The Report Card • Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Welcome to Week 8 of The Report Card, Strong Schools Maryland’s 2023 Session Newsletter.
The Progress Reports on Blueprint Reporting are here, and most of Maryland needs some improvement in their reporting.
Read them here, and, 🐤 click here to tell us what you think on twitter.
⏱️ LEGISLATIVE MINUTE
This week, we're shinging our legislator spotlight on Delegates Ashanti Martinez and Julie Palakovich-Carr.
Delegate Ashanti Martinez (Dist. 22) took office last Friday to fill the vacancy left by Sen. Alonzo Washington. He is the first Latino and first openly gay delegate to represent District 22, which is located in Prince George's County.
Delegate Julie Palakovich-Carr (Dist. 17) is a long-time Blueprint Champion and vocal advocate for education in the House. Delegate Palakovich-Carr represents part of Montgomery County, and has sponsored legislation to ensure corporations are paying their fair share in taxes.
✅ This week, Strong Schools Maryland will be providing testimony supporting Delegate Dana Jones' HB 878, which will make sure that students are accommodated when they need to log on to TeleHealth appointments during the school day.
✅ We'll also be providing testimony supporting Delegate Jared Solomon's HB 888 which will authorize alternative pre-k teacher preparation programs.
✅ Finally, we're providing support for Governor Moore's HB1219, the Maryland Educator Shortage Act. Governor Moore's bill will, among other reforms, require that MSDE sets and keeps teacher recruitment and retention goals.
⏰ All three of the above bills will have hearings today, March 1st, at 1:00pm.
🫱🏿🫲🏻 GET INVOLVED
📅 Drop-In Opportunities
MAR 6 @ 10AM and 4PM: Hop on zoom with our Local Organizer, Maya, to prepare testimony for upcoming bill hearings. She'll provide guidance and talking points for Team Leaders and Team Members who want to testify in front of the General Assembly. RSVP
🥳 Upcoming Events
Tonight (March 1) @ 6:30PM March Team Leader Call Join fellow Strong Schools Maryland Team Leaders on our monthly call to discuss the 2023 Progress Reports and opportunities to testify to the General Assembly and your local Board of Education (RSVP on Zoom).
The AIB doesn't have a meeting scheduled this week, but you can check out all of their upcoming meetings by clicking here.
🪧 Start or Join a Team of 10
In 2020, people like you stood up, spoke out, and passed the Blueprint for Maryland's Future.
In 2023, we want you to help us make sure that Maryland lawmakers #KeepThePromise of World Class Schools: Sign up here to start or join a Team of 10 in your county – we're going to need all the help we can get.
Always keep an 👁️ on this space for more opportunities to meet us at the statehouse (and RSVP for Blueprint Day).
That's it for Week 8, join us again next Wednesday for The Report Card, and please forward this to a friend, neighbor, or co-worker who wants to get the latest on the Blueprint in their inbox.
For the Future, Strong Schools Maryland
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