Education groups in Maryland are asking the legislature to require waivers from counties that fall below maintenance of effort funding levels. Maintenance of effort mandates county governments to spend no less per student than the prior year or face penalties reducing annual increases in state aid. [...more]
Public charter schools have had a difficult time expanding in Maryland, except in Baltimore, which has 37 of the state’s 51 charter schools. Charters applications are often rejected – more often in some jurisdictions than others – and some counties have no charter schools. [...more]
This was National School Choice Week in America, marked by over 400 events around the country to celebrate public charter schools. But there were only one announced in Maryland, a dinner discussion set for next week in Baltimore. Public charter schools are increasing as an alternative educational option throughout the nation. But advocates say Maryland’s laws and the scrutiny given to new charter applicants are slowing progress toward more school choice. [...more]
As counties struggle to meet their education funding requirements under the state’s maintenance of effort program, legislators wonder if shifting teacher pension costs under Gov. Martin O’Malley’s budget plan would make a difference. [...more]
For the fourth year in a row, Maryland public schools have come out on top on the annual state-by-state report card published by Education Week magazine. Maryland earned its top place with an overall B+ grade, compared to a C average for the nation as whole. [...more]
Comptroller Peter Franchot criticized the University of Maryland’s College Park Foundation’s use of $7.2 million to rebuild the university president’s palatial on-campus residence, as he cast the sole vote opposing the demolition of the current home at Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting. [...more]
It took some Annapolis deal making in order to get the new 3% alcohol tax passed at the tail end of this year’s legislative session, and charges are being levied that politics are being played with where those proceeds are being spent. [...more]
Emotions ran high and discussions ran long as the Board of Public Works approved $7 million in Baltimore County school renovation projects – but not a cent of it going toward air conditioning in old schools. Comptroller Peter Franchot voted against the projects because he felt the lack of air conditioning in 65 of the 172 county schools should be the district’s top priority. [...more]
The Board of Public Works awarded $18 million in grants coming from the new 3% alcohol sales tax for school construction projects in Howard, Montgomery, and Anne Arundel counties. [...more]
With student loan debt approaching a national crisis, Maryland educators and financial literacy advocates are moving to address the issue – some mandated to do so and others voluntarily. “The situation is getting worse quickly because students are racking up more debt than in the past. Colleges are dishing out more aid because the economy is so bad,” said Deanne Booker, communications manager of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland and Delaware, a nonprofit community organization. [...more]
