The Maryland State Department of Education and multiple State agencies are collaborating on and are committed to the health and safety of students and staff in the school setting.
Maryland Together: Maryland's Recovery Plan for Education sets the framework to safely return schools to in-person instruction, along with guidance from the Maryland Department of Health and other partners. Schools across the State have been opening safely and effectively; all local school systems have been directed to open for in-person instruction by March 1, 2021.
Current Status of School Systems
For more information about Education and COVID-19:
Vaccine Opportunities for Educators and
Child Care Providers
The State of Maryland is grateful for the work of educators and child care providers throughout the pandemic. Recently, President Biden challenged all states, tribes, and territories to ensure every education and childcare worker can receive at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot by the end of March.
While supply of vaccines remains very limited, we are taking a number of actions to meet this national goal in the coming weeks:
First, in Maryland, all vaccine providers—including hospitals, local health departments, and community health centers—are required to make vaccines available to both public and non-public education staff, as well as those who work as or for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers.
Second, the state is working closely with retail pharmacy partners to prioritize vaccinations for school staff and child care workers:
Third, as part of Phase 1, educators and child care providers are now eligible to pre-register for an appointment at one of the state’s mass vaccination sites. Once pre-registered, you will be contacted as soon as an appointment is available.
February Proclamations
Black History Month Proclamation
CTE Month Month Proclamation
CTE Education That Works (video)
Gifted and Talented Education Month Proclamation
Invitation to provide comment/input:
Updates from the State Superintendent
Remarks by
State Superintendent Karen B. Salmon, Ph.D.
February 23, 2021
One of the first comprehensive guides of its kind in the country,
Maryland Together: Maryland’s Recovery Plan for Education outlined 13 requirements for local school systems to address in their local reopening plans and introduced the concept of hybrid learning, as well as public health mitigation and social distancing practices necessary for reopening schools.
In collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health, the
Guidance for School Reopening, features two educational design options to support the goal of quickly and safely restoring in-person learning for Maryland’s students, and prioritizes students who are most academically vulnerable.
During the first days of the pandemic, MSDE directed the provision of emergency school meals to ensure students’ nutritional needs were met. MSDE is especially grateful for the work of food service professionals, who have provided more than 45 million emergency meals and continue to feed our students both in and outside of the school facilities.
In addition to the initial $400 million delivered by the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, MSDE is providing another $780 Million in federal relief for school systems to address the effects of the pandemic. The $1.2 billion funding has been used for devices and connectivity, materials and supplies to reopen schools, and will support measures to combat learning loss with strategies such as intense tutoring. MSDE has swiftly and effectively distributed these funds to local school systems.