State looks at ways to train, retain more teachers

By Liz Bowie liz.bowie@baltsun.com
7:21 PM EDT, October 2, 2008

Each year, more Maryland teachers retire or leave the classroom than emerge from the state's schools of education.

That needs to change, a Maryland task force said in a new report outlining 26 actions that should be taken in the next several years to produce more teachers from state colleges and to provide incentives for teachers to stay in classrooms.

Today, the University System of Maryland Board of Regents education committee recommended that the board begin taking action to get more qualified teachers into classrooms.

Some recommendations are likely to need substantial state funding or a shift in the policies of the Maryland State Department of Education, but most of the state's education leaders have endorsed them, said Patricia Florestano, a member of the regents and co-chairman of the task force.

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