Kirwan Commission member, and noted special education advocate Kalman “Buzzy” Hettleman, offers a series of thoughts on strengthening the Blueprint for Maryland’s future, as Maryland is a few years into the decade-plus rollout of its ambitious educational initiative.

Kalman “Buzzy” Hettleman is a national thought leader on education policy, especially regarding services for students with special needs. A longtime Maryland leader, once serving as the State Secretary of Human Services, also served on the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, aka The Kirwan Commission, whose recommendations led to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation and vision.

In a letter published on Maryland Matters, Hettleman speaks to ways that Maryland could “strengthen” the Blueprint plan for the years ahead. From his letter:

To be sure, fiscal shortfalls in coming years stare Annapolis in the face. Still, if the governor and General Assembly don’t want to renege on the promises of the Blueprint, more revenue — even more than in the laudatory House of Delegates package in the past session — must be raised.

The General Assembly must also take a close look how it can strengthen its oversight, now fragmented among two Senate committees and two House committees. As hardworking and dedicated as the committees (and legislative staff) are, they simply have too much to do. Hearings on the Blueprint, by and large, have been a mile wide and an inch deep. A single joint committee of the Senate and House is necessary for the deep and complex oversight that is essential.

Read the full letter on Maryland Matters.

Read more writings from Buzzy Hettleman via The 74 Million, a national education policy website.