PRESS RELEASE: Maryland READS Applauds Governor Moore’s Focus on Literacy Coaches
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Maryland READS today praised Governor Moore’s State of the State address and his proposed $11 million investment in state literacy coaches—a transformational step toward restoring Maryland’s national standing. He reaffirmed a shared commitment to returning Maryland to its place among the top states for education and charting a bold new course for Maryland’s children.
“With 67 percent of Maryland’s 4th and 8th graders not reading proficiently, this investment reflects both the urgency of the challenge and the seriousness of the work ahead,” said Trish Brennan-Gac, Executive Director of Maryland READS. “It is a meaningful down payment on an evidence-based approach to strengthening reading instruction and accelerating student success.”
A statewide literacy coaching program will provide teachers with the ongoing support they need to deliver high-quality instruction grounded in the Science of Reading. This investment will also help jumpstart the Academic Excellence Program, created by the General Assembly last year, ensuring the state has the infrastructure to translate policy into measurable gains in student achievement.
Michelle Koopman, a retired teacher from Montgomery County Public Schools, emphasized why coaching matters: “When I worked as a reading specialist, coaching was part of my job description, however, I was often pulled away from that role to do a million other things – testing and data collection, managing children having behavioral challenges, covering when there were no substitutes available, ordering supplies, organizing volunteers, etc., etc., etc. I think having someone whose only role is coaching is an advantage.”
Today’s announcement also reflects Governor Moore’s continued confidence in Dr. Carey Wright and her leadership of Maryland’s education system. Governor Moore recognizes that strong leadership must be paired with the tools and resources required to deliver results. Dr. Wright has a proven track record of driving dramatic gains in reading proficiency, and after a decade of declining scores in Maryland, her expertise is exactly what our state needs to lead a true reading comeback.
“It’s not enough to have great leaders,” Brennan-Gac added. “While Maryland does have strong leadership that is moving our state in the right direction, they have to have the tools and resources they need to get results. This is the time for the legislature to build on the momentum that is emerging and invest in our state’s future.“
Maryland’s children, educators, and future economy cannot afford to wait.
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