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THIS MONTH IN ANNAPOLIS

Educator Expertise Needed as State Develops New Literacy Policy

Students and educators will be affected by a new literacy policy that the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is in the process of developing. The State Board of Education (SBOE) may vote as soon as September 24, and MSEA is engaged in helping to inform that policy by making sure that the voices of educators are heard as it is revised.

The draft policy sets an ambitious goal of ensuring that all students read at grade level by the end of third grade. While improving literacy has everyone’s support, educators understand the challenges and unintended consequences that a new policy could create. Retaining third grade students who do not read at grade level, which is one of the aspects of the policy, has the potential to exacerbate issues of workload and staffing, and retention frequently has long-term negative impacts on students.

MSEA wants to be sure that the policy factors in educator workload, equity issues, and how overburdened educators are with new requirements. The timeline to implement the policy should be delayed to the 2028-2029 school year to allow preparation and support, including time for educators to be trained in strategies and for programs and staffing envisioned by the Blueprint to aid literacy to be further implemented.

Take a moment to sign our petition calling on the SBOE to listen to the concerns of educators as they review and modify this policy. Click here to sign the petition.

Governor, MSEA, Maintain Commitment to Blueprint Implementation

The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future—hundreds of pages of legislative language, funding formulas, and policy—has begun to transform the real conditions for students and educations in K-12 public schools, through expanded career and technology programs, more resources for historically marginalized students, expanding pre-k to more 3- and 4-year-olds, increasing salaries for educators, and hiring more educators. Even as Gov. Moore addresses state budget challenges he remains “fully committed to implementing the Blueprint,” as he told last month’s Maryland Association of Counties conference, while being open to adjustments that reflect “the reality on the ground.”

MSEA President Paul Lemle wants to strengthen the power of educators’ voices in implementing the Blueprint and ensuring that any adjustments to the law reflect the input and priorities of educators to improve the Blueprint. In the early days of his presidency, Lemle established the Blueprint as one of his priorities in media interviews on MPT and WJLA television, WYPR public radio, and elsewhere.

Moore Appoints School Board Members

Gov. Moore made three recent appointments to the State Board of Education (SBOE): Dr. Kimberly Lewis, Kenny Clash, and Xiomara Medina. Each will serve four years. Lewis has 40 years of experience in special education and previously served on the National Education Association’s Board of Directors, as a committee chair with the Maryland State Teachers Association (which became MSEA), and as president of the Frederick County Teachers Association. Clash is senior director of finance and operations director at Intentional Philanthropy and on the advisory board of the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition. Medina previously worked in the Howard and Anne Arundel counties school systems and is an associate director in the Department of Counseling and Psychological Studies at Bowie State University. She has served as treasurer of the Maryland School Counseling Association and president of the Professional School Counselors of Howard County.

Moore Reappoints Three AIB Members to Six-Year Terms

Gov. Moore reappointed three members of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB). AIB members serve staggered six-year terms, so three of the original members had three-year terms expiring this year. The reappointed members are Board Vice Chair William “Brit” Kirwan, Jennifer Lynch, and Prince George’s County Public Schools educator Justin Robinson.

NEWS AND NOTES

Governor Reinforces Strong Relations with Labor Unions

On September 4, Gov. Moore celebrated the first quarterly labor relations roundtable, which MSEA President Paul Lemle and MSEA Political and Legislative Affairs Director Sam Zwerling attended. “The Labor Relations Roundtable will allow our administration to work more closely with our unions to create new jobs, ensure fair pay, and advance solutions that benefit Marylanders across our state. Together, we will continue to do the people’s business, in partnership,” Moore said. To oversee labor matters statewide, Moore established the Labor Relations Senior Director position, held by Dyana Forester. She will lead the roundtables.

Tax Filing Burden Lightened for Marylanders as State Joins IRS Direct File in 2025

The Moore Administration is giving Marylanders a chance to reduce their tax filing time and financial burden, establishing the Maryland Tax Connect system. Marylanders will be able to electronically file their income taxes with the IRS in 2025 using Maryland Tax Connect in collaboration with the IRS’ Direct File program. Direct File, made possible by the federal Inflation Reduction Act, is a new free service from the IRS allowing eligible taxpayers to prepare and file their tax return online. According to the IRS, taxpayers spend approximately 13 hours and $270 on tax preparation each year. “In countries across the globe, residents enjoy much simpler return-free tax systems,” said Comptroller Brooke Lierman. “While our state and nation are not there yet, with Direct File and our agency’s new Maryland Tax Connect system for individuals coming this term, Maryland will have the most transparent, efficient, and modern system in the nation.”

DHS to Raise Head Start Teachers’ Pay, to Hire, Retain Quality Staff

Like Maryland, the nation faces a challenge to provide quality early childhood education to millions of young people. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, whose Head Start program serves more than 800,000 children in poverty from birth to five years old, faces an educator shortage and will raise Head Start teacher salaries to be on par with those of public school early childhood educators. While the changes are to be phased in over the next several years, Head Start teachers’ pay will go up an average of $10,000. Katie Hamm, deputy assistant secretary for early childhood development at HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, said in a statement, “This rule will … put Head Start on a sustainable path by increasing wages, reducing turnover, and improving quality.”

July Sports, Casino Revenues Deliver $58.3 Million to Education

In July, Maryland’s sports betting and casino gambling revenues combined generated $58.3 million for public education. Casino gaming contributions to the state during July totaled $72,163,554, a 1% decrease compared to July 2023. Of that, contributions to the Education Trust Fund during July 2024 were $52,014,956, a 1% decrease compared to July a year ago. Maryland’s sports betting generated $6,254,056 in contributions to the state this past July. The $6.3 million was the fourth-best single-month total and was nearly double the $3.3 million figure recorded in July 2023. Sports betting contributions go to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund.

CAMPAIGN 2024

Poll Shows Angela Alsobrooks with Lead in Senate Race after Prime Time DNC Speech; CD6 Race Too Close to Call

A poll of Maryland voters finds Maryland Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks has a five point lead over Larry Hogan, even though her name recognition is lower than Hogan’s. The Gonzales poll found 46% of voters ready to vote for Alsobrooks compared to 41% for Hogan, with a 3.5-point margin of error. The name recognition disparity shows that Alsobrooks has more room to grow than Hogan over the remaining two months of the campaign. With a compelling family history, a record of service, and a mission to give everyone an equal chance to succeed, County Executive Alsobrooks delivered a dynamic speech at the Democratic National Convention last month in support of her friend and presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Alsobrooks commanded the stage during prime time television coverage August 20, and she “met the moment,” according to The Washington Post.

The same poll found educator-recommended April McClain Delaney (D) in a statistical tie with longtime failed Congressional candidate Neil Parrott (R) in the 6^th Congressional District. With this extremely important race too close to call, it’s critical for educators and education allies to engage in this race to make sure the pro-public education candidate wins.

Harris Administration Would Support Universal PreK, Push for Full IDEA Funding

Public education continues to have strong support in the Democratic Party platform, which was adopted at the recent party convention. Calling for fully funding IDEA, expanded career and technology education, universal pre-k, reduced emphasis on standardized testing, improved working conditions for educators, and more, the platform tenets reflect the current Biden-Harris Administration goals and achievements.