State lawmakers on Thursday announced a series of education grants and programs aimed at increased support for low-income students, career and technical education and improved teaching.

The legislation is the result of preliminary recommendations by a state commission chaired by former University System of Maryland Chancellor William “Brit” Kirwan, and is the first part of what could be wide-reaching changes to Maryland’s public schools.

“Maryland schools at present are a long, long way from being among the best in the world. That’s the bad news,” Kirwan said at a press conference Thursday announcing the bill. “But the good news is that the commission … has done a deep dive, trying to understand exactly what it is that makes for outstanding school systems.”

Among other things, the legislation includes funding for after school and summer school programs; literacy programs at high-poverty schools; teacher recruitment efforts; and expanded public prekindergarten.

These initiatives are the precursor to the commission’s loftier goal: remaking Maryland’s school-funding formula. Those recommendations are expected by the end of the year.