Trish Brennan-Gac, a representative of the nonprofit Maryland READS, addressed the Maryland General Assembly on Monday, urging lawmakers to maintain state funding for literacy coaching programs across the state. The appeal was made public as part of a report released by Maryland READS that outlines the organization’s position on continued investment in these services.
The report details the function of literacy coaches in Maryland schools, describing their role in supporting teachers and improving reading outcomes for students. It stresses that sustained financial support is essential for the programs to operate effectively and reach the students who need them most.
In a statement accompanying the report, Brennan-Gac said Maryland READS will keep working with legislators to ensure that the funding mechanisms for literacy coaching remain intact. She emphasized that the organization’s focus is on preserving the resources that enable coaches to provide targeted assistance in classrooms.
Maryland READS distributed the report to members of the state legislature and invited them to review its findings. The document calls for the legislature to allocate the necessary budgetary resources to keep the coaching programs running without interruption.
The timing of the appeal coincides with the state’s upcoming education budget deliberations, a period when lawmakers assess funding priorities for the next fiscal cycle. By presenting the report now, Maryland READS aims to influence the budgeting process and secure a place for literacy coaching in the state’s financial plans.
No specific figures regarding the amount of funding or the number of coaches were disclosed in the report. The organization’s request focuses on the principle of ongoing state investment rather than detailed budgetary proposals.