MSEA Briefs Legislators on Blueprint Progress, Session Goals

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

THIS WEEK IN ANNAPOLIS

MSEA Enlightens Lawmakers about Major Education Issues, Progress

On Wednesday, MSEA President Paul Lemle, Vice President Nikki Woodward, and Executive Director Sean Johnson informed members of the House Ways and Means and Appropriations committees of the progress made by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future so far, the need to remain committed to it, and the areas that could be improved to move closer to the goal of giving every public school student access to a high quality education. Among big picture takeaways, the MSEA panel underscored:

PROGRESS MADE

IMPROVEMENT DESIRED

MSEA was invited to share expertise as part of a series of panels that included the Maryland State Department of Education, the Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board, Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland, Maryland Association of Boards of Education, and Baltimore Teachers Union.

MSEA highlighted the progress evident at the Blueprint’s midway point. That includes increasing the number of community schools from fewer than 200 to more than 600; higher educator salaries; career ladders that make the profession more desirable; pre-kindergarten expansion that prepares more students to succeed; funding formulas that more equitably address each student’s needs; and dual enrollment and career technical education that allow students to advance toward post-secondary goals.

In addition to broadly outlining MSEA’s legislative priorities, the MSEA panel advocated for an improved star rating accountability system—the school report card—that uses a descriptive model and transparent information, and de-emphasizes standardized test scores in favor of multiple factors that demonstrate a school’s potential to support students and their growth. They also emphasized that the temporary pause in funding for expanding educators’ collaborative time enacted last year must not extend beyond FY28.

Superintendents told the committees that the positive response to the Blueprint’s emphasis on high quality and diverse educators—with record numbers of teachers obtaining National Board Certification—requires more funding than anticipated. The MSEA panel said that those financial incentives should also apply to non-classroom teacher job titles that acquire similar rigorous certification.

Budget Details Bear Witness to Strong Public School Support

The governor’s budget started with a $1.4 billion deficit largely driven by federal cuts and the loss of 25,000 federal jobs in Maryland. Despite the federal challenges, the governor’s budget proposal includes $10.2 billion for K-12 public education and increases spending mostly based on program formula growth, but also with actions to protect against deep cuts in supports for students in poverty simply because the Department of Education failed to update the best way to include those students in community eligibility enrollment counts.

The governor’s proposed FY27 budget includes $1 billion from the General Fund for state employee pension costs and, similar to last year, shifts some additional pension costs for educators, librarians, and community college workers to counties, amounting to $39 million. The budget also reduces the state share of non-public placements for students needing special services by 10%.

Shifting those responsibilities may challenge local governments’ budgets, and MSEA is advocating for counties to have additional revenue raising flexibility. Several bills that propose to allow counties to set special tax rates for certain commercial and industrial properties and land improvements have MSEA’s support: Senate Bill 224/House Bill 90, sponsored by Senator Karen Lewis Young (D-Frederick) and Delegate Kris Fair (D-Frederick), and House Bill 78, sponsored by Delegate Vaughn Stewart (D-Montgomery) would give counties more revenue raising potential. HB78 and HB90 were heard January 27 in the Ways and Means Committee, and SB224 was heard January 21 in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.

The Department of Legislative Services budget analysis noted a 2.2% decline ($12.4 million), for English language learners because of reduced enrollment. At the Maryland State School Board meeting on Tuesday, President Josh Michael found a 4.4 % drop in Hispanic student graduation and 5.5% drop in English language learner graduation in 2025 disturbing and plausibly related to the terrorizing deportation tactics by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents against immigrant populations. “I’ve never seen a drop or a gain that significant year over year in a relatively large subgroup at the state level,” Michael said. “It raises significant alarm bells when you see that much movement year over year.” The DLS budget analysis noted a 3.6% decrease in ELL student enrollment in FY27 compared to FY26, far outpacing the 0.9% drop seen in overall student enrollment in Maryland public schools.

Bills Would Ban 287(g) Agreements with ICE, Prevent Masking by Law Enforcement

Bills that would rein in ICE’s brutal and bullying tactics are swiftly making their way toward a vote in the Maryland legislature and possible immediate enactment upon the governor’s signature. Senate Bill 245, to prohibit local governments from entering into the 287(g) collaboration agreements with ICE, is on third reading in the Senate after being favorably moved, with amendments to make the bill emergency legislation, out of the Judicial Proceedings Committee. The crossfile, House Bill 444, sponsored by Delegate Nicole Williams (D-Prince George’s), is on second reading in the House after being moved favorably with amendments out of the Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 1/House Bill 155 targets the practice of law enforcement officers wearing face coverings. Sponsored by Senator Malcolm Augustine (D-Prince George’s), SB1 is on third reading; HB155, also sponsored by Williams, is scheduled for a hearing February 24 in the Judiciary Committee. MSEA submitted favorable testimony in support of both bills.

NEWS AND NOTES

State Board Welcomes New Active Teacher Member

The State Board of Education (SBOE) on Tuesday welcomed new active teacher member Nicole Murray-Lewis to her first meeting. A Montgomery County high school history teacher, Murray-Lewis was elected by her peers to fill the seat vacated by Rachel McCusker, who became a school administrator after serving multiple terms as the first active teacher and educator-elected member of the SBOE.

MCAP to Be Replaced

On Thursday the Maryland State Department of Education announced the selection of NCS Pearson as the vendor to update the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP). The revamped assessment will be used for the first time during the 2026-27 school year. Assessment experts warn that in the first several years of a new assessment, comparability to prior assessments is limited and an imperfect science at best.

2026 CAMPAIGN NEWS

Educator-Legislator to Retire after Four Terms in House

Delegate Bonnie Cullison (D-Montgomery), vice chair of the Health Committee (formerly the Health and Government Operations Committee), received accolades and appreciation from colleagues this week when she announced her plan to retire from the House of Delegates this year. She has served four terms in the House that followed three decades in education, including serving as president of the Montgomery County Education Association from 2003-2009. Her educator experience informed her legislative career, where she championed laws that support families, students, and better communities. Her work earned her the admiration of many colleagues, including House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel), who served as chair of Cullison’s committee. “Being your partner, was the highlight of my life,” Peña-Melnyk said. “You are just a balanced human being that so many of us can learn from. I have never seen you lose your cool. You bring people to the table that are often a ‘no’ and you get them to a ‘yes.’”

Outgoing Rep. Steny Hoyer Endorses Delegate Adrian Boafo, Former Campaign Manager

In the crowded race to fill the 5th congressional district seat that U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D) is retiring from, Delegate Adrian Boafo (D-Prince George’s), Hoyer’s former campaign manager, received Hoyer’s endorsement. The primary election will be held on June 23, with early voting from June 11-18. Early voting for the general election runs from Oct. 22-29, 2026 and Election Day is Nov. 3, 2026.