Maryland Updates Literacy and Math Standards for First Time in 15 Years

Maryland Updates Literacy and Math Standards for First Time in 15 Years

The Maryland State Board of Education recently approved significant updates to literacy and math standards, marking the first major revision in 15 years. These changes were made during the board’s annual meeting, which also included the election of officers for the 2025-26 term. The board unanimously passed the updated Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for English language arts and mathematics, reflecting extensive collaboration with educators, researchers, and community stakeholders.

“These revisions reflect months, if not years, of input from educators, researchers and community stakeholders,” said board President Josh Michael during the meeting. He emphasized that the new standards will serve as a strong foundation for deeper learning, greater equity, and real progress across classrooms.

The updates follow Maryland’s adoption of Common Core Standards in 2010 and subsequent revisions in 2013 and 2014. In 2024, the state education department’s Literacy Programs and Initiatives branch was tasked with revising and clarifying the goals of these standards. A committee worked throughout the year to clarify expectations and ensure alignment with college and career readiness standards. This process included public comment and involved aligning prekindergarten English language arts standards with the rest of the grade levels to create a clear progression.

“This alignment means that from a child’s very first year in school, there is now a clear, consistent roadmap of literacy expectations,” said Chelsea Brewer, who presented the updated English language arts standards. She noted that the standards remain anchored in Common Core, providing tangible indicators for parents and teachers to observe a child’s progress.

The board unanimously approved the updated English language arts standards, and the revised math standards also passed after a lengthy discussion. Lyndsey Brightful, director of mathematics at the state’s Office of Teaching and Learning Instructional Programs and Services, highlighted the importance of data application in today’s data-driven society. She explained that the revisions aim to create a clear continuum from pre-K through high school, ensuring that concepts like probability are introduced meaningfully each year after their initial introduction in fourth grade.

“We are on the cutting edge here,” Michael said. “We can both set very high standards and support our students to meet them.” However, he raised concerns about a “precipitous decline” in math achievement following the state’s increased standards. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the Nation’s Report Card, there has been a 20% increase in eighth-grade students below basic achievement from 2011 to now.

The meeting also featured the election of the board’s president and vice president. Michael was unanimously reelected for the term after being first elected last year. Vice President Monica Goldson, who succeeded Michael last year, was also reelected. Both were appointed by Gov. Wes Moore in 2023. The board welcomed two new members: James Bell Jr. and O’Marie Barnes.

Bell began his career as a math teacher in the Talbot County Public School District and later became a principal and supervisor of student services in Dorchester County. He currently serves as the director of instruction, academic support, and community well-being at Building African American Minds, a nonprofit that supports at-risk people of color. “I’m excited to contribute any way I can to help further learning for our students,” Bell said.

Barnes, a senior at Crossland High School in Prince George’s County, serves as the student representative on the board. He founded a youth-led nonprofit, Barnes and Scott Youth at Law, which provides resources for young people interested in law, public policy, and government. Barnes also serves on several other boards, including U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey’s Safe Streets and Youth Advisory Boards. “I just cannot wait to get to work with all of you, with our students in mind,” he said during the meeting.

In addition to these updates, the board discussed requirements governing teacher evaluations, a key component of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan. Board members acknowledged that the current evaluation system has not effectively improved student performance. “When you unpack this, you’re going to find that it’s a great, giant mishmash with little to no value that most teachers see as a set of hoops that they are required to jump through,” one member said.

Separately, the Accountability & Implementation Board of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future appointed five new members to committees advising on the plan’s five pillars. Jack Wilson will assist with the Career and College Readiness pillar, while Edmund Mitzel Jr. will advise on more resources to make students successful. Student member Owen Hughes joins the Early Childhood Education pillar committee, and students Gavin Falcón and Vanessa Li join the Governance and Accountability pillar committee.