Maryland has reduced its statewide teacher vacancy rate by 73% over the past four years, with officials crediting higher salaries, improved recruitment efforts, and programs designed to help more people enter the teaching profession.
The number of teacher vacancies fell from a peak of 2,145 during the 2022–2023 school year to 572 in the 2025–2026 school year, according to an announcement from the Maryland State Board of Education.
State education officials announced the latest figures Monday during an event at Hillsmere Elementary School in Annapolis. They described the decline as a sign that ongoing investments and workforce initiatives are helping school districts attract and retain educators.
Maryland Reports Significant Decline in Teacher Vacancies
Maryland officials attributed the reduction to several initiatives, including teacher salary adjustments and efforts to strengthen recruitment and retention across public schools.
State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carey M. Wright said the progress reflects Maryland’s commitment to building a stable educator workforce.
“Maryland’s continued progress in reducing teacher vacancies reflects our deep commitment to building and sustaining a strong educator workforce,” Wright said during the announcement.
She added that investments and partnerships are producing measurable results for schools and students.
“These results show that targeted investments and partnerships are making a measurable difference for students and schools across the state,” Wright said. “We will continue advancing strategies that attract, prepare, and support excellent educators for every classroom.”
Gov. Wes Moore also welcomed the decline, describing it as “historic progress.” However, he emphasized that the state still has work to do to ensure every classroom has a teacher.
Moore said state officials would continue working toward filling all remaining vacancies so Maryland students can receive the quality education they deserve.
Elementary School Teacher Vacancies See Major Reduction
The latest figures show that the decline has accelerated in recent years. According to the state’s announcement, the largest reduction occurred between the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 school years, when teacher vacancies fell by 45.3%.
Elementary education vacancies recorded an even larger decline, dropping by 63.3% during the same period.
More than 64,000 educators work in Maryland public schools, making recruitment and retention important priorities for districts across the state.
Although the statewide numbers show substantial progress, individual school systems have also reported significant changes in their staffing levels.
Anne Arundel County Schools Report Fewer Vacancies
Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) has experienced a particularly sharp decline in teacher vacancies.
The district reported 283 vacancies during the 2022–2023 school year, compared with just 16 in the 2025–2026 school year.
AACPS Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell said improved compensation has contributed to the change. He also pointed to efforts to improve workplace culture and the overall environment for educators and other employees.
Bedell cited salary increases connected to Maryland’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education initiative, along with district-level efforts to improve how staff members are treated and supported.
He also reported strong retention rates within the school system, saying 95% of teachers and 96% of non-instructional staff members remain with the district.
Those figures suggest that retaining existing employees is another important part of the district’s approach to building a more stable workforce.
Grow Your Own Educators Program Supports Teacher Recruitment
Maryland’s Grow Your Own Educators program is another initiative state officials have highlighted as part of their efforts to address teacher shortages.
The program is designed to create pathways for school employees who do not hold teaching licenses to become full-time teachers. By helping existing staff members enter the profession, participating districts can develop potential educators who are already familiar with their schools and communities.
At least 16 school districts across Maryland have received grants through the program, totaling $33.7 million, according to the state.
The initiative is intended to broaden access to the teaching profession while helping districts develop a more consistent pipeline of qualified candidates.
Combined with salary adjustments and retention efforts, the program forms part of the state’s broader strategy to strengthen its public school workforce.
Maryland Still Faces the Challenge of Filling Every Classroom
The reduction in teacher vacancies marks a substantial change from the staffing challenges Maryland faced during the 2022–2023 school year. However, the latest reported figure of 572 vacancies shows that the state has not yet reached its goal of filling every position.
Education officials will need to sustain recruitment efforts, support current teachers, and maintain competitive compensation to build on the recent progress.
For school districts, the challenge involves more than hiring enough educators. Retaining experienced teachers and creating supportive working environments also play an important role in maintaining continuity for students.
Maryland’s latest figures indicate that the combination of workforce investments, recruitment programs, and retention strategies has coincided with a significant decline in vacancies. State officials say their next priority is continuing that progress until every classroom has access to a qualified educator.