New national numbers put Maryland near the top of the class for post‑pandemic academic recovery, but the state’s top school board official is not exactly throwing a victory party. State Board President Dr. Joshua Michael says the gains are real yet still fall short, and he wants tougher standards, a new statewide test, and clearer school report cards so any recovery actually sticks.
What the scorecard found
The Education Recovery Scorecard ranked Maryland third in the nation for reading recovery and fifth in math recovery for the 2022–2025 period, a measure of how quickly students are clawing back ground lost during pandemic learning disruptions, according to the Education Recovery Scorecard. The report stresses that these spots reflect the pace of improvement, not overall achievement, and it notes that average Maryland students are still performing below 2019 levels in both subjects. The Scorecard also highlighted several “districts on the rise,” including Baltimore City and Frederick County, for especially rapid gains.
Board president: not good enough
Dr. Joshua Michael, president of the Maryland State Board of Education, told WBAL that while the national rankings are encouraging, the actual proficiency gains “were not good enough.” He said the board plans to revise state standards, roll out a new statewide assessment starting in 2027, and overhaul the school report card system to tighten accountability. Michael added that a decade of shifting tests and standards meant the state had, in his words, “really lost our way” heading into the pandemic.
Officials and advocates weigh the findings
The Moore administration hailed the Scorecard results and pointed to recent K‑12 spending, including an education package of roughly $10.1 billion, as a key factor behind the rebound, according to a press release from the Office of Governor Wes Moore. At the same time, literacy advocates urged caution, reminding families that the Scorecard tracks improvement speed, not how many students are actually on grade level. Trish Brennan‑Gac of Maryland READS told WTOP that “it is not that we are No. 3‑ranked in reading proficiency,” but rather that Maryland is improving faster than many peer states.
What districts and families should expect next
The State Board has already started to move on policy this year. Meeting minutes show board members reviewing a comprehensive math plan, updating alternate‑assessment rules, and approving timelines that anticipate some new assessment elements going live in spring 2027, according to the Maryland State Board of Education. Educators say Maryland’s multi‑year Blueprint for education and targeted federal relief likely helped speed up the recovery, a point the Maryland State Education Association has emphasized.
Parents and local leaders should now watch for rule‑making and public comment windows. Tweaks to statewide tests and school report cards can change how proficiency is measured, which in turn can shift how districts allocate resources, from tutoring programs to classroom materials.
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