltimore, MD

Franczkowski, M. & Lane, S., (2021, August). A Focus Families in Early Childhood. Maryland State Board of Education Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2021, June). Early Intervention and Special in Maryland: Supporting Children to Counter Pandemic-Related Learning Loss. Easter Seals Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2021, June). Maryland Certificate of Program Completion. Governor’s Workforce Development Board Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2021, June). Special Education in Maryland, Maryland Commission on Disabilities Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2021, April). Special Education: Compensatory Education/Recovery Services, Assistant Superintendents of Instruction Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2021, April). Alternate Education Framework, Alternate Framework Facilitators Professional Learning Community Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2020, December). Leading for Sustainable School Reform: Setting the State for Inclusive Education, TASH Conference Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2020, September). Maryland Together: Special Education Impact and Recovery for Students with Disabilities and their Families. Maryland State Board of Education Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2020, September). Maryland Together: Special Education Impact and Recovery for Students with Disabilities and their Families. Maryland Ways and Means Committee Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2020, September). Maryland Together: Special Education Impact and Recovery for Students with Disabilities and their Families. The Maryland Special Education State Advisory Committee (SESAC) Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2020, September). Maryland Together: Special Education Impact and Recovery for Students with Disabilities and their Families. Social Services Administration Advisory Group Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2020, August). Maryland Together: Special Education Impact and Recovery for Students with Disabilities and their Families. National Association of State Directors of Special Education Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2020, June). Maryland's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI), Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2020, May). Transportation's Role in Recovery Planning. National Association for Pupil Transportation, Baltimore, MD.

Franczkowski, M., (2019, November). State of the State Address: Elevate Performance: Moving Maryland Forward. Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services Professional Learning Institute, Ocean City, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2019, May). Linking Specially Designed Instruction to Assistive Technology. Maryland Assistive Technology Network (MATN), Columbia, MD.

Franczkowski, M., (2019, March). Implementing a Comprehensive Evidence-Based System of Services for Children with Disabilities (Birth – 21) and Their Families: Strategic Collaboration for Results. University of Maryland Department of Pediatrics Ground Rounds Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2019, March). The Strategic Vision. Maryland State Board of Education Presentation, Baltimore, MD.

Franczkowski, M., (2019, February). Significant Disproportionality. Public School Superintendents' Association of Maryland (PSSAM) Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2019, February). Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services Regionalization Model for Strategic Implementation. The Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Carran, D.T., Dammann, S.N., Franczkowski, M.E., & Baglin, C.A., Tracking the Achievement of Children Receiving Part C Early Intervention Services (Birth to 3) Into the Third Grade: How Are These Children Achieving Compared to Peers? Early Childhood Research Quarterly.

Swanson, C. & Franczkowski, M. (March, 2017). Maryland Learning Links v4 Launch. Johns Hopkins University: Center for Technology in Education.

Franczkowski, M., (2017, March). DSE/EIS Regionalization Model for Strategic Implementation. Maryland State Board of Education Presentation, Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2016, November). State of the State Address: Moving Maryland Forward Sharpening the Focus for 2020. Maryland State Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services Professional Learning Institute, Hunt Valley, MD. 

Ruggiero, T., Gupta, S., Nicholas, A., & Mauzy, D., (2016, May). State spotlight on data use Maryland: Establishing partnerships to build data use capacity. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International. Contributor: Marcella Franczkowski. 

Franczkowski, M., (2015, December). State of the State address: A Focus on Results for Students with Disabilities. Maryland State Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services Professional Learning Institute, Ocean City, MD.

Franczkowski, M., (2015, October). Beyond Compliance: Implementing Systems Change in Maryland for Iimproved Outcomes Keynote Address. National Association of State Directors of Special Education 77th Annual Conference. Baltimore, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2014, November). State of the State Address: The Power of What's Working. Maryland State Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services Professional Learning Institute, Hunt Valley, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., Miller, P., Swanson, C., & Nunn, J. (November 2014). Return on strategic investment: Reaping the rewards of early intervention and special education for Maryland students and families. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University, School of Education, Center for Technology in Education in collaboration with the Maryland State Department of Education.

Franczkowski, M., Maryland State Department of Education. (October, 2014). Moving Maryland forward: A strategic plan for improving special education and early intervention services. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Franczkowski, M., (2013, October). State of the State Address: The Power of Strategic Implementation: Narrow the Gap. Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services Professional Learning Institute., Ocean City, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2012, June). Challenges and Considerations in Measuring the Growth of Students with Disabilities. National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality Webinar. 

Franczkowski, M., (2012, October). State of the State Address: A Strategic Focus for Results. DSE/EIS Professional Learning Institute, Ocean City, MD. 

Franczkowski, M., (2011, October). Maryland's Early Intervention and Special Education Leadership Academy. National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDE) Conference, Chicago, IL. 

Franczkowski, M., (2011, September). Integrating Early Childhood Outcomes Measurement with the IFSP and IEP Process. Measuring and Improving Child and Family Outcomes National Conference. 

Franczkowski, M., (2011, October). State of the State Address: The Power of Innovative Leadership for Results. Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services Professional Learning Institute, Ocean City, MD.