ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Wes Moore today toured Reisterstown Elementary School and joined early-career educators for a roundtable discussion about the Administration’s strategy to improve both classroom outcomes and teacher recruitment and retention. Through the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act the Moore-Miller Administration is putting forth a proposed path to help strengthen Maryland’s public schools by investing in Maryland’s educators.

"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 Gov. 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."

As part of the Moore-Miller Administration’s 2025 legislative agenda, the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act establishes and invests in strategic programs to support educator recruitment and retention. Through the legislation, the Academic Excellence Program will provide instructional coaching, mentorship, and professional learning opportunities that support teachers in implementing foundational literacy and numeracy skills, while ultimately investing in the careers of Maryland’s educators.

"Building a strong teacher workforce requires innovative strategies to attract new talent while providing robust support for current educators," said Maryland State Department of Education Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carey M. Wright. "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 incentivize aspiring educators to choose Maryland, the bill establishes a $134 million investment over four years for the Grow Your Own Educators Program, which supports debt-free pathways to obtain a teacher’s license. The program also provides hands-on learning opportunities for teacher candidates and offers benefits for aspiring educators who commit to serving for two or more years in their local school system. The investments aim to result in improved educational outcomes for Maryland’s students and make Maryland the state of choice for educators across the country.

"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.

The legislation also launches a national campaign to recruit experienced teachers to come to Maryland, offering relocation assistance and support for aspiring educators who are navigating the certification process. Additionally, the bill establishes the Maryland School Leader Academy, a free cohort-based program that prepares principals to be effective instructional leaders through specialized training. The initiatives will help strengthen Maryland’s education workforce by attracting and retaining top talent to ensure all students receive a world-class education in the state’s public schools.

The governor's proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget includes historic funding for K-12 education, increasing funding by $550 million.