In July 2014, U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, asked each State to write a plan describing the steps it will take to ensure that "poor and minority children are not taught at higher rates than other children by inexperienced, unqualified, or out-of-field teachers" as required by section 1111 (b)(8)(C) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). In response to this request and as part of Maryland's continuous effort to provide equal educational opportunity to every child, including meaningful opportunities for all students to succeed, regardless of family income or race, the Maryland State Department of Education worked with stakeholders across the State to gather input on the development of the plan.

MSDE submitted Maryland's State Plan for Equitable Access to Excellent Educators to the U.S. Department of Education on July 1, 2015 (see link below) following review and approval by the State Board of Education on June 23, 2015. The plan was previously distributed to Local Superintendents, was discussed with various stakeholder groups, and was posted for public comment from June 8, 2015 through June 19, 2015. Follow-up meetings are being conducted with local school system teams for continual work in this area. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Gable at 410-767-0472 or mary.gable@maryland.gov.

Maryland's plan was approved by the U.S. Department of Education on October 22, 2015

Maryland State Plan to Ensure Equitable Access to Excellent Educators
October 22, 2015

Maryland's Equity Plan Approval Letter
October 22, 2015