Press Room
Media Contact:
Adam Mendelson, 443/433.3630 or amendelson@mseanea.org
or
Patti Mullins, 443/433.3684 or pmullins@mseanea.org
MSEA's media contact serves as the principal contact for members of the press, identifying in-house experts as well as educators in the field for interviews on a wide range of education topics.
Please note that all press inquiries should be directed to the contact listed above.
Filter Press Releases
Donald Trump and His Bullying Rhetoric Have No Place in Maryland Public Schools
“Donald Trump and his divisive, fear-mongering rhetoric have no place in the halls of Maryland’s public schools. Trump’s eagerness to bully minorities would be unacceptable if it came from any of our students," said MSEA President Betty Weller.
Maryland General Assembly Changes Kindergarten Readiness Assessment to a Sampling Test
"Due to the KRA, students lost out on instruction time during perhaps the most crucial learning period in their school experience—when they should be forming important learning habits and learning to play well with others. This bill will restore time for thousands of our youngest learners to play, learn, and develop a love for school," said MSEA President Betty Weller.
Maryland House Passes 2% Cap on School Testing
Today, the Maryland House of Delegates unanimously passed legislation to limit local, state, and federal mandated standardized testing at 2% of annual instruction time—or a little more than 20 hours a year (HB 141). The forward movement follows the unanimous passage of legislation to change the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) into a sampling test last Friday.
MSEA Statement on Gov. Hogan's 2016 Education Proposals
On January 27, Gov. Hogan's office released details on his 2016 proposals for education initiatives, including the same BOAST legislation he unsuccessfully introduced last year. Betty Weller, president of the Maryland State Education Association, made the following statement:
Educators Applaud Democratic Legislative Leaders for Plan to Address Over-Testing This Session
“Standardized testing is taking more and more time away from learning. The average student sits for more than 200 tests throughout their time in school, with some students taking more than 50 hours of testing a year. This is an urgent problem that requires immediate action and we applaud Democratic leadership in the General Assembly for joining our effort for less testing and more learning," said MSEA President Betty Weller.
President Obama Signs Historic Education Bill Into Law
“The Every Student Succeeds Act is a game-changer for Maryland students and their schools. After more than a decade of being held back by counterproductive federal requirements, Maryland will have a real opportunity to focus on proven ways to provide opportunities for every student and reduce the burden of over-testing," said MSEA President Betty Weller
MSEA Launches Back-to-School Advertising Campaign to Reduce Standardized Testing
Maryland educators launched a statewide back-to-school advertising campaign to push for a reduction in standardized testing. The campaign—named “Less Testing, More Learning”—features ten teachers and education support professionals from across Maryland who share their firsthand experiences of how over-testing makes it more difficult for their students to learn.
MSEA Launches Video and Digital Ad Campaign to Call on Gov. Hogan to Release School Funding
MSEA launches a new video and digital advertising campaign asking Marylanders to urge Gov. Hogan to release $68 million in education funding included in the General Assembly’s passed budget. A broad, bipartisan coalition of educators, parents, school board members, superintendents, county officials, and state legislators have been holding local events since the end of the legislative session to urge Gov. Hogan to release this funding for our schools
Educators Advance Pro-Public Education Policies During General Assembly Session
“Public education came under assault this legislative session, but between incredible educator and parent engagement and pro-public education champions in the General Assembly, we were able to pass a budget that continues a strong commitment to public education,” said MSEA President Betty Weller. “Crucial funding is now available for our schools—all Gov. Hogan needs to do is fund it. He can do the right thing for our schools, or he can willingly make things harder for our students to succeed."
Educators: Still Time for Gov. Hogan to Do the Right Thing
Inexplicably, Gov. Hogan appears prepared to punish Maryland’s public schools and our students as revenge for not getting his way on his initiatives, including a misguided voucher scheme to send $5 million in public funds to private schools. Despite overwhelming, bipartisan support in the General Assembly just three weeks ago to restore $132 million in Gov. Hogan’s school funding cuts, he upended an outcome supported by the vast majority of legislators and Marylanders.
