Education

GOVERNOR O'MALLEY
# 1 Public Schools

PROVIDED RECORD FUNDING FOR EDUCATION

Governor O'Malley secured record funding for K-12 public education for the fourth consecutive year fighting for more than $5.7 billion this year for our schools—an increase of $1.2 billion since taking office—and fully funding 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. And he recently committed to another $1 billion over the next four years for school construction projects.

Expanding Opportunity

MAKING COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE

With a four year freeze in college tuition, Governor O’Malley helped make college more affordable for more Marylanders moving Maryland’s University System from the 6th most expensive in the nation to the 21st – below the national average.

INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Governor O’Malley has made the largest capital investment in Maryland history in our community colleges. Over the past four years, Governor O’Malley invested $1 billion in our community colleges for new state-of-the-art science labs, libraries, and public health facilities.

BOB EHRLICH
A Crisis in Our Schools

FAILED TO FUND EDUCATION

Bob Ehrlich ignored the Thornton plan and failed to fund the Geographic Cost of Education Index. According to the Baltimore Sun, “During Mr. Ehrlich’s tenure in Annapolis, he borrowed heavily for capital construction projects and actually cut spending on schools to help pay for road projects.”

CREATED A SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION CRISIS

Bob Ehrlich consistently underfunded school construction leading State Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp to declare a, “crisis in school construction.” After four years under Bob Ehrlich, the State’s school facilities would have been in much worse shape had not the General Assembly added a total of $190.8 million to initially proposed budgets.

Putting College Out of Reach

JACKED UP TUITION BY 40%

Bob Ehrlich repeatedly cut funding for higher education that resulted in skyrocketing tuition increases that exceeded 40% at the University of Maryland at College Park and other campuses across Maryland.

CUT FUNDING TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Bob Ehrlich cut millions from higher education, prompting The Diamondback to comment, “Ehrlich hit higher education like a wrecking ball.” Bob Ehrlich recently suggested on WYPR radio that would significantly raise tuition rates again if he is elected.