Now that the general election is over, how do we hold our pro-public education elected officials accountable to our priorities? How do we enforce policies we lobbied for when we know the next state budget will be tight?
We show our strength and power as union members and educators by turning out.
As we head into 2027, Marylanders are feeling the impacts of decisions made by the federal government, including the cut to Medicaid funding of $2.7 billion and the loss of federal jobs. Public education funding is in fact shrinking as a portion of the state budget—now less than 20%. In addition to our state legislature’s previous disinterest in sustainably raising sufficient revenue and the spiraling rise in healthcare costs, we need new options to continue the investment in education our students deserve.
Since the pandemic and the implementation of historic public education funding, Maryland has seen:
- ~20% growth in teacher and ESP salaries
- 2% increase in teacher positions and 17% increase in ESP positions (SY 20-21 to SY 25-26)
- 55% reduction in educator vacancies
- Expansion of student programs, including community schools and Pre-K
Students have also seen academic growth above that of many other states. While this is still not where we want to be, because of the increased funding, our students have experienced gains in reading, math, and science proficiency as well as improved attendance and drops in chronic absenteeism.
If you want the continued expansion of Pre-K programs that give our students a strong educational foundation, expansion of CTE programs to prepare our students for the workforce, and to continue raising salaries for all educators, we have to hold our elected officials accountable to the promises they made. This is a local and state fight: what our Board of Education is able to propose for our compensation package at the table is directly tied to funding passed in Annapolis.
In 2019, educators participated in one of the largest turnout events in Annapolis for the March for Our Schools rally to insist on an increase in public education funding after decades of systemic underfunding. We are preparing to do it again because a1/3 of state senators and delegates today were not in office when that occurred. They need to see us show up in even stronger numbers this time to demand the funding that our schools deserve.
RSVP at secure.ngpvan.com/SUlFUesGkEKY0WRIxSemdw2 for MSEA’s Fund Our Future rally on Monday, March 15 from 6 to 8 pm at Lawyer’s Mall in Annapolis. We have filled the streets with educators before, and we’ll do it again in March! TAAAC leaders have committed to bringing 400 people as we are the closest local to the action, but we will be joined by educators and community members from around the state. Save the date. Fund our Future.
