MSEA Makes Case for More Funding, Support, and Time for Educators

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

THIS MONTH IN ANNAPOLIS

MSEA Executive Director Sean Johnson, Vice President Nikki Woodward, and President Paul Lemle offer perspective and collaboration to the Maryland State Board of Education.

MSEA Advocates before State Board on Educator Priorities

MSEA was at the table on August 26 when the Maryland State Board of Education (SBOE) invited stakeholders to discuss policy and legislative priorities that will provide K-12 students with the resources and tools to develop and pursue their goals. MSEA President Paul Lemle, Vice President Nikki Woodward, and Executive Director Sean Johnson advocated on behalf of educators and students at the meeting. Lemle told the board his focus as MSEA’s president remains constant: make education a viable, respected career for anyone passionate about serving students, no matter their role in a school building.

He cited four crucial areas that need work:

  1. Wages and benefits: Compensation must reflect the professionalism of the work. Competitive salaries help recruit and retain quality educators.
  2. Time to do the job: Adequate planning and collaboration time improves job satisfaction, reduces burnout, and boosts student outcomes.
  3. Grow Your Own and apprenticeships: These locally rooted programs open doors for future educators and diversify the pipeline for both teachers and education support professionals.
  4. Support and mentorship: New educators need structured, ongoing support to stay and succeed in the profession.

MSEA’s presentation emphasized the importance of fully funding education, hiring enough educators, listening to them, realizing that students are more than test scores, and giving every student an opportunity to “be their best self,” as Woodward said. During the presentation, MSEA leaders urged policymakers and legislators to:

“I…really appreciate your partnership,” said SBOE President and former educator Josh Michael. He underscored Johnson’s assertion that community schools are central to the Blueprint, and they are more than wraparound services. “I…want to lift up…your push on community schools,” Michael said. “We are rowing together so much on that…it has to fundamentally and deeply connect the work of our schools with families and communities, and that is more than wraparound services.”

Michael also extolled Woodward’s insights as she serves with him on the task force that is revising accountability standards.

SBOE member, and former educator and union leader, Kim Lewis credited union advocacy with improving education and influencing her resolve to serve. “It’s important that your members participate in the process,” she said.

The August 26 SBOE meeting was also the last for member Rachel McCusker, who served two terms as the first to fill the seat reserved for an active educator. For years MSEA fought to establish a place on the board for a current educator. Serving since 2020, McCusker led the board’s Education Policy Committee and always contributed her experience to develop policies that take into consideration daily educator schedules and expectations. “She’s brought an absolutely irreplaceable educator’s voice to this board. She did not inherit the roadmap; she created it,” Lemle said.

McCusker’s seat will be filled by a candidate that educators will elect later this fall.

State Board Takes First Step to Manage Distracting Cell Phones in Schools

MSEA’s advocacy to address the ubiquitous distraction from cell phones in schools has made progress. For this school year, the SBOE approved a resolution August 26 asking local school leaders to implement comprehensive cell phone policies “as soon as practicable.” This first step could start to resolve the frustrating patchwork of inconsistent practices and enforcement at the school level. MSEA will continue working with the SBOE for a more consistent and universal policy application, and support locals in helping to develop local-specific policies that solicit and incorporate the voices of educators and parents.

AIB’s 3 Vacant Seats Filled: Two New Members; Manko Returning

Gov. Moore filled three vacant seats on the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB), choosing from six names forwarded by the AIB Board Nominating Committee. Joseph Manko was reappointed. New members Contina Quick-McQueen and Robin Werner may start to serve at the AIB’s next meeting on September 18. The three members will serve pending Senate approval next legislative session.

NEWS AND NOTES

March Tomorrow with NEA, Labor Allies to Reject Military Takeover of Capital: ”We Are All DC”

Anyone who works or cares about Washington, D.C. and presidential overreach is invited to join the We Are All DC march in the capital tomorrow, September 6. The National Education Association (NEA) is partnering with Free DC, the DC Central Labor Council, and other allies to stand up for freedom and security for the city and its residents. The march is for an immediate withdrawal of federal troops from the District, an end to federalization of the local police department, and the right to protect our communities in the future. The group will meet at Malcolm X Park, go to Freedom Plaza, and proceed to the White House. NEA urges everyone to sign up here for details and a map.

FY26 Federal Education Budget: House GOP Plans 15% Cut to USDE; 27% from Title I

President Trump unveiled a broad outline of his Fiscal Year 2026 budget that cuts federal education funding by 15%, or $12 billion. Twenty-five existing programs would be replaced by two “simplified” block grants—one for seven IDEA programs, the other for 18 K-12 programs, including a few Title I programs. Trump’s budget also proposed eliminating several important education programs such as Full Service Community Schools, English Language Acquisition, and Teacher Quality partnerships. Under block grant funding, 7.5 million students with disabilities—15% of the student population—would lose important rights, protections, and services. States would face deep budget holes as a result.

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee rewrote the Trump Administration’s proposed budget and in July approved a bipartisan bill to restore cut K-12 programs, preserve the Education Department (USDE), and increased the department’s budget by $300,000 to $79 million.

As the October 1 deadline for a FY26 budget nears, Senate and House proposals now differ significantly. House GOP members propose cuts that more completely align with the Trump Administration. The House Republicans are proposing a 27% reduction ($5.2 billion) in Title I funding for low-income schools and districts. The House GOP proposal would cut overall funding for the USDE, including K-12 and higher education programs, by 15% below the current budget of $78.7 billion, to $67 billion. The GOP version does differ from Trump’s budget proposal by not consolidating current competitive formula funding grant programs into one formula grant program. Follow NEA on social media for updates on how these federal machinations play out—and how they’ll impact students across Maryland and the U.S.

Trump Administration Power over K-12 Funding Threatens Civil Rights in Schools

Using the power of the purse, the Trump Administration is trying to coerce compliance with discriminatory policies against LGBTQ+ students, especially transgender youth. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) under the Health and Human Services Administration (HHS) sent a letter to Maryland, and other states, threatening to cut off federal funding for Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) sex education because it incorporates inclusive language and “gender ideology content” that are not explicitly referenced in the PREP statute. Therefore, ACF says the content does “not adhere to the PREP statute.” Maryland has until October 27 to remove the language, or HHS may withhold or suspend federal funds.