Maryland board orders statewide adoption of the "science of reading" to boost literacy

The Maryland State Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2401, calling for statewide adoption and implementation of the "science of reading" in K–12 public schools.

The resolution, read into the record and debated before the vote, directs the state superintendent to draft a comprehensive literacy policy that includes curriculum adoption, common assessments, an early warning system for struggling readers, intervention protocols and professional development aligned to scientific evidence about reading. The board set an aspirational target for Maryland to rank among the top 10 states on fourth- and eighth-grade NAEP reading by 2027.

Board President Crawford, who said the issue is personal because he grew up with dyslexia, introduced the resolution and asked staff to read it aloud. MSDE staff and board members described the move as part policy and part implementation plan: coordinated professional learning for teachers and leaders, regional literacy learning labs, literacy expert instructional support teams to visit districts, and partnerships with higher-education institutions to align teacher preparation.

"When I learned to read, it opened so many doors," President Crawford said before the vote. "This doesn't have to be that hard for our children." Dr. Millie McCarthy, a longtime advocate for dyslexia-informed practices, and Dr. Michael both urged swift implementation and noted neuroscientific and implementation-research foundations for the approach.

MSDE said immediate next steps include reviewing existing literacy guidance for alignment with the science of reading, launching professional learning labs in the spring, convening stakeholders for input on a statewide literacy plan and revising ELA standards. MSDE staff emphasized that implementation must include speech-language pathologists, special-education teachers, instructional coaches and parent engagement initiatives.

A handful of board members raised implementation questions during deliberations: how coaching supports will function, how to avoid excessive teacher burden, and how to involve families and local boards. MSDE officials said the plan will include regional coaching, office hours for LEAs, resources for parent nights and efforts to make curricular and assessment expectations transparent.

The motion to adopt the resolution was made and seconded by board members and passed by unanimous voice vote. President Crawford then asked MABE representatives in the room to remain briefly for a photograph and follow-on conversation about professional development and board-level training.

Implementation timeline highlights in MSDEs presentation include professional literacy learning labs planned for spring, a draft statewide literacy plan due back to the board in late spring, and finalized resources for LEAs to be released by late summer to support fall implementation. MSDE also plans a prioritized review of Maryland's College and Career Readiness ELA standards to ensure alignment.

The boardadopted resolution and MSDE's planned supports mark a formal state-level shift toward evidence-based, systematic early reading instruction and statewide accountability for reading outcomes. MSDE officials said further operational guidance and timelines would be provided to local education agencies as plans are finalized.