The Maryland Initiative for Literacy & Equity (MILE)

Strengthening Maryland’s Literacy Teacher Preparation Through Collaboration

Maryland Higher Education Literacy Collaborative

The Maryland Higher Education Literacy Collaborative (MHELC) brings together institutions of higher education and state representatives to improve communication, share resources, and align expectations around literacy teacher preparation. By creating a shared space for dialogue and problem-solving, MHELC helps ensure that Maryland’s future educators are well-prepared to deliver high-quality, research-based literacy instruction.

McKeldin Mall

FAQs

MHELC exists to improve communication and collaboration between higher education institutions, school districts, and state entities to strengthen literacy teacher preparation across Maryland.

IHE faculty and staff who work with preservice and in service educators on literacy (Early or Adolescent) from any Maryland institution.

Key areas include literacy standards, certification expectations, teacher readiness, resource sharing, and building aligned approaches across institutions and school systems.

Our Work

MHELC convenes quarterly conversations focused on literacy standards, teacher certification, program expectations, and the realities of teacher readiness across Maryland. These meetings surface differences across preparation programs, help IHEs understand the agency they have in shaping curriculum, and gives clearer insight from LEAs on the strengths and needs of incoming teachers. With participation from an MSDE representative, the collaborative helps keep statewide efforts aligned without formalizing a partnership, ensuring the work remains both responsive and informed.

Recent Meetings

  • July 2025 • MHELC’s launch! In the first meeting, we worked to create a shared vision for literacy and higher education in Maryland.
  • October 2025 • MHLEC facilitated dialogue between LEA representatives to build better supports for preservice teachers and strength ties to our local schools.
  • January 2026 • MHELC met to review proposed adolescent literacy policy, draft recommendations, and discussed our observations on supporting teacher candidates.
  • April 2026 • MHELC facilitated a collaborative meeting at Goucher University with representatives from Institutes of Higher Education to discuss High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) and the collaborative.
  • MHELC plans to convene again in Summer 2026.