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Education Support Professionals

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Why the March for Our Schools Matters for Education Support Professionals

Hiring thousands more educators so students get more individualized support. Expanding career technical education and pre-kindergarten. Pay raises for teachers and certificated staff. There’s a lot to like in the state’s plan for what a new school funding formula could support. But we need to do more — specifically for education support professionals (ESP), the non-certificated school […]
School Funding

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State of the State Tops Another Busy Week in Annapolis

(Photo credit: Executive Office of the Governor) THIS WEEK IN ANNAPOLIS Nothing New in Hogan’s State of the State Despite teasing a new major tax cut proposal earlier in the week, Gov. Hogan announced no new policy proposals in his annual State of the State speech before the General Assembly. Instead, he touted an already-proposed package […]
Union Updates

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Tax Relief for Educators!

Last year, the General Assembly passed a new tax law for educators, allowing for a state income tax subtraction modification of up to $250 for unreimbursed classroom supplies that are purchased by educators. This is the first year that you can take advantage of this new law — keep an eye out for it when you file […]
Education Support Professionals

Latest Updates

We Need an ESP Living Wage Now!

FACT: 24,700 education support professionals (ESP) in Maryland DO NOT make a living wage — that’s one-fifth of Maryland’s pre-K–12 staff. FACT: Starting in 2018, a living wage in Maryland’s suburban counties was $13.96/per hour; everywhere else, $10.49. FACT: Many education support staff work two or three extra jobs to provide for their families. In 2018, Jill […]
Teacher Toolkit

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Toolkit: Washington County Pre-K Educator Melissa Andrews

“When we add puppets into play-based learning, the child uses role-playing strategies as a way to communicate with their peers. It also allows them to practice using reflective listening as a way of seeking to understand and confirm their point of view.” — Melissa Andrews, a pre-k teacher at Old Forge Elementary School in Washington County PUPPETS […]
School Funding

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School Funding: We’ve Got to Push — and Push Hard — to Reach Our Goal

We’ve taken the first important steps to end the underfunding of our schools. This year, we need a powerful commitment from legislators to take the next steps. The Kirwan Commission on school funding has set a goal of phasing in a $3.8 billion increase in new, annual education funding over the next 10 years. While […]
Legal Questions

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Tax Relief for Educators!

Last year, the General Assembly passed a new tax law for educators, allowing for a state income tax subtraction modification of up to $250 for unreimbursed classroom supplies that are purchased by educators. This is the first year that you can take advantage of this new law — keep an eye out for it when you file […]
School Funding

Actionline

Take Action Now: The Stakes Are High

Right now, our schools are underfunded by $2.9 billion annually — that’s an average of $2 million in every school in Maryland. It’s time to raise our voices and end the underfunding of our schools. Students, educators, and schools deserve better. WITH YOUR HELP, HERE’S WHAT WE CAN WIN Policymakers in Annapolis are talking about a number of […]
Education Support Professionals

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My Turn: Aisling Elgesem

Aisling Elgesem, paraeducator, Beach Elementary, Calvert County. “Giving 110% to the students and staff I work with is never a question but being able to continue to do it without a living wage sadly is.” — Aisling Elgesem, paraeducator, Beach Elementary, Calvert County I’ve been working with kids since I was 15 and got my first job in a […]
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