Maryland outlines Phase 1 of strategic plan tied to 2021 Blueprint law, seeks educator input

Dr. Sylvia Lawson, deputy superintendent of organizational effectiveness at the Maryland State Department of Education, presented Phase 1 of the department's strategic plan at a virtual educator roundtable, saying the state needs a coordinated plan to "reimagine the work" of the department after the pandemic and to implement the Blueprint legislation passed in 2021.

Lawson said the plan frames five pillars'early childhood; teacher quality and diversity; college and career readiness; resources for student success; and governance and accountability'that will guide state and district work. "We must be able to implement this multibillion dollar initiative right," Lawson said, describing the Blueprint as the funding anchor for the plan.

The presentation said the Blueprint will provide roughly $3,800,000,000 in funding for school systems over the next 10 years and that districts will be asked to submit implementation plans across the five pillars, with plans due in March 2023. Phase 2 of the MSDE planning process will set measurable goals and indicators to track progress.

MSDE reported broad early engagement in Phase 1: more than 27,000 survey responses, participation in over 5,000 events, more than 20 roundtables and hundreds of participants and hours of discussion. According to the Phase 1 engagement report, early literacy emerged as the top stakeholder concern.

Lawson emphasized ongoing outreach and resources: MSDE has launched a website with the strategic plan guidebook and an engagement report, and it will continue roundtables, gallery walks and other regional activities to refine goals and indicators. Participants were invited to continue submitting input through the department's survey and website.