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Maryland reports most federal COVID relief spent and shares teacher workforce data; Maryland LEADS continues to support recruitment and retention
Summary
MSDE reported 84.3% of federal grant funds available in FY2024 had been spent and updated the board on ESSER/ARP spending, Maryland LEADS program uses and teacher workforce trends including lower attrition and persistent vacancies concentrated among early-career teachers.
The Maryland State Department of Education told the State Board on Feb. 20 that most federal COVID-relief (ESSER/ARP/CRRSA/CARES) funding for education has been allocated and that grant closeout is largely complete for recent program years.
Assistant Superintendent Donna Gunning said 84.3% of federal funds available in fiscal year 2024 had been spent as of Feb. 1, 2025, and that 91% of claimed expenditures had been reimbursed. The department also described how LEAs used ESSER/ARP funds, with large shares for salaries and wages (including tutoring stipends, retention and hiring incentives, and summer programming), instructional materials and devices, and learning-recovery programs. Gunning said the department is shifting focus to cleanup of older grants from 2014'118.
The board also received an update on teacher workforce data. State staff reported a small year-over-year decline in statewide teacher attrition (from ~10.7% to 9.4%), and a 17% decrease in reported vacancies compared with the prior year. Maryland Leads, a statewide initiative funded from CRRSA and ARP set-asides, was described as supporting programs such as 'Grow Your Own' teacher development, tuition assistance, science-of-reading materials, and staff health centers; some late-liquidation requests to use funds for spring 2025 tuition were approved as part of the program’s multi-year support.
MSDE staff emphasized that attrition remains highest among teachers with less than three years of experience and that conditionally licensed teachers continue to represent about 10% of the workforce. Staff said African American and Hispanic teachers have relatively higher attrition rates and described ongoing efforts to diversify and stabilize the educator pipeline.
Ending: The department called for continued focus on using remaining federal funds to support staff retention, Grow-Your-Own programs and teacher pipeline strategies while completing grant closeouts and preparing to integrate lessons into longer-term state workforce policies.
