Crofton Families Fighting School Redistricting With Help Of Law Firm

CROFTON, MD — Crofton-area families launched a new organization Monday to fight the recently adopted redistricting plan for Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

The nonprofit, named One Crofton, is particularly concerned that Nantucket was the only elementary school selected for split articulation, sending some students to Crofton Middle and High and others to Arundel Middle and High.

One Crofton is also frustrated that AACPS has not yet released the list of the 731 students slated to change schools.

The group tapped Baltimore law firm Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White for legal help. The firm is tasked with bringing "greater legal clarity to the factual inconsistencies and unanswered questions" surrounding the AACPS Phase 2 redistricting plan, a One Crofton press release said.

"We are disappointed that certain board members and staff are attempting to push a disingenuous narrative to distract from the multitude of factual inaccuracies and procedural irregularities they have never addressed," One Crofton President Mike Chittenden said in the Monday release. "Our community raised legitimate concerns, not one of which has been meaningfully answered."

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education on Nov. 19 approved the redistricting plan by a 5-3 vote. The plan takes effect in August 2026. Redistricted students entering 12th grade next year will have the option to remain in their current school if they provide their own transportation. A portal for students to exercise that option will open this month and close next month.

Nearly 500 parents, students and community members signed and submitted a letter this weekend to Board President Robert Silkworth and AACPS Superintendent Mark Bedell. The letter questioned how Silkworth and Bedell responded to community pushback to redistricting.

"Parents and students did exactly what an educated community is supposed to do," the One Crofton letter said. "We read the data, identified contradictions, questioned unsupported claims, and brought forward verified information, much of it taken directly from AACPS sources. Calling that engagement inappropriate is not leadership. It is deflection."

AACPS did not immediately reply to Patch's request for a comment on Tuesday morning. We will update this article if the school system responds.

Residents can learn more about One Crofton by following the group on Facebook and Instagram or emailing info@onecrofton.com.

Related:

• Hundreds Of Students Must Change Schools In Anne Arundel County: Reports
• School Redistricting Reaches Final Proposal: See Changes In Anne Arundel
• Over 1K Students Could Change Schools Amid Redistricting