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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n
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MEDIA CONTACT: <\/p>\n \n\n<\/p>\n \n\n<\/p>\n BALTIMORE (October 19, 2026)\u2014<\/b>Today, State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carey M. Wright and State Board of Education President Dr. Joshua L. Michael announced historic declines in the Maryland teacher vacancy rate \u2014 falling 73.3 percent over the last four years \u2014 due to substantial public education investments from Gov. Wes Moore and the General Assembly. Teacher vacancies dropped from 2,145 during the 2022-23 school year to 572 this school year, attributed to <\/span>a broad range of initiatives, including salary enhancements, Grow-Your-Own Educators programs, and recruitment and retention efforts with state government, school system and labor partners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI want Maryland to have the best schools in the world, and that means every classroom must have a dedicated teacher ready to engage and mentor the next generation,\u201d said <\/span>Gov. Moore<\/b>. \u201cOur administration has tackled barriers to entry and strategically invested to create opportunities for passionate educators to pursue their dream of teaching. We are proud of the historic progress we\u2019ve made, and we won\u2019t stop until every vacancy is filled to deliver the world class education our students deserve.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Wright and Dr. Michael made the announcement at Hillsmere Elementary School in Annapolis with Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMaryland\u2019s continued progress in reducing teacher vacancies reflects our deep commitment to building and sustaining a strong educator workforce,\u201d said <\/span>Dr. Wright<\/b>. \u201cThese results show that targeted investments and partnerships are making a measurable difference for students and schools across the state. We will continue advancing strategies that attract, prepare, and support excellent educators for every classroom.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis milestone demonstrates what is possible when state leaders, local districts, and educators work together toward a common goal,\u201d said <\/span>Dr. Michael<\/b>. \u201cEnsuring every student has access to highly effective teachers remains at the center of the Board\u2019s mission. We are encouraged by this progress and will remain focused on policies that strengthen the profession and elevate outcomes for Maryland students.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Teacher vacancies in Anne Arundel County Public Schools have fallen from 283 in 2022, Dr. Bedell\u2019s first year in the district, to 16 on the first day of school this year.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe hard work to reduce teacher vacancies has many pieces to it,\u201d said <\/span>Dr. Bedell<\/b>. \u201cCompensation and training programs are certainly huge factors, but so is creating supportive cultures where every teacher feels a sense of belonging. We are very proud of the work we have done in all of those areas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n More than 64,000 educators work in Maryland public schools. The largest teacher vacancy decline \u2014 45.3 percent \u2014 occurred between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. Elementary education vacancies fell by 63.3 percent during the same period. <\/span>During today\u2019s announcement, Hillsmere Elementary teacher Elaine Griffith discussed her career path. Griffith, a Southern High School graduate, began her career this year teaching first grade.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act \u2014 <\/span>signed by Gov. Moore this year<\/span><\/a> \u2014 takes additional steps to address the teacher shortage by developing fully licensed teachers through recruitment campaigns and supporting debt-free pathways to teacher licensure. <\/span>Among the state-level recruitment efforts championed by the Moore-Miller Administration:<\/span> \n\n<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n MEDIA CONTACT:Raven Hill, 410-767-0486raven.hill@maryland.gov<\/a> MSDE Announces Historic Declines in Teacher Vacancy Rate<\/b><\/p>\n
Raven Hill, 410-767-0486
raven.hill@maryland.gov<\/a><\/p>\nMSDE Announces Historic Declines in Teacher Vacancy Rate<\/b><\/h2>\n
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