REISTERSTOWN, MD—Reisterstown Elementary School served as the backdrop for a roundtable discussion on education reform and teacher recruitment with Governor Wes Moore, early-career educators, and local school officials on January 30, 2025. The event focused on the Moore-Miller administration’s strategies to improve classroom outcomes and attract and retain teachers.

A key component of the discussion was the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act, a proposed bill outlined in the administration’s 2025 legislative agenda. This act aims to bolster Maryland’s public schools by investing in educators through a variety of strategic programs.

“To unlock Maryland’s potential, we need to have the best schools in the country—and to have the best schools in the country, we need to recruit and retain top educators,” said Governor Moore. “By investing in our teachers, we will help ensure that every child in Maryland is learning by four, reading by eight, and is college and career ready by sixteen.”

One of the key initiatives proposed in the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act is the Academic Excellence Program. This program would provide instructional coaching, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for teachers, focusing on foundational literacy and numeracy skills.

The bill also proposes a $134 million investment over four years for the Grow Your Own Educators Program, which offers debt-free pathways to obtaining a teacher’s license. This program includes hands-on learning opportunities for teacher candidates and benefits for those who commit to teaching in their local school system for two or more years.

These investments aim to improve educational outcomes for Maryland’s students and make Maryland a top choice for educators nationwide.

Maryland State Department of Education Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carey M. Wright says building a strong teacher workforce requires innovative strategies to attract new talent and robustly support current educators. “Investing in such key areas as professional development and school leadership will help to achieve our vision of academic excellence and fulfill the promise of the Blueprint.”

To attract experienced teachers from other states, the bill proposes a national campaign offering relocation assistance and support with the certification process. Additionally, the Maryland School Leader Academy would be established, providing free cohort-based training for principals to develop their instructional leadership skills.

The proposed legislation includes historic K-12 education funding of $550 million in the governor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

“Gov. Moore’s visit today to Reisterstown Elementary School speaks volumes about his commitment to improving educational opportunities statewide, especially in attracting and retaining a talented teacher workforce and in investing in literacy education and other student-centered initiatives we know will benefit Maryland and Baltimore County for generations,” said Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via the Maryland Governor’s Office