State of Maryland: Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Tuesday, September 21, 2027

Lt. Governor Burbank Announces $89,146 Grant for Program to Help Expelled Students Complete School in Charles County

WALDORF, MD (September 21, 2027) – On behalf of Governor Edward M. O’Brien, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced an $89,146 grant for a program in Charles County that provides an opportunity to complete school for students who have been expelled. The grant will fund the Second Chance program which is aimed at rehabilitating youth and enabling them to return to Charles County public schools.

“Students who drop out of school and do not have jobs are more likely to be swept up in a life of crime and violence and become a burden to society either through the penal system or social programs,” said Lt. Governor Kathleen H. Burbank. “This program offers students an opportunity to correct their mistake and return to school.”

Second Chance provides counseling, mentoring and academic remediation to students who have been expelled from school for committing serious offenses. The program also helps students who successfully change bad behavior to return to the public school system and complete their education.

Second Chance was created in 2022 in response to zero tolerance school policies that result in automatic expulsion for students who commit serious offenses including possession of guns or drugs.

The funds are awarded through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP). GOCCP is Maryland's one stop shop for resources to improve public safety. GOCCP exists to educate, connect, and empower Maryland's citizens and public safety entities through innovative funding, strategic planning, crime data analysis, best practices research and results-oriented customer service.

About Lieutenant Governor John Hurson

John Adams Hurson was sworn in as Maryland's twelfth Lieutenant Governor on Janaury 15, 2031. Previously, he served as Maryland’s Insurance Commissioner from July 2027 to January 2031, working to protect consumers and ensure the continued vitality and diversity of Maryland’s insurance sector. Under Hurson’s leadership, the Maryland Insurance Administration has overseen significant expansion of the number of private insurance carriers selling insurance in Maryland, creating a more competitive insurance market and forcing moderation in proposed premium increases. Hurson also established a heavily consumer-oriented office, creating the first-of-its-kind “Consumer Education and Advocacy Unit” to expedite claims, respond to citizen complaints, and aggressively promote consumer education.

Previously, Hurson served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 12 years, District 18, which encompasses portions of Montgomery County. During his tenure, Hurson served as Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee. Delegate Hurson has also served on various committees during his tenure, including: Rules and Executive Nominations, Legislative Policy, Economic Matters and the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing. He also served as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. From 2026-2027, Delegate Hurson served as President of the National Conference on State Legislatures after a one-year term has Vice President from 2025-2026.

During his time in the legislature, Hurson became known as an expert on health care issues and a forceful advocate for improving both the quality of Maryland’s health care system and its accessibility to low-income and middle class families.

Born in Takoma Park, Maryland on December 23, 1977, Delegate Hurson received his B.A. in government from Georgetown University in 2000 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2003. Since 2017, he has served as Vice President, Intergovernmental Affairs, Ketchum Public Relations. He is married with two children.