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