O’Malley/Brown Announce Detailed Plan To Improve K-12 Education in Maryland

New Ideas in Stark Contrast to
Ehrlich Handing Schools Over to For-Profit Company

TOWSON, MD (August 29, 2006) – As Maryland’s teachers and students begin another school year, Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown today unveiled their detailed plan to improve K-12 public education in the State of Maryland, and build a world-class public education system that ensures opportunity for all of Maryland’s children.

“The State of Maryland must be a strong state partner with local jurisdictions to improve public education in every grade for all of our children,� said Martin O’Malley. “Working together to leverage investments, and improve leadership and discipline in our schools, we can provide every child in Maryland with a world-class education.�

Despite four years in office and his attacks on the progress of Baltimore students, teachers and parents in his campaign ads, Bob Ehrlich has yet to offer any new ideas to reform education in Maryland. In fact, Bob Ehrlich’s only plan is to “contract-out� Baltimore schools to the lowest-bidder private corporations that cost Maryland taxpayers more and do not achieve progress as quickly as public schools.

The O’Malley/Brown K-12 Education Plan would:

  • Make the necessary investments in school construction to enable local jurisdictions’ priorities such as reducing class size, breaking up larger schools, and modernizing facilities.

  • Recruit strong principals to serve in Maryland’s most challenged schools by providing incentives for the nation’s best principals to serve in Maryland’s most challenged schools; and

  • Adopt effective school-wide intervention strategies, including PBIS, to improve student discipline.

Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown were joined at the press conference by Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith and Maryland State Teachers Association President Clara Floyd for the announcement.

County Executive Jim Smith stated, “It is possible to improve public education in Maryland, but no jurisdiction can do it alone. We need a true partner in Annapolis, who is as committed to our schools as we are. We need a Governor who will really listen to local communities, and find the best way for the state to help local jurisdictions improve their schools.�

In addition to today’s announcement to reform our public schools, Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown have already committed to:

  • Fully-funding the Thornton Education Plan. Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown will fully fund the entire Thornton Commission plan to improve K-12 education across Maryland, reduce the achievement gap, reduce class sizes and recruit and retain the quality teachers our children deserve.

  • Meet the recommendations of the Kopp Commission for school construction funding. If elected, O’Malley and Brown have committed to providing $400M in their first year in office, and providing $250M for school construction for 10 years thereafter to allow local jurisdictions to upgrade existing facilities, build new schools and, in the process, reduce class size.

  • Invest and improve teachers pensions to recruit and retain the best teachers, and

  • Implement a statewide Teacher Workforce Survey to allow teachers to give feedback on the conditions of their schools, and public education in Maryland.

###
Friends of Martin O’Malley – 2400 Boston St., Ste. 203 – Baltimore, MD 21221 – 410-814-4206 – fax: 410-814-4218
Authority: Friends of Martin O’Malley, Martin F. Cadogan, Treasurer.