The Maryland General Assembly approved $14M in funding for education in Maryland to hire teacher-coaches specifically trained in literacy instruction. 

According to a recent press release, the Maryland State Department of Education MSDE will hit the ground running with new funds to bolster reading proficiency levels across public schools in Maryland. This is in addition to mandated, per-pupil funding, that is required by the state to implement the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

From the press release on Monday:

Today, State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carey M. Wright announced a major hiring campaign for more than 60 teacher-coaches to support local school systems statewide. The recruitment effort follows approval of more than $14.2 million in state funds for instructional coaching in Maryland public schools.

MSDE will recruit, hire, train, and lead 52 school-based literacy coaches, five regional literacy coaches, and four regional mathematics coaches to support local school systems this fall. This includes 35 literacy coaches to be assigned to schools across the state.

From Superintendent Wright:

“Coaching works as well for teachers as it does for athletes. Both teachers and athletes rely on practice, feedback and continuous improvement. Whether on the sports field or in the classroom, a coach helps to refine your skills and strategies for optimal performance. When teachers have access to strong, high-quality, effective instructional coaching, students win.”

The coaches will provide weekly, job-embedded support to teachers in schools across Maryland. MSDE will assign coaches to schools based on three data points:

• Third-grade student Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) performance in
  English language arts and mathematics over the last three years;
• Percentage of conditionally-licensed teachers among faculty and staff;
• Performance of special education students and Multilingual Learners.