Literacy Policy Influenced by Educator Advocacy
And other legislative updates in this month’s Up the Street
THIS MONTH IN ANNAPOLIS
New Literacy Policy Has Yet to Be Finalized, Allay Concerns
This month, the State Board of Education (SBOE) will consider a fourth version of a new state literacy policy. More than 1,500 comments from stakeholders like MSEA have helped improve the proposed policy, the third draft of which the SBOE discussed at its September meeting. In the latest version, as MSEA requested, retention will be a last resort for third graders who do not read on grade level, but it still risks subjecting too many students to the negative effects of retention. Additionally, the new policy will require more time of educators, and unknown expense. MSEA Vice President Nikki Woodward shared with the board MSEA’s ongoing concerns (read her remarks here) and requested delaying a new policy until the 2028-2029 school year to prepare, and for programs and staffing envisioned by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future to aid literacy to be further implemented.
Starting in 2028 “allows for adequate training of educators and families on new curriculum and requirements,” Woodward told the board. “It also ensures enough time for data collection and tracking the success of interventions.”
Educator feedback informs policymakers, so take a moment to sign MSEA’s 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.
AIB Extends Special Education Workgroup Six Months
An updated report from the Special Education Workgroup will be released on December 1, 2024. However, the Blueprint for Maryland’s future Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) gave the workgroup until May 30 to analyze the state’s current special education instruction and teaching methods and best practices. The workgroup has four meetings scheduled this fall, and requests adding a fifth in January to collect recommendations. Those recommendations can be included in the state’s Blueprint implementation plan update due in March and will be the subject of the final report. The group also requests permission to meet quarterly between June 2025 and July 2026 to gather information about how the progress implementing the recommendations.
NEWS AND NOTES
Delegate Solomon Tapped for Board Overseeing Nation’s Report Card
This week U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona appointed public-school champion Delegate Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery) to the National Assessment Governing Board, which helps set policies for the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), known as the Nation’s Report Card. Solomon, who has sponsored legislation protecting children online, is co-chair of the legislature’s Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and chair of the Appropriations’ Oversight Committee on Personnel.
August Sports, Casino Revenues Deliver $79 Million to Education
In August, Maryland’s combined sports betting and casino gambling revenues generated $79.3 million for public education. Casino gaming contributions to the state during August totaled $73.7 million, an 8.1% increase over August 2023. Of that, contributions to the Education Trust Fund during August were $53.01 million, an 8.1% increase compared to August a year ago. Maryland’s sports betting generated $5.6 million in contributions to the state this past August. Sports betting contributions go to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund.
CAMPAIGN 2024
Undecided Numbers Shrink, Alsobrooks’ Lead Increases against Hogan
Alsobrooks has widened her lead to double digits as the percentage of undecided voters shrinks. In a Washington Post poll released September 26, she had an 11-point lead over Hogan, 51% to 40%. Libertarian candidate Mike Scott had 3%, and the poll recorded 5% as undecided or voting “other.” As her lead grew, the undecided voter percentage shrank, compared to the Emerson College poll of likely voters taken September 12-13. The Emerson poll recorded 9% undecided, with Alsobrooks leading at that time by 7 points, 49% to Hogan’s 42%.
6th District Race Becomes National Contest for Educator-Recommended McClain Delaney against Parrott
Domestic violence victim advocates are engaged in the open 6th congressional district race, supporting educator-recommended April McClain Delaney (D). She is in a statistically tied race with Republican former state Delegate Neil Parrott (Washington), a MAGA Trump supporter who voted for weaker domestic violence laws when he represented western Maryland in the House of Delegates. Parrott has advocated for total abortion bans, defended spousal rape exceptions, and has the backing of the Republican National Committee. He consistently voted against MSEA positions and priorities, including voting against the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has made the 6th district a priority so McClain Delaney can defeat this extremist. “April McClain Delaney is a common-sense leader who will champion the issues that matter most to everyday Marylanders like lowering costs, creating good-paying jobs, and protecting fundamental rights and freedoms,” said U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-OR), chair of the DCCC.
“[U.S. House] Speaker Mike Johnson is signaling the elevation of Maryland’s 6th District as a key target in Republicans quest to keep the majority in Congress, funneling money from right-wing billionaires,” said Maryland Democratic party spokesperson Luca Amayo. “His handpicked candidate, Neil Parrott, will be a MAGA loyalist who will toe the party line and help pass their extreme agenda, which includes a national abortion ban.”
Former AG, Maryland Congressional Delegation Expose Hogan’s Failure to Stand up to Trump
In the race to fill U.S. Senator Ben Cardin’s open seat, the truth about Larry Hogan’s false claim of political independence is coming out. It reveals the risk of letting Hogan join fellow Republicans in the Senate as the potential 51st vote in that chamber. Former Attorney General Brian Frosh and most of Maryland’s congressional delegation have disproved Hogan’s claim he stood up to President Trump on behalf of Marylanders. Starting early in 2017, Frosh wanted to sue the Trump Administration to protect Marylanders from Trump’s attacks on civil liberties, healthcare, and religious freedom, among other threats, but Hogan had no interest. “In a lot of ways, he let Trump do his dirty work,” Frosh said. “There are a lot of things that Larry Hogan would have gladly signed up for.” To bypass the governor’s lack of will, state legislators passed the Maryland Defense Act to empower the attorney general to sue the administration without the governor’s support. Hogan again obstructed standing up to Trump by withholding funds from Frosh’s office.“[Hogan] is the antithesis of someone who stands up for something,” Frosh said. “He was ducking and running.”
Washington Post, Bricklayers, LGBTQ+ Caucus Endorse Alsobrooks; Caucus Finds Hogan Oaths Flimsy
The Washington Post has endorsed Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) in the U.S. Senate race, declaring, “This is a daughter of middle-class parents who has paid her dues in public service, has listened to her constituents and knows Maryland from the grass roots up. She would have a special perspective as one of the few Black female senators ever elected.” Other recent endorsements for Alsobrooks include the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers, Actors Equity of Maryland, and Maryland’s LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus. Larry Hogan’s weak record on LGBTQ+ issues gives the caucus no reason to trust him to defend their rights against Senate Republican threats. “[H]e is not the champion that we know Angela Alsobrooks will be,” said caucus member Delegate Ashanti Martinez (D-Prince George’s). A complete list of Alsobrooks’ endorsements is on her website.