Maryland education leaders present strategic-plan phases 1–2, tie work to 2021 Blueprint funding

Dr. Sylvia Lawson, Maryland Department of Education deputy superintendent for organizational effectiveness, presented the department's strategic-plan phases 1 and 2 at a virtual Community Partner Roundtable, outlining five priorities and a set of measurable goals aimed at accelerating student learning statewide. "The blueprint will provide $3,800,000,000 of funding over 10 years," Lawson said, tying the strategic-plan work to the 2021 legislation lawmakers passed to reshape state education funding.

Lawson said the plan responds to long-term declines on the National Assessment of Educational Progress and opportunity gaps widened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Phase 1 established mission, vision and values; phase 2 produced draft goals, metrics and engagement data; phase 3 will finalize targets and identify flagship strategies and programs. The department said it expects to release the full strategic plan in June 2023.

The plan rests on five pillars: early childhood education; recruiting and developing high-quality teachers and leaders; college and career readiness (CCR); more resources for student success (including community schools and supports for students with disabilities and English learners); and governance and accountability. Lawson highlighted specific elements: increasing access to high-quality preschool and Judy Centers; a stated teacher starting-pay goal of $60,000 plus an additional $17,000 career-ladder incentive; and a CCR expectation that students be on track by 10th grade or by graduation.

MSDE reported broad stakeholder engagement in phases 1 and 2: roughly 28,000 survey responses, nearly 7,000 in-person stakeholders, 28 roundtables with more than 350 participants, about 40 hours of in-depth dialogue and more than 35,000 total connections. Lawson said the plan narrows the department's many existing metrics to a focused set of measurable goals and enablers — data and transparency tools, classroom curricula and interventions, educator pipeline and retention improvements, and student social-emotional and wellness systems — and that the department will use expert review teams and disaggregated baseline metrics to track progress.

Lawson urged continued public input and pointed listeners to the strategic-plan website and the 'Blueprint in Action' site for detailed materials and funding explanations. She described phase 3 engagement as a series of design studios and listening sessions intended to shape flagship programs and implementation strategies.

Next steps from MSDE: finalize targets in phase 3, identify flagship strategies and continue public engagement. The department encouraged stakeholders to complete the strategic-planning survey posted on marylandpublicschools.org/survey.