Delivering Results

New 7/8/2010 School Construction Plan

New 7/13/2010 AP Access & Success" Plan

Maryland's #1 Ranked Public Schools

Funding for K-12 Public Education

Building New Classrooms

Recruiting and Retaining the Best Teachers

Closing the Achievement Gap

The Highest MSA Scores in Maryland History

The Best Advanced Placement Scores in the Nation

Race to the Top for Even Better Schools

Children In Nature

Download a printable PDF version

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Governor O'Malley Visits Freetown Elementary

Improving Public Education

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Improving Our Schools, Building Our Future

Governor O’Malley’s historic increases in educational funding have helped to create the number one public school system in the nation and have empowered our students to lead the country with high test scores and exceptional performance.

This year alone, Governor O’Malley has provided $5.7 billion for our schools—an increase of $1.2 billion since taking office—and fully funded the Geographic Cost of Education Index for the second consecutive year.  He invested $1.3 billion into new school construction and renovation projects—the largest investment in Maryland’s history and a 53% increase over the previous administration.

Believing in the dignity of every individual, Governor O’Malley has set an ambitious goal to ensure that underprivileged and minority students are taught by highly-qualified teachers at least at the same rate as their more economically advantaged peers. In 2009, 7.5% of Hispanic or Latino students and 9.6% of African-American students earned a score of 3 or better on at least one AP exam during high school, up from 5.7% and 7%, respectively, in 2004.

Realizing the importance of our teachers, Governor O’Malley has continued to fully fund pensions at the state level and initiated the first state-wide TELL Teacher Survey to learn directly from teachers on how to improve our schools.

While progress has been made, Governor O’Malley will not rest until every child is afforded a world class education.  In order to continue to improve our schools, Governor O’Malley fought for the Maryland Longitudinal Data System—a system that will allow Maryland to track student progress over time, including the effects of investments in early childhood education on student achievement in middle and high school, graduation rates, and college readiness.  This system is one of the criterion for federal education funding and could help Maryland secure millions more for our schools.  

O'Malley-Brown: New Ideas

Building Maryland Schools

• Governor O'Malley and Lt. Governor Brown are committed to continuing to reform Maryland's public schools by providing every student with a world-class learning environment.
• During Governor O'Malley's first term, the State of Maryland invested $1.3 billion in school construction and restoration projects, rebuilding schools and communities throughout Maryland.
• In their new plan, Governor O'Malley commits to fully funding the Kopp Commission's recommendation by providing $1 billion for school construction over the next four years.
• Click here to learn more about their plan and here to watch a video from the announcement.

"AP Access and Success"

• Martin O'Malley joined with Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith to release his "AP Access and Success" college readiness plan. The detailed policy proposal will expand opportunity for Maryland students by waiving Advanced Placement test fees helping Maryland families save on college costs. Read the full plan.

O'Malley-Brown: Delivering Results:

Maryland's #1 Ranked Public Schools

• In January 2010, Education Week ranked Maryland's public schools the best in the nation for the second year in a row. Maryland's public school system is recognized as having the best alignment from Pre-K to Post-Grad—the primary focus of Governor O'Malley's P-20 Council and key to preparing our students for the jobs of tomorrow.
• This year, The National Education Association named Governor O'Malley "America's Greatest Education Governor" for his efforts to support public education in our State and provide our teachers, students, parents and education professionals with the tools they need to build the #1 ranked public school system in the nation.

Funding for K-12 Public Education

• Governor O'Malley secured record funding for K-12 public education for the fourth consecutive year. Governor O'Malley fought for more than $5.7 billion this year for our schools—an increase of $1.2 billion since taking office—and fully funded the Geographic Cost of Education Index for the second consecutive year.

Building New Classrooms

• Since taking office, Governor O'Malley has invested almost $1.3 billion in school construction and renovation projects—the largest investment in Maryland's history and a 53% increase over the previous administration. Maryland schools are finally able to close down temporary learning shacks and open the doors to classrooms and schools featuring state-of-the-art Smartboards, technology labs, naturally-lit classrooms and green building features that offer energy savings while providing a positive learning environment for our children.

Recruiting and Retaining the Best Teachers

• Governor O'Malley initiated the first-ever statewide TELL Maryland Teacher survey to learn directly from teachers on how to further reform our public schools.
• Recruiting and retaining the best teachers and principals is a top priority for this Administration. Governor O'Malley has continued to fully fund teacher pensions at the state level, and results from the TELL Maryland Survey are now being used in schools across the state as part of their school improvement planning processes.

Closing the Achievement Gap

• Governor O'Malley has set an ambitious goal to ensure that underprivileged and minority students are taught by highly-qualified teachers at least at the same rate as their more economically advantaged peers. In 2009, 7.5% of Hispanic or Latino students and 9.6% of African-American students earned a score of 3 or better on at least one AP exam during high school, up from 5.7% and 7%, respectively, in 2004.
• In recent years, we have cut the achievement gap between white and black students in elementary math and reading in half.

The Highest MSA Scores in Maryland History

• Maryland's elementary and middle school students achieved their highest MSA scores since testing began in 2003, with many schools showing double-digit increases in both reading and math, and real progress towards eliminating the historic achievement gap.

The Best Advanced Placement Scores in the Nation

• Maryland's high schools were ranked first in the nation by the College Board for the second year in a row for achieving the highest scores in the nation on the Advanced Placement tests as well as having the highest AP participation rate in the country
• To continue to move forward, Governor O'Malley has established a goal to improve student achievement and college and career readiness in Maryland 25% by the end of 2015. 

Race to the Top for Even Better Schools

Maryland was one of ten states to win federal Race to the Top Funding—receiving $250 million for our public schools to continue reforming our schools.

Earning a #1 ranking for our public schools is a tremendous accomplishment, but we are not content to only be the best in the nation; we want to be the best in the world. Governor O'Malley-Brown is working to give our students tools they need to compete and win in the 21st century global economy. To reach these goals, Governor O'Malley laid out his vision for the future of public education in Maryland, including...

• Raising academic standards and benchmarking our students against their peers from around the globe, including Asia, Africa, Europe, India and others.
• Building a comprehensive, statewide educational data system that tracks our students' development from Pre-K through high school, into higher education and the workforce.
• Closing the "college readiness gap" by establishing the strategic framework from Pre-K to Post-Grad that provides our students with the skills they need to enter college and the 21st century workforce.
• Reinvigorating our Career and Technology Education and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs statewide and launching the comprehensive Maryland STEM Innovation Network to promote the delivery of high quality STEM education at all levels throughout the state.

Children In Nature

• Governor O'Malley has positioned Maryland as the nation's leader on environmental education. In 2008, the Governor issued an Executive Order creating the Partnership for Children in Nature. The Governor tasked the partnership with creating an environmental literacy plan for Maryland students, increasing opportunities for structured outdoor learning in state parks, and ensuring the environmental literacy of students who graduate from Maryland schools.