MSDE, under the leadership of the State Superintendent of Schools and guidance from the Maryland State Board of Education, develops and implements standards and policy for education programs from pre-kindergarten through high school. MSDE’s five public education priorities are: improving student achievement; building educators’ capacity to improve achievement; building an aligned, understandable system of instruction, curriculum, and assessment; fostering positive school environments; and involving families in education.

AEMS Alliance works in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to develop and implement policy supporting high-quality arts education for all Maryland students The AEMS Alliance values the strong commitments made by both Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick and the State Board of Education in support of arts education.

“It is very appropriate for the arts to be integrated into our total vision of a well-rounded graduate of Maryland’s public schools. Students who have exhibited talents or interests in the arts will benefit from the expanded program, to be sure. However; even those students whose primary interests lie in other subject areas will find that study and practice in the fine arts will help them in a broad range of skills in general education, including critical analysis and visual communication.”

Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick
State Superintendent of Schools

Learn more about the Maryland State Department of Education.