New Maryland Teacher Pay, Housing And Tax Changes Take Effect In July

ANNAPOLIS, MD. — Maryland teachers will see several education-related changes beginning Wednesday, July 1, including a statewide minimum starting salary target, expanded tax benefits for some educators and a new law allowing school systems to explore workforce housing to help recruit and retain teachers.

The changes are part of Maryland’s ongoing implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and legislation approved during the 2026 General Assembly session. Together, they are aimed at making teaching more competitive as school districts continue working to fill classroom vacancies ahead of the 2026-27 school year.

$60,000 Minimum Starting Salary Deadline

Beginning July 1, Maryland school districts are required to provide a minimum starting teacher salary of $60,000, a milestone established under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and written into state law under Md. Code Ann., Ed. Art. § 6-1009.

Southern Maryland’s three public school systems have already met or exceeded the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future requirement that all Maryland school districts offer a minimum starting teacher salary of at least $60,000 beginning July 1, 2026.

Calvert County Public Schools offers the region’s highest starting salary at $62,226 for a first-year teacher with a bachelor’s degree under its negotiated agreement with the Calvert Education Association, which remains in effect through June 30, 2028.

Charles County Public Schools starts first-year, 10-month teachers with a bachelor’s degree at $60,697, exceeding the state’s minimum salary benchmark.

St. Mary’s County Public Schools reports a starting salary of $61,710 under the state’s published salary schedule. The district reached the Blueprint benchmark through a negotiated agreement with the Education Association of St. Mary’s County that established a minimum starting salary above the required threshold.

School Systems Can Explore Teacher Housing

A new law taking effect July 1 — House Bill 168, signed by Gov. Wes Moore and enacted as Chapter 678 — authorizes county boards of education to consider educator workforce housing as a school purpose.

The legislation does not require school districts to build housing. Instead, it gives boards a new option: partner on or develop affordable housing aimed at teachers, especially in areas where high housing costs make hiring harder. The law also opens up the state’s Housing Innovation Pilot Program to more educator housing projects, making them eligible for financial help through the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Expanded Tax Benefit For Educators

Maryland also expanded its classroom supply tax subtraction to include teachers working in publicly funded prekindergarten programs, under House Bill 478 and Senate Bill 262, enacted as Chapter 61.

Beginning July 1, Maryland is expanding its existing $250 classroom supply tax deduction to include full-time teachers working in publicly funded prekindergarten programs. Previously, the benefit was generally limited to K-12 classroom teachers. The change means eligible public pre-K teachers, along with lead and consulting teachers at qualifying private pre-K providers, can now deduct up to $250 in unreimbursed classroom supply expenses on their Maryland income tax return. The expanded eligibility applies to all taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2025.

Part Of A Larger Teacher Recruitment Strategy

The changes build on Maryland’s broader Blueprint for Maryland’s Future initiative, which includes higher starting salaries, career advancement opportunities, mentoring programs and financial incentives for National Board Certified teachers.

State officials say the long-term goal is to strengthen the educator workforce while reducing teacher shortages across Maryland.

For school systems in Southern Maryland and across the state, the July 1 changes represent another step toward improving teacher recruitment, retention and support as students prepare to return for the new school year.