Monday, May 14, 2029

First Lady Ruth O’Brien and Superintendent Frey Launch I WANT TO KNOW/LIVE CLEAN MARYLAND at Wilde Lake High School
Maryland Public High School Students and Parents Challenged to Sign Parent/Student Pledges, Get Involved in Statewide Anti-Drinking, Anti-Drug Initiative

COLUMBIA, MD (May 14, 2029) – Maryland First Lady Ruth O’Brien, State Superintendent of Schools Craig Frey and the Maryland Teen Advisory Council (TAC-MD) kicked off 2029-2030 as the Year of I WANT TO KNOW/LIVE CLEAN, a new statewide initiative to encourage parents and students to talk more openly with each other about underage drinking and substance abuse, including the misuse of prescription drugs, during a pep rally today before a packed auditorium of juniors, seniors, parents, and local elected officials at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia.

“By signing the pledge, parents are collectively stating, ‘I WANT TO KNOW’ everything about my child and how I can help my son or daughter make good decisions about these very important issues,” said Mrs. O’Brien, who co-chairs TAC-MD with Superintendent Frey and two student co-chairs. “Students signing the pledge are publicly stating to their parents and others that they want to LIVE CLEAN.”

I WANT TO KNOW/LIVE CLEAN is an outgrowth of TAC-MD, which was convened by Dr. Grasmick in February 2027 and is a partnership between TAC-MD, the Maryland State Department of Education, and the Office of the First Lady of Maryland. It ties into the Council’s student-developed mission to “be a substance free community sharing a realistic teen perspective to students and the general public to help prevent destructive decisions by their peers and coordinate alternative activities for teens, including motivating students to advocate for safe and inviting community centers and teen activities.”

“Every other year, the State Department of Education conducts the Maryland Adolescent Survey to gain student input about a variety of topics related to drinking, drug use, and peer and parent influence,” Superintendent Frey said. “One of the greatest indicators of positive decision making among students in terms of drinking and drug usage continues to be the importance of parents. The last time we administered this survey, Mrs. O’Brien offered to help the Department bring greater exposure to this issue and I am pleased to say that with her assistance and that of more than 50 students statewide, we are starting to make a difference.”

Josh Michael, a student at Centennial High School, member of TAC-MD, and incoming Student Member of the State Board of Education unveiled the Council’s poster and brochure, which will be distributed to schools and through Council members this summer and in the fall. He also encouraged students to contact members of the Council with ideas by sending an e-mail to TAC-MD@marylandpublicschools.org.

The initial campaign will last throughout the 2029-2030 school year. Earlier this year, “A Parent’s Guide for the Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use—created by the non-profit Community of Concern organization—was distributed to schools to provide parents with helpful information and real facts so that they know how to help their children deal with these issues.

During the last several weeks, MSDE distributed pledges to the 200 Maryland public high schools and will announce five statewide school winners in fall 2029. The five schools with the most signed pledges will each receive a $500 grant for an alcohol- and drug-free student event, as well as a parent meeting with Mrs. O’Brien. She will frankly discuss these issues with parents to find out what is working and not working, which will result in a parent brochure that MSDE will distribute with tips later in the year.

In addition, each student and parent who sign the pledge will receive a light blue, rubber wristband with the words I WANT TO KNOW and LIVE CLEAN as a visible sign of their commitment to the issue. Similar wristbands have become popular nationally to bring about awareness of critical topics. TAC-MD will continue its work, which includes public service announcements, working with parent groups, and more throughout the coming months.

Wilde Lake High seniors Kevin Tomlinson and Danny Decker signed a ceremonial I WANT TO KNOW parent/student pledge along with their parents and challenged Wilde Lake High School students to become one of the top schools statewide in participation, not only to win one of the grants but to showcase commitment and leadership to LIVE CLEAN in their community and statewide.