FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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March 29, 2022
Wes Moore and Aruna Miller Release Plan to Invest in Maryland Students and Build a World-Class Public Education System
Comprehensive plan outlines a cradle-to-career approach to education that is equitable, inclusive, and prioritizes full funding of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future
Education stakeholders and educators across Maryland commend Moore’s commitment and actionable framework to deliver a world-class education to all students
BALTIMORE (March 29, 2022) – Maryland has made meaningful progress towards improving public education, most recently adopting the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future–historic legislation designed to break down long-standing education inequities across the state. To continue the progress towards delivering on the promise of a high-quality education for all students, today, the Moore-Miller campaign released a cradle-to-career education plan to invest in students, build a world-class public education system, and secure Maryland’s future.
“Our campaign has a clear and comprehensive vision for education that is anchored in creating opportunities for all Maryland families and guided by leaving no one behind,” said Wes Moore. “Education opportunities changed and shaped my life, and I’ve devoted my career to breaking down barriers for others to find their success. And our plan accomplishes that by applying a cradle-to-career approach and a public commitment to fully funding the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Working with local leaders, educators, parents and community organizations, together we will secure our future and make education inclusive, accessible, and a top priority across the state.”
With education at a critical inflection point as the state recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand was clear for a framework that applies a holistic approach to investing in education and sets up students and families for success.
“Maryland has strong schools, committed educators and stakeholders, and dedicated parents–all working in tandem to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed,” said Aruna Miller. “Our vision leverages that coalition by implementing an inclusive plan that leaves no one behind, prioritizes the whole child, and guarantees equitable access to educational opportunities and a clear path to career success.”
The plan builds on the groundwork laid by the Kirwan Commission and includes fully funding Maryland’s Blueprint. At the school level, the plan advocates for strengthening early childhood education, supporting our public schools’ workforce, investing in 21st Century Schools, and expanding community schools.
For students, the plan prioritizes social/emotional learning, supports LGBTQ+ students, works to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline, invests in wraparound supports like trauma-informed care and out-of-school programs, and closes the digital divide. The plan also seeks to expedite modern workforce readiness with a service year option for high school graduates, an expansion of career and technical education programs, and more opportunities for students to participate in dual enrollment programs and apprenticeships.
And for educators, the Moore-Miller plan will implement strategies to attract and retain an education workforce of the future by strengthening the collective bargaining rights of educators and education support staff, working to raise salaries throughout the state, and improving recruitment efforts to better attract a diverse educator workforce.
“Throughout his life, Wes has talked about the importance of education and how it prepared him to succeed,” said educator and Pocomoke City Councilmember Todd Nock. “And that’s why I wholeheartedly support the Moore-Miller education plan. It was created from lived experiences and prioritizes an investment in our students, partnership with educators and parents, tackling educational disparities, making a commitment to equitable staffing, boosting early childhood education, and emphasizing workforce development. It’s a plan that is visionary, inclusive and attainable.”
“Maryland has made great strides towards improving our public education system. But we can do more,” said Dr. Richard Warren, 2019 Maryland Teacher of the Year. “As an educator, I fully support the Moore-Miller plan and its framework for building a world-class education system that is rooted in investment, best practices and coalition building with educators—all components that ensure needs are met and equitable access to opportunity is secure.”
“Across our state, education remains a top priority for Maryland families,” said Wyatt Oroke, 2021 Maryland Teacher of the Year. “It’s a priority because families know that education is key to access jobs, better wages, and the chance to create generational wealth. But equity has been elusive. The Moore-Miller policy is a plan for all, ensuring the Blueprint is fully funded and implemented, and that there is a working coalition of local leaders, educators, parents, and community organizations at the table to help address our most pressing challenges.”
The cradle to career education plan is the latest in a string of comprehensive policy frameworks announced by Wes Moore’s campaign, joining a transportation and mobility plan, a plan to unlock economic opportunity for Maryland’s Black families, an economic plan to increase work, wages, and wealth for every family in Maryland, an action plan to support Marylanders during the surge of COVID cases, a plan to build a cleaner, more prosperous Maryland, and a statewide plan for public safety and criminal justice.
Wes Moore and Aruna Miller’s rapidly growing coalition includes endorsements from former Governor and former Prince George’s County Executive Parris Glendening; Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks; Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman; Former Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler; Former Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy; Sen. Antonio Hayes (District 40); Sen. Cheryl Kagan (District 17); Sen. Delores Kelley (District 10); Sen. Obie Patterson (District 26); Former Sen. Nathaniel McFadden (District 45); Del. Marlon Amprey (District 40); Del. Ben Barnes (District 21); Del. Kumar Barve (District 17); Del. Lisa Belcastro (District 11); Del. Regina Boyce (District 43); Del. Chanel Branch (District 45); Del. Frank Conaway, Jr. (District 40); Del. Terri Hill (District 12); Del. Anne Kaiser (District 14); Del. and House Majority Leader Eric Luedtke (District 14); Del. Mike Rogers (District 32); Del. and Baltimore City Delegation Chair Stephanie Smith (District 45); Del. Melissa Wells (District 40); Del. Nicole Williams (District 22); Former Del. Gene Counihan (District 15); Bowie Mayor Pro Tem & Councilmember Adrian Boafo; Baltimore City Councilmember John Bullock (District 9); Morningside Mayor Bennard Cann; Baltimore City Councilmember Zeke Cohen (District 1); Baltimore City Councilmember Mark Conway (District 4); Baltimore City Councilmember Eric Costello (District 11); Bowie City Councilmember Michael Esteve (District 11); Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando (At Large); Baltimore County Council Chair and Councilmember Julian Jones (District 4); Former Gaithersburg Councilmember Yvette Monroe; Baltimore City Councilmember Phylicia Porter (District 10); Baltimore City Councilmember Odette Ramos (District 14); Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin; Riverdale Park Councilmember Richard Smith (Ward 1); Laurel Councilmember Brencis Smith (Ward 2); Baltimore City Councilmember Robert Stokes (District 12); Baltimore City Councilmember James Torrence (District 7); Forest Heights Mayor Calvin Washington; former Maryland Democratic Party chairs Michael Cryor and Susie Turnbull; Former Chair of Montgomery Planning Board Royce Hanson; The Baltimore Fire Officers Union Local 964; Collective PAC, one of the nation’s largest organizations working to build Black representation in government; Impact, a leading national organization supporting the Indian American and South Asian community; and VoteVetsPAC, one of the top veterans advocacy organizations in the country.
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