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THIS MONTH IN ANNAPOLIS

MSEA Welcomes New President Paul Lemle, Vice President Nikki Woodward

MSEA has new leadership as of August 1, with Howard County social studies teacher Paul Lemle taking office as president, and Montgomery County early intervention infant and toddler specialist Nikki Woodward as vice president.

A working musician who changed careers to become an educator, Lemle first taught incarcerated youth in Louisiana and Washington. He has also worked in special education and as an education support professional, and recently achieved National Board Certification. A cancer survivor, Lemle understands firsthand the importance of good benefits and a stable career. In addition to his decades of teaching experience, Lemle served as president of the Howard County Education Association from 2011-2017. Vice President Nikki Woodward has also worked as an education support professional and has decades of experience in Maryland public schools. She holds a doctorate in education from Johns Hopkins University, and most recently served as the Montgomery County Education Association vice president.

“Working in our public schools should be a viable, rewarding, and well-respected career. This is good for our schools and lays the foundation for every student—no matter who they are, what they look like, or where they’re from—to pursue their dreams,” Lemle said in a press release. “Investing in our schools and educators is the foundation of a better future for our students and for all of Maryland.”

Their work will build on substantial achievements by now former MSEA President Cheryl Bost, a Baltimore County elementary school teacher who has retired from education. Under her leadership the past six years, MSEA’s accomplishments have included passing the historic Blueprint for Maryland’s Future funding formula, strengthening Maryland’s educator pipeline, expanding the voices of educators in policymaking decisions, and supporting the successful election of pro-public education lawmakers up and down the ballot.

As reported in Maryland Matters, MSEA’s new officers will help drive our leadership role in state education policy and advocacy: “MSEA is one of the most politically potent unions in Maryland….It can also be widely influential on policy…and through the years the union has mobilized teachers from across the state to come to Annapolis.”

June’s Casino, Sports Betting Yield $56 Million for Education

In June 2024, casino and sports betting revenues combined contributed $56 million to education. Casino revenues go to the Education Trust Fund (ETF). In June 2024, casinos contributed $50.4 million to the ETF, about the same as in FY23. In June, sports betting contributed $5.7 million to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, compared to $2.8 million in the previous fiscal year.

NEWS AND NOTES

State Board Reviews Literacy Policy, Removes Praxis Math from Ed Prep Requirement

The public, educators, and the State Board of Education (SBOE) did not fully embrace MSDE’s draft literacy policy that the SBOE discussed at its July 23 meeting. The proposed policy would increase retention for third graders who do not pass reading benchmarks. In her last appearance before the Board as MSEA’s president, Cheryl Bost joined others who told the Board that the proposal needs more detail and sufficient supports, which are not yet fully implemented. The proposal’s more blanket response may bring about worse unintended consequences, many speakers and SBOE members agreed.

“We first have to say, did we do everything that we can as a state and as a district to put together all the support and resources for students to be successful,” Bost said. “I don’t think we’re there yet, and many of our educators don’t think we’re there yet.” In written testimony, Bost told the Board that studies have shown that retention, particularly when based on high-stakes testing, can disproportionately affect minority students, leading to higher dropout rates and negative socio-economic impacts.

Newly elected SBOE President Josh Michael said no new literacy plan will be adopted before September, and he will dedicate time at the August SBOE meeting for further public comment.

Also at the Board’s July meeting, the Board furthered a key MSEA legislative priority to expand educator pathways. Earlier this year, MSEA joined forces with education champions Senator Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City and Baltimore County) and Delegate Eric Ebersole (D-Baltimore County) to pass legislation (Senate Bill 771/House Bill 945) expanding pathways to teacher licensure. That prompted the Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board and the SBOE to adopt updated licensure regulations, and the Board affirmed MSEA’s position that the Praxis Core math subtest posed an unnecessary barrier to teaching, especially “given that teacher candidates preparing to teach math are required to pass a content assessment addressing math content knowledge.”

CAMPAIGN 2024

NEA Recommends Vice President Harris for President

The National Education Association (NEA) swiftly moved to support Vice President Kamala Harris following her entry into the presidential race following President Biden’s decision not to seek re-election. The Biden-Harris Administration record on behalf of students and educators is crystal clear, including the American Rescue Plan during the coronavirus pandemic, record funding for Title I schools, support for LGBTQ+ rights and student mental health, and historic relief for student loan holders. The United Auto Workers (UAW) endorsed Harris as well over the last week.

“In 2024, the future of our students, our public schools, and our democracy are on the ballot,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “Vice President Harris’ track record speaks volumes, she shares educators’ priorities: supporting our students no matter their race, where they live or how much money their parents make. She has worked to strengthen public education, build up the middle class, and resource our communities. Not only did Vice President Harris help shape the American Rescue Plan, the single largest investment in education, she cast the tie-breaking vote to advance it. And together, the Biden-Harris Administration changed lives—including educators’ lives—by wiping away more than $168 billion in student debt, after years of public service to Americas students and our communities.”

By way of contrast, Pringle said, “Donald Trump is a convicted felon who only cares about himself. This is the same man who entrusted Betsy DeVos, the least qualified secretary of Education in history, to attempt to dismantle our public schools. He wants to ban books, take learning opportunities away from students, make educators pay more in taxes than billionaires, and eliminate the U.S. Department of Education.”

NEA-developed resources to help spread the word about Vice President Harris’ pro-public education record can be found here.

A dire vision of public education emerges in the Project 2025 agenda drafted by MAGA extremist Trump supporters for the presidential transition. Among other deeply dangerous proposals, Project 2025 would slash Title I funding, exacerbating current teacher shortages by eliminating nearly 6% of the workforce—wiping out more than 180,000 teacher positions and undermining the academic outcomes of 2.8 million vulnerable students. Title I funding supports students from low-income backgrounds and nearly two-thirds of public schools. Additionally, Project 2025 would ban unions for public employees, eliminate universal free school meal programs, and convert Title I and IDEA funding into vouchers.

MSEA, NEA Support April McClain Delaney in 6^th Congressional District Race

Recommending pro-public education leaders to open seats in the U.S. Congress, the National Education Association (NEA) and MSEA have formally announced support for April McClain Delaney (D) in the 6^th congressional district race.

“Our educators value leadership that is committed to ensuring Maryland schools have the resources they need to provide equitable, high quality, and accessible education,” said now-retired MSEA President Cheryl Bost when the recommendation was announced in July. “April McClain Delaney has extensive experience working in childhood public advocacy, and is committed to building meaningful partnerships with educators to ensure our education policies lift up and advance Maryland’s public schools.”

NEA President Becky Pringle noted that McClain Delaney “will be a trusted partner for parents and educators to strengthen Maryland’s public schools and ensure students can get the one-on-one support they need, expand school-based mental health programs, keep students and educators safe from gun violence, and address educator shortages.”

MSEA members will mobilize to elect McClain Delaney as congressional Republicans are preparing to cut funds to public education, including Title I, and reduce educator autonomy and the freedom of schools to teach an honest and accurate curriculum, among other platform goals. The 6^th district includes all of western Maryland, Frederick County, and part of Montgomery County. McClain Delaney faces former delegate Neil Parrott (R), who has lost multiple races for the seat. Many political observers characterize this race as competitive.

U.S. Senate Race: Alsobrooks Launches TV Ad, Gains Labor Endorsements

Senate candidate Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) launched a TV ad reinforcing the stark choice voters have between herself and former Gov. Larry Hogan (R). The ad warns of a Republican platform that aligns with Hogan’s record of refusing to work with educators, vetoing supports for students who lack resources, and restricting access to women’s reproductive healthcare. “The power to hold big corporations accountable, the power to protect Social Security and Medicare, the power to stop Republicans from stripping women of our reproductive rights and confirming extreme justices to the Supreme Court,” Alsobrooks says in the ad. “What’s at stake in this year’s Senate election? Everything. Because, Maryland, this time we have the power to determine which party controls the Senate.”

In the growing list of public officials, organizations, and labor unions supporting Alsobrooks, the Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO has endorsed her. A complete list of her endorsements is here on her website.

Campaign Finance: Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney, Olszewski, Elfreth Have Cash Reserves as Fundraising Continues

In the latest quarterly campaign finance reports, Alsobrooks reported $3.6 million cash on hand, having raised $3.7 million in the quarter ending June 30. Since her May 14 primary victory she has raised $4.7 million. Larry Hogan reported having $2.7 million on hand, after raising $3.9 million in the quarter.

In the 6^th district race, April McClain Delaney raised $209,000 and has $217,000 cash on hand; Republican Neil Parrott raised $283,000 and had $222,000 cash on hand. In the 2^nd congressional district, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski (D) raised $280,000 and had $230,000 cash on hand, compared to Kim Klacik (R), who raised $48,000 and had $15,000 cash on hand. In the 3^rd district, Senator Sarah Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel) raised $372,000 and had $119,000 cash on hand; Republican Robert Steinberger raised $24,000 and had $6,000 cash on hand.