Washington Informer
Md. Senate OKs ‘Lofty’ Education Plan
WASHINGTON INFORMER — he Maryland Senate voted Wednesday to implement a multimillion-dollar education plan to revamp the state’s public schools, including an expansion of early childhood, school-based health centers and special education programs. The two-year plan, known as the “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future,” would also boost teacher salaries — by 1.5 percent from the state if counties and Baltimore City provide 3 percent.
By William J. Ford
ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Senate voted Wednesday to implement a multimillion-dollar education plan to revamp the state’s public schools, including an expansion of early childhood, school-based health centers and special education programs.
The two-year plan, known as the “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future,” would also boost teacher salaries — by 1.5 percent from the state if counties and Baltimore City provide 3 percent.
“This bill as it stands before us is well-crafted, it’s well-put-together,” said Sen. Andrew Serafini (R-Washington County). “A lot of people put a lot of work into this and the funding is there. It is a responsible bill and moves us in a good direction.”
The 43-1 vote sets up the state to allocate $725 million through 2022 with an additional $130 million if the Senate can pass legislation next year on how to pay for additional programming.
The bill now heads to the House of Delegates with the 90-day session ending at midnight Monday.
The education package comes after two years of work by the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, also known as the Kirwan Commission, led by William “Brit” Kirwan, former chancellor of the University of Maryland System.
After the vote, Kirwan was applauded by senators as he sat upstairs and clapped in the Senate gallery.
The legislature already approved an additional $255 million in the budget toward the commission’s recommendations.
Education advocates and lawmakers have said schools are adequately underfunded by $2.9 billion annually.
However, Sen. Chris West (R-Baltimore County) voted against the measure because he feared it would take away money from school construction legislation approved in the House of Delegates.
“It is just unacceptable that in the future we will have well-trained, well-paid teachers in Baltimore County standing in classrooms which are egregiously overcrowded and un-air-conditioned” he said. “We need to achieve a balance … and I hope next year we can be more successful finding money not only for Kirwan, but for essential school construction.”
According to the legislation’s blueprint, items school systems would receive include:
• Expanded early childhood education for 3-year and 4-year-old children.
• A college and career readiness standard by the end of 10th grade.
• Wraparound services for some students such as additional counselors, vision and dental needs.
• A professional development program for teachers on “racial awareness, cultural competency, religious tolerance and restorative practices.”
An additional measure on accountability, coming from Gov. Larry Hogan, would install an inspector general of education to assess waste, fraud and abuse of public money and property. The person would also investigate nonpublic schools that receive state funding.
The inspector general would serve a five-year term after a majority vote of the governor, attorney general and state treasurer, followed by Senate confirmation.
As for determining how much the state and local governments would pay in the future, the Kirwan Commission will continue to work on that with a possible recommendation later this year.
“The fact is, these lofty goals are achievable in Maryland,” said Sen. Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City). “The message today is ‘that this is just a first step.’ Over the next nine months, we must have a very real and challenging and hard conversation about whether or not we have the political will to put this vision into action. I believe we do.”
This article originally appeared in the Washington Informer.
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Voter Education – Homeownership
Get informed about homeownership and voter education this Friday on WIN-TV! Tune in for valuable resources and important community conversations.
Friday, September 25 from NOON to 1 P.M., Let’s Talk on WIN-TV brings you conversations packed with information you can use!
🗳️ First up: Rev. George Gilbert discusses the newly launched Multi-State Voter Education, Mobilization and Protection Campaign and the importance of voter education and engagement.
🏡 Next: DCHFA joins us to share valuable homeownership resources and help DC residents better understand the programs and opportunities available to them.
And finally: A conversation with Author, Historian, Archaeologist Dr. Cheryl LaRoche
Three conversations. One powerful hour!
📺 Watch Let’s Talk Friday, September 25, from NOON to 1 P.M. on WIN-TV!
Community. Culture. Conversation. Connection.
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DMV DOES on Being More Than a Book Club | Let’s Talk
DMV DOES proves books are just the beginning for building community. Learn how this group sparks meaningful conversations and connection.
Washington Informer Publisher and Let’s Talk host Denise Rolark Barnes talks with Whitney Parker and Jennifer Ward, founders of DMV DOES, about building community through books, meaningful conversations, connection, and shared experiences.
🎥 Let’s Talk airs LIVE every Friday at Noon on WIN-TV
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Host: Denise Rolark Barnes
Publisher – The Washington Informer
About The Washington Informer:
Founded in 1964 by Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, The Washington Informer is an African American, woman-owned newspaper providing positive coverage of the Black community in Washington, D.C. In March 2020, we launched WIN-TV to further amplify community voices and issues.
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Big Conversations, Big Culture, Big DMV Energy
Catch “Let’s Talk on Win-TV” for big conversations on theater, books, and Black film culture in the DMV! Featuring “Spades the Play,” “DMV Does,” and the American Black Film Festival.
🎬 LET’S TALK ON WIN-TV — BIG CONVERSATIONS, BIG CULTURE, BIG DMV ENERGY!
Join us for a dynamic lineup of conversations celebrating theater, community, books, and Black film culture across the DMV!
🎭 SPADES THE PLAY
Jada Ingleton, Content Editor for The Washington Informer, sits down with Marcus Callender, creator of Spades the Play, for a conversation about the inspiration, storytelling, and creative energy behind this exciting production.
📚 DMV DOES — MORE THAN A BOOK CLUB!
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🎥 AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL COMES TO THE DMV!
Washington Informer Lifestyle Reporter Brenda Siler talks with Nicole Friday about the upcoming American Black Film Festival at Union Market, bringing filmmakers, storytellers, creatives, and film lovers together for a celebration of Black cinema.
🔥 Three conversations. Three perspectives. One powerful DMV connection!
Watch Let’s Talk on WIN-TV and catch the conversations that bring Community. Culture. Conversation. Connection. straight to you!
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Follow The Washington Informer and subscribe to WashingtonInformerTV for more original programming and conversations from across the DMV.
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Spades the Play – Marcus Callender
Tune in today at 4 PM for an inside look at Spades the Play! Discussing theater, culture, and community with creator Marcus Callender.
🔥 DON’T MISS IT! TODAY AT 4 P.M.! 🔥
Get ready for a lively conversation about theater, culture, friendship and community!
Jada Ingleton, Content Editor for The Washington Informer, sits down with Marcus Callendar, creator of Spades the Play, for an inside look at the inspiration, storytelling and creative vision behind this exciting stage production.
🃏 What inspired Spades the Play?
🎭 What stories are being brought to the stage?
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Tune in TODAY at 4:00 P.M. on WIN-TV!
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Let’s Talk – Spades: the Play- By Marcus Callender
DC’s must-see play, “Spades: the Play,” is in town! Hear from writer & director Marcus Callender about this captivating Harlem drama.
Washington Informer content editor, Jada Ingleton, speaks with American actor and Director , Marcus Callender, about a great play that you must see this weekend in Washington, D.C. “Spades: the Play” is a stage production written and directed by Marcus Callender, set in 2013 Harlem around a weekly spades game among four friends. This is one conversation you don’t want to miss!
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Leckie Education Campus Honors Student & Teacher Killed On 9/11
Leckie Education Campus remembers student Bernard Brown and teacher Hilda Taylor, who perished on 9/11. Their lives live on at the school’s memorial garden.
Students, staff and members of the community gathered for a ribbon ceremony at Leckie Education Campus’ 9/11 memorial garden, honoring the lives of Bernard C. Brown II, an 11-year-old Leckie student, and Hilda E. Taylor, a sixth-grade teacher who were killed aboard American Airlines Flight 77 on Sept. 11, 2001.
The memorial garden continues to serve as a place of remembrance, honoring their lives and keeping their memories alive for generations of Leckie students.
Video Producer: Demarco Rush
About The Washington Informer:
Founded in 1964 by Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, The Washington Informer is an African American, woman-owned newspaper providing positive coverage of the Black community in Washington, D.C.
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