Maryland's New Education Chief Aims to Boost Literacy and Accountability

Carey Wright, Maryland's newly appointed state superintendent, is bringing her successful strategies from Mississippi to address the state's educational challenges. Wright, who took the helm in spring 2024, aims to reverse the trend of declining student performance and implement the comprehensive Blueprint for Maryland's Future reform plan.

Wright's appointment comes at a critical time for Maryland's education system. Over the past decade, the state has seen a decline in national assessment scores, prompting lawmakers and experts to craft the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. This ambitious reform plan, passed in 2021, seeks to overhaul various aspects of the state's education system.

One of Wright's primary focuses is improving literacy instruction. In Mississippi, she implemented strategies that significantly boosted reading scores. Between 2013 and 2019, Mississippi's fourth-grade reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) increased by 10 points, bringing the state up to the national average.

Wright is now applying similar approaches in Maryland:

• Aligning curriculum with the "science of reading"
• Expanding early childhood education
• Implementing regular reading assessments
• Proposing a potential retention policy for struggling third-grade readers

The proposed retention policy has faced some opposition, with concerns about its impact on students of color and overall student confidence. In response, Wright has modified the proposal to include a parental waiver option and delayed implementation until the 2026-2027 school year.

"I would absolutely say she has been collaborative. She pushed hard and asked tough questions. You would often see something come of the issues that were lifted up at the table."

Wright is also evaluating Maryland's school performance measures. She has noted a discrepancy between school ratings and student proficiency, with 76% of schools receiving at least three out of five stars, while only 47% of students are proficient in reading. A task force is set to provide recommendations for potential changes to the rating system by December 2024.

Collaborating with Governor Wes Moore, who Wright describes as "very passionate about supporting education," the new superintendent has set ambitious goals. She aims to place Maryland among the top 10 states in reading for fourth- and eighth-graders on the NAEP by 2027.

As Wright implements these changes, she's drawing on her extensive experience in Maryland's education system. Having spent most of her career in Prince George's, Howard, and Montgomery counties, she sees her new role as an opportunity to give back to the state that shaped her as an educator.

With a focus on evidence-based practices, collaborative leadership, and ambitious goals, Carey Wright is poised to lead Maryland's education system into a new era of improved literacy and accountability.