Apprenticeship Program Built to Expand Educator Workforce

And other legislative updates in this month’s Up the Street

THIS MONTH IN ANNAPOLIS

Governor Launches Apprenticeship Program to Expand Educator Workforce

The first state-sponsored registered teacher apprenticeship program has begun. It is a welcome step toward closing the educator gap designed in collaboration among MSEA, Gov. Moore, and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The program addresses the financial barriers to the profession. Apprentices will begin working in the classroom while they earn their college degree and teaching license. Through partnerships with colleges and universities, apprentices will have access to flexible course offerings, paying jobs as educators, and opportunities to earn college credits for their on-the-job learning. “We are excited about the joint effort to build the Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program, because it’s critically important that we expand high-quality pathways to becoming an educator,” MSEA President Paul Lemle said. “A well-constructed apprenticeship program recognizes teaching is a profession that requires investment, training, and support. It meets the needs of our students, and our future, by providing great teachers to schools across the state. It also opens a door into teaching for students and workers who are currently in other roles, but whose career goals include making a difference in our classrooms.” Announcing the program launch last month, Gov. Moore said, “If someone is raising their hand to teach our children, they should be rewarded with opportunity, not burdened by debt.” The program will begin in Caroline and Washington counties next year, and will expand to include participants, at various career stages, across the state.

Ahead of Government Shutdown State’s Financial Picture Not Bad in the Near Term; Trump Administration Acts Can Undermine It

The September report from Maryland’s Board of Revenue Estimates (BRE), predicting just a $19 million revenue shortfall in fiscal year 2026, was positive, thanks to the revenue package that passed last session with MSEA support. However, the report warned that the full effect of federal cuts that occurred the second half of FY25 have not been felt, and a government shutdown and other chaotic decisions by the Trump Administration will have negative effects in FY26 and beyond. As the BRE report noted, 15,000 Marylanders already have lost their federal jobs, some took buyouts, and many federal grants that support education, healthcare, and other charities, have been cut. “This forces hard choices for hospitals, universities, nonprofits, and other institutions that provide much-needed support for our fellow Marylanders and provide a variety of revenue to the state,” the report stated.

Negative effects of the federal budget bill (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) that passed in July include a $58 million increase in state costs in FY27 for supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP); higher administrative costs for Medicaid because of new work requirements and redeterminations; and a potential reduction in Medicaid enrollment, with 25% to 50% of those who newly qualified during the pandemic-era Medicaid expansion possibly losing affordable healthcare. State leaders estimate that healthcare costs in Maryland will rise 17-20%.

Maryland has 250,000 federal employees, and another 200,000 federal contractors. Just hours into the federal government shutdown that started on October 1, Gov. Moore, state leaders and federal elected officials said further federal layoffs being proposed would disproportionately affect Maryland’s economy.

Moore pledged that the state will fill in the gaps to support people and programs for as long as possible: fund Medicaid, SNAP, Head Start, and veteran services; intervene to prevent foreclosures, evictions, and utility shutoffs; and expand employment programs, detailed here.

State Board, AIB Plan Legislative Agenda, Set Kindergarten Goals

In a joint meeting of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) and the State Board of Education (SBOE) on September 30, the two bodies agreed on several legislative changes they would like to pursue to successfully implement the Blueprint:

The two boards seek higher rates of kindergarten readiness and achievement by all student groups on the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program. They will disaggregate assessment data by race and ethnicity, economic status, disability and language to help close the achievement gap between groups.

Harford County Schools’ Book Ban Tests Freedom to Read Law

The State Board of Education is reviewing the Harford County Board of Education’s decision to ban a book contrary to the decision of the book review committee established in accordance with the Freedom to Read Act. That bill was championed by MSEA and signed into law by Gov. Moore to prevent book bans. The Harford committee that reviewed the book found it acceptable, but that decision was appealed to the school board, and its right-wing members overruled the committee. Freedom to Read sponsor Delegate Dana Jones (D-Anne Arundel) found the situation disappointing: “Unfortunately, the Harford County school board chose to ignore its own established, formal, and carefully considered process, in favor of bending to the will of a small, but extremely vocal, minority hellbent on controlling what others may read,” Jones said in a statement.

NEWS AND NOTES

MSEA Advocates for Reasonable Assessments, Accountability

With another change in student assessments on the horizon, MSEA President Paul Lemle cautioned state education administrators to bear in mind the value of longitudinal data that tracks the same skills over time, and that educators must have time to become familiar with any assessment, adjust curriculum and prepare students for it. The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) tests have been in use just four years, following a chaotic introduction during the pandemic. The Maryland State Department of Education has recently requested bids for a new assessment, and it must be developed and approved ahead of testing in 2027.

NEA, AFT, Maryland Fight Trump for Demilitarization, Safety, Healthcare Access

The National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) last month filed a lawsuit to stop the traumatic raids by Immigration and Enforcement (ICE) at and near houses of worship and school property. Educators at an Oregon preschool joined the suit after experiencing a violent raid outside the school when ICE removed a parent from a car. “Why a school? Why not someplace else, any place else?” teacher Lauren Fong said in an interview. “It was in the parking lot, where it could be witnessed by so many young children.”

To empower educators in ways to protect students and families from school raids, NEA offers programs this month and next: Fighting Back Against ICE Raids in Our Schools, October 15, 6–7 p.m., register here; Organizing Open Conversation, Fighting Back for Immigrant Rights, October 22, 6-7 p.m., register here; and Using the Power of the Union to Stand for Immigrant Student Rights, November 19, 6-7 p.m., register here.

Trump Cuts $30 Million from SPED Teacher Training over DEI Objections; Cuts STEM Education

The Trump Administration Department of Education (USDE) struck a blow to special education last month when it unexpectedly cancelled $30 million in funding for 25 projects pertaining to special education training for educators in 14 states. USDE cited diversity, equity, and inclusion language in the grant applications that “is inconsistent with, and no longer effectuates, the best interests of the federal government.” This along with recent cuts from programs to support K-12 science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) learning compound the loss of programs that empower all students to pursue their dreams and help aspiring educators to make a difference.

2026 CAMPAIGN NEWS

Governor, Comptroller Enter Re-Election Race; Contenders Emerge, Remain Mystery

Intending to build on the progress he has made since his 2022 election, Gov. Moore announced his re-election campaign for 2026 in an online video. He wants to continue his work growing the educator workforce, expanding educational opportunities and career pathways, eliminating childhood poverty, supporting economic development, and strengthening public safety. He has picked up extraordinary endorsements from six prominent Republicans: the mayors of Lonaconing, Westernport, and Rising Sun; Washington County Commission President John Barr, former state Delegate Carl Anderton (R-Wicomico), and former Carroll County Commissioner Ed Rothstein. The Republicans credit the governor with paying attention to their small communities, investing in them, and creating jobs.

Lonaconing Mayor Jack Coburn said, “I’ve been the mayor here for 27 years, [and] until 2023 we often wondered if the folks in Annapolis remembered us.”

A half dozen Republicans and quasi-Republicans have shown interest in the chief executive’s race so far, while the 800-pound elephant in the room is former Gov. Larry Hogan, who has not made anything official. He has been crisscrossing the state attending events, opining on the general state of politics, and benefitting from racist advertising conducted for months by the anonymous online group, NoMoore.org. The group’s advertising has used AI-generated images evoking Jim Crow era bigotry, demeaning Moore for policies that contradict Hogan’s. A Hogan spokesperson responded, “We’ll see,” when a media outlet asked if the former governor is involved with the group. After former Maryland Democratic Party Chair Ken Ulman called out the group for engaging in political activity it registered as a PAC. “This website raises the question, ’Are Larry Hogan and his allies behind this effort of using shadow campaigns to spread misinformation about the pro-growth policies of the Moore-Miller administration?’” Ulman said in a written statement. “This latest website is just another example of the lengths to which folks will go to distort the truth. Marylanders deserve to know who is funding this dark money effort.”

Other prospective challengers in the governor’s race include State Senate Minority Leader Stephen Hershey (R-Kent, Queen Anne’s, Cecil, and Caroline), who says he is exploring a run. Republicans John Myrick with running mate former Delegate Brenda Thiam (R-Washington) and Carl Brunner Jr. have filed to run, and State Delegate Chris Bouchat (R-Frederick and Carroll) says he will run, as does Republican farmer Kurt Wedekind. Business owner and longtime Democrat Ed Hale says he switched his party affiliation to Republican just to run. Green Party member Andy Ellis has also filed along with running mate Owen Andrews.

Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D) announced her bid for reelection, highlighting her office’s use of data to support working families. “We’ve reimagined how this office serves people, from delivering the state’s first-ever economic status report to streamlining tax services and investing in sustainable infrastructure,” Lierman said in a statement. “But there’s still more work to do—and I’m ready to keep leading the way.”

The primary will be June 26, and the general election will be November 3, 2026.

Lam, Moon Seek to Counteract GOP’s Unorthodox Redistricting of States

Maryland State Senator Clarence Lam (D-Anne Arundel and Howard) and State House Majority Leader David Moon (D-Montgomery) are positioning Maryland to counteract Republican states’ unorthodox redistricting ahead of the normal 10-year redistricting schedule in an attempt to gain congressional seats. Republican-led Texas redistricted, aiming to gain five House seats from among the 13 (of 38 total) now held by Democrats. Missouri has followed Texas and passed a new map to net more GOP seats and other Republican states have been considering similar redistricting to try to give the House a bigger GOP majority. So Lam and Moon are prepared to introduce legislation next session to redistrict Maryland ahead of the normal schedule, which is five years away. Democrats in Maryland could gain one House seat, the First District, which MAGA Trump supporter Andy Harris (R) has represented for 15 years. California responded in August to the Texas action by taking legislative action to move up redistricting (pending the results of a ballot measure), with an aim to enable Democrats to win five more House seats.