A message from Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury:

Welcome back to school Maryland students, families, staff and community stakeholders.

As the 2021-2022 school year begins, I want to emphasize that the Maryland State Department of Education recognizes the value of fulltime in-person learning and how critical it is to ensure equity and excellence for all students, especially those who have been historically underserved. Our goal at MSDE is to keep schools safe and open. We are counting on your partnership to ensure we can. MSDE together with the Maryland Department of Health has published the school and child care COVID-19 guidance with the focus on layered public health strategies in alignment with the CDC. By providing this guidance, we are urging local school systems to do everything they can to keep our schools safe for every student and staff member.

This school year, we’re looking forward to a more normal school experience.  But note, I say “more,” because we know that normal was not good enough.  As we emerge from the COVID – 19 pandemic and implement the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring real, meaningful change – and truly reimagine the education experience. And we will get it right, whatever it takes.

Thank you for your commitment to Maryland education. We will return – stronger, and better together.

Have a wonderful, safe and happy school year.

Best regards,

Mohammed Choudhury