Literacy Support in the State House; Educator Pathways Bills Advance
And other legislative updates in this week’s Up the Street
THIS WEEK IN ANNAPOLIS
MSEA, Legislators, Clifford the Big Red Dog Celebrate Read Across America
On Tuesday, MSEA and the Maryland General Assembly recognized Read Across America Day, the annual national celebration of reading and literacy that is part of the month-long Read Across America program. Special guest Clifford the Big Red Dog accompanied MSEA President Paul Lemle and Vice President Nikki Woodward to both the House and Senate chambers, where they received proclamations in support of Read Across America. Every year during the month of March, MSEA buys hundreds of books to donate to K-12 schools around the state. On Tuesday, senators and delegates generously donated scores of new children’s books, which MSEA will deliver to schools in the legislators’ home districts. Between the legislators’ donations and books that MSEA buys, nearly 1,000 brand new books will enhance school libraries.
In conjunction with Read Across America, on Monday First Lady Dawn Flythe Moore launched the #ReadMoreMaryland campaign in partnership with the Governor’s Office for Children and the Maryland State Department of Education. The campaign reinforces the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to education and advancing literacy. The campaign invites Marylanders to share images on social media of themselves reading with loved ones throughout the month March. “Reading opens doors, builds confidence, and helps all of us dream bigger,” the First Lady said.
Legislation for Interstate Licensure Pact for School Psychologists Advances
A positive step to reducing the educator shortage, legislation to establish an interstate licensure compact for school psychologists (House Bill 340/Senate Bill 238) has crossed over to the opposite chamber. HB340 passed 129-0 in the House and is in the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee (EEE), and SB238 passed 43-0 in the Senate and is on first reader in the House. Sponsors are Del. Bernice Mireku-North (D-Montgomery) and Sen. Malcolm Augustine (D-Prince George’s). The National Association of School Psychologists has set a ratio of one psychologist per 500 students as its recommended level. During the 2024-25 school year, Maryland’s ratio was one for every 1,037 students, demonstrating the need to increase the ranks of school psychologists in our schools.
Bills to Rein in Immigration Enforcement Tactics Make Progress
Several bills to rein in aggressive federal immigration enforcement are also advancing. A bill to prevent the proliferation of federal detention facilities, House Bill 1017, passed in the House (98-36) and is in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. HB1017 is sponsored by Del. Melissa Wells (D-Baltimore City), and the crossfile is Senate Bill 984, sponsored by Sen. Will Smith (D-Montgomery). A bill to set minimum standards for immigration detention facilities, House Bill 1018 passed (98-37) and is in the Judicial Proceedings Committee. The crossfile is Senate Bill 985. Sponsors are Del. Vaughn Stewart (D-Montgomery) and Sen. Will Smith (D-Montgomery). A bill to prohibit school security from involvement with immigration actions, House Bill 1341, passed (90-34) and is in the Senate EEE and Judicial Proceedings committees. The crossfile is Senate Bill 810. Sponsors are Del. Eric Ebersole (D-Baltimore County) and Sen. Nancy King (D-Montgomery). On Thursday in the House Judiciary Committee, MSEA supported House Bill 1262, to require federal immigration enforcement practices to adhere to state law, including on matters of banning racial profiling. HB1262 is sponsored by Del. Malcolm Ruff (D-Baltimore City), and the crossfile is Senate Bill 854, sponsored by Sen. Charles Sydnor (D-Baltimore County).
MSEA Members Strengthen Advocacy to Support Profession, Worker Rights
This week crossed the halfway point in this legislative session, and MSEA provided testimony in two dozen hearings, including for legislation to expand worker rights, improve working conditions, reduce the educator shortage, and defend human and civil rights, among other matters.
Worker Rights
One of the bills pertaining to worker rights is Senate Bill 764, to set a minimum wage of $25 for education support professionals. MSEA testified for SB764 on Tuesday in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, and will testify for the crossfile, House Bill 1205, when it is heard on Wednesday in the House Ways and Means Committee. Sen. Craig Zucker (D-Montgomery) and Del. Greg Wims (D- Montgomery) sponsor the respective bills.
On Wednesday in both chambers, MSEA testified for crossfiled bills Senate Bill 904/House Bill 1254 to protect jobs, especially for school-based education support professionals, by restricting school districts’ use of outside contractors. Heard in the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, SB904 is sponsored by Sen. Craig Zucker (D-Montgomery), and HB1254, in the House Ways and Means Committee, is sponsored by Del. Jessica Feldmark (D-Howard).
In the House Government, Labor, and Elections Committee (GLE) on Tuesday, MSEA supported the Local Government Employees and Public Employees Relations Act, House Bill 831, to expand collective bargaining. It is sponsored by Del. Matthew Schindler (D-Washington), and the crossfile is Senate Bill 922, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Harris (D-Prince George’s, Charles and Calvert).
In GLE today MSEA will support House Bill 604, sponsored by Del. Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery), to reform arbitration rules for state employees. The crossfile is Senate Bill 28, sponsored by Sen. Cory McCray (D-Baltimore City).
Technology, Cell Phones in School
Bills to keep distracting cell phones and personal technology out of classrooms and to establish training in and guardrails around artificial intelligence (AI) also have MSEA support. MSEA testified in support of Senate Bill 928, the Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act, to establish student technology (cell phone) use policies by the 2027-2028 school year. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Kevin Harris (D-Prince George’s, Charles and Calvert). The crossfile is House Bill 525, sponsored by Del. Adrian Boafo (D-Prince George’s). MSEA also testified in support of the AI legislation with House Bill 1057, sponsored by Eric Ebersole (D-Baltimore County), in a hearing with the Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday
Educator Shortage
MSEA supported two bills to provide tax relief for people with student loan debt. In the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, MSEA testified on Tuesday for Senate Bill 805, and on Wednesday for Senate Bill 882. SB805 is sponsored by Sen. Shelly Hettleman (D-Baltimore County), and SB882 is sponsored by Sen. Ben Kramer (D-Montgomery). SB805 has a crossfile, House Bill 1297, sponsored by Del. Julie Palakovich Carr (D-Montgomery).
On Wednesday in the House Economic Matters Committee, MSEA supported House Bill 1120, to expand educators’ license portability, and for Senate Bill 529 to establish a workgroup to expand educator pathways. HB1120 is sponsored by Del. Mike Rogers (D-Anne Arundel), and the crossfile is Senate Bill 418, sponsored by Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel). SB529 is sponsored by Sen. Kevin Harris (D-Prince George’s, Charles and Calvert), and the crossfile is House Bill 479, sponsored by Del. Edith Patterson (D-Charles).
Human Rights
Protecting minorities and vulnerable Marylanders is one of MSEA’s priorities this year. On Wednesday in the House Ways and Means Committee MSEA testified in support of House Bill 1011, sponsored by Del. Kris Fair (D-Frederick), to establish a workgroup to support transgender and gender diverse students.
MSEA also supported public and pedestrian safety legislation. On Wednesday, in the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, MSEA supported Senate Bill 526, to establish the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day and Maryland School Pedestrian Awareness Day. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Alonzo Washington (D-Prince George’s), and the crossfile is House Bill 486, sponsored by Del. Diana Fennell (D-Prince George’s). HB486 passed the House (119-6) on Wednesday and is also in the Senate EEE Committee.
NEWS AND NOTES
NEA: Department of Education Backs Down on Directive Targeting Educational Equity
The National Education Association described it as a victory for academic freedom and education equity that the U.S. Department of Education has dropped an appeal to salvage its February 14, 2025, “Dear Colleague” directive that sought to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in schools and higher education institutions nationwide.
“This ruling affirms what educators and communities have long known: celebrating the full existence of every person and sharing the truth about our history is essential,” said Sharif El-Mekki, CEO at The Center for Black Educator Development. “Across the country, educators do everything in their power to support every student, so each feels safe, seen, and is prepared for the future. Donald Trump and Linda McMahon tried to use politically motivated attacks and vague directives to stifle speech and erase essential teaching and learning in our schools and universities. The courts rejected that attack on public education.”
Survey Finds Most American Teachers Barely Getting By, Working More than One Job
Financial security in the education profession eludes the majority of American teachers, according to a survey released Monday by Gallup in partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Walton Family Foundation. The survey found that 71% of public school teachers hold at least one side job. According to the survey, no more than 28% of teachers say they have a comfortable income.