State Superintendent Call On Maryland Schools to Reopen for Hybrid In-Person Learning By March 1
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently stated, “Children absolutely need to return to in-school learning for their healthy development and well-being, and so safety in schools and in the community must be a priority.”
School Reopening Protocols. State health officials are providing school systems with additional school reopening school guidance and educational design options based on scientific evidence.
$780 Million in Additional Funding. Maryland recently announced another $780 million in federal relief for school systems to address the effects of the pandemic, and a total of more than $1.2 billion has been made available. In addition, the governor’s FY 2022 recovery budget provides a record $7.5 billion for K-12 funding, holding schools harmless from the impact of declining enrollment figures, and ensuring that every jurisdiction receives more funding than in the previous year.
Education Staff Prioritized for Vaccines. Maryland has prioritized teachers and education staff to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. School systems have begun implementing plans to vaccinate staff.
PPE and Testing. The state has provided school systems with 2 million masks and 200,000 face shields, as well as hand sanitizer, gloves, and gowns. Since last spring, the state has made testing resources widely available to local jurisdictions.