SUPERINTENDENT WRIGHT TO REASSESS SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS: Carey Wright, the newly selected state superintendent of Maryland public schools, is trying to fix the way Maryland measures academic success. That means making changes to the state test, revamping the standards for English, math and social studies, and improving the virtual hub that measures the success of each public school, all to give families a clearer view of how well their children are taught. Kristen Griffith/The Baltimore Banner.
- Wright said members of a task force to assess academic achievement will include local superintendents, principals and higher education representatives to provide recommendations on how to better assess how students are doing in the classroom. The group will be led by the Center for Assessment, a national education nonprofit that designs, implements and evaluates accountability systems to see how students are learning. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
- Wright is skeptical of a disconnect between 76% of Maryland schools having a rating of three or more stars out of five on the Maryland Report Cart compared to only 23% of students scoring proficient in math and 47% scoring proficient in English language arts on a statewide standardized test. “That doesn’t ring true,” Wright said of the Maryland Report Card grades. Lilly Price/The Baltimore Sun.
DRUG PRICING BOARD SEEKS FEEDBACK: Before a state board can begin the process of determining if certain prescription drugs pose an affordability challenge to Marylanders, officials of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board are seeking feedback from patients, physicians and manufactures to provide additional context and first-hand experience about trying to afford medications treating HIV, eczema, and diabetes and other conditions. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
MOORE OPPOSES BIDEN MOVE TO PUT AIR NATIONAL GUARD IN SPACE FORCE: Gov. Wes Moore signed on to a letter Monday alongside 47 other state governors, as well as five territories and commonwealths, opposing the Biden administration’s move to incorporate Air National Guard service members into the Space Force. Robin Opsahl/Maryland Matters.
CANDIDATES IN CROWDED 6th CONGRESSIONAL PRESENT PLATFORMS: With the first day of early voting in Maryland’s primary election approaching Thursday, Democratic candidates in the state’s 6th congressional district presented their platforms on a Sunday afternoon. The contenders seek to replace U.S. Rep. David Trone, who represents the district that includes Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties and portions of Montgomery. Trone is running for U.S. Senate. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
SHERIFF ENDORSES DIXON FOR B’MORE MAYOR: Baltimore Sheriff Sam Cogen endorsed Sheila Dixon for mayor, saying the administration of Mayor Brandon Scott has been “dysfunctional” and difficult to work with. Justin Fenton/The Baltimore Banner.
BA CO’s FOREIGN BORN POPULATION RISES, DESPITE POPULATION LOSS: Baltimore County’s population has been slowing shrinking since 2020, with the county losing about 1,300 people in 2023, a decline of about 0.1%. Its population loss would have been even greater had it not been for immigrants. The county’s foreign-born population grew by 15,439 people from 2012 to 2022, an increase of 16.3%. Over that same time, the county’s total population grew by just 3.5%. Rona Kobell and Ramsey Archibald/The Baltimore Banner.
BA CO COUNCIL APPROVED PROJECT THAT WORSENED OVERCROWDED SCHOOL: When the Baltimore County Council voted in 2018 to approve a large planned unit development, Sparrows Point High School was projected to be at 115% capacity and getting worse. So, why might the county approve a massive residential development, with hundreds of new houses, in a school zone that was already overcrowded? Between 2011 and March 2018, the four companies involved in the project contributed a total of $26,250 to six council members who voted to start the approval process. Chris Pabst/WBFF-TV.
HARFORD COUNCIL OKs PAYOUT AFTER THREAT OF LAWSUIT: A two-page letter directed months ago to the Harford County attorney demanded a seven-figure payout. Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler says not one, but two elected state’s attorneys have already said there was no wrongdoing by Harford deputies in this case, in which they responded to a report of a suicidal person with access to a gun fired on the occupant after he pulled a cane out of his vehicle and pointed it at them. The family of the person who died threatened a suit. Jeff Hager/WMAR-TV.
