In a move aimed at lifting student achievement, the Maryland State Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt Learning Forward’s Standards for Professional Learning. The vote signals a strong commitment to elevating students’ academic success by ensuring high-quality teaching practices in the state’s 24 school districts.

Superintendent Carey M. Wright hailed the standards as the “gold standard in the field” of professional learning. In a memo to board members, Wright emphasized the need for a research-based framework to guide professional learning in Maryland, noting that these standards would play a crucial role in enhancing teacher instruction and, ultimately, student outcomes.

The decision followed a presentation by Deann Collins, deputy superintendent, and Elise Brown, executive director of professional learning and high-quality instructional materials. Brown pointed to research that found consistent evidence that program alignment with the Standards for Professional Learning is associated with improved teacher instruction and student achievement outcomes.

“We know that professional learning is a lever for teachers and students to improve, but not all professional learning is created equally,” Brown told state education board members. “It is really important for us to signal as an agency the value of high-quality professional learning that is grounded in standards. When we see that happening, what we’re also going to see is growth in teacher practice and their knowledge, which in turn will impact student outcomes.”