Breaking Down The Kirwan Blueprint Bill
Education / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Breaking Down The Kirwan Blueprint Bill

The "Blueprint for Maryland's Future" legislation, implementing the full fiscal recommendations of the Kirwan Commission is available at last. Here, Conduit Street breaks down the main fiscal elements of the most consequential bill any of us have ever seen. The Basics -We don't have a "fiscal note" yet, so it's impossible to verify bottom-line numbers -The various phase-ins and cost splits all match up with the existing summary reports -The state/county funding splits are unchanged…

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February 9, 2020
Bill Hearing / Education / Elections / MACo Testimony
Counties Support Broadened “Local Option” for Public Campaign Financing

MACo Associate Director Kevin Kinnally and Policy Associate Drew Jabin testified on February 6, 2020 to support SB 298 (CF HB 337) - Election Law - Local Public Campaign Financing - Boards of Education. The bill expands the offices for which a county may establish a system of public campaign financing. From the MACo Testimony: Currently, counties may authorize public campaign financing for elective offices in the executive and legislative branches of county government. This…

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February 7, 2020
Sun Opinion Page Hosts “Blueprint” Back-and-Forth
Education / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Sun Opinion Page Hosts “Blueprint” Back-and-Forth

As the Kirwan school funding debate heats up in Annapolis, the Sun carries varying views on the logic behind, the resources for, and the solutions embraced, of the ambitious plan. Dr. Alvin Thornton, Chair of the Prince George's County Board of Education, and namesake of the far-reaching school commission that developed most of the formulas currently in place across Maryland, urges that Maryland policy leaders adopt and support the full Kirwan funding plan. From his…

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February 6, 2020
Student Homelessness at an All-Time High
County News / Education / Housing and Community Development
Student Homelessness at an All-Time High

A new report from the National Center for Homeless Education shows that homelessness for students has increased by 11% over the previous years data. In 2017-18 school year, over 1.5 million children and youth were homeless, with the number of students sleeping in cars, parks, and on streets more than doubling. There were only five states that saw a reduction of 10% or more in homelessness (Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, and South Carolina). Maryland's student…

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February 4, 2020
Kirwan “Blueprint” Bill: Coming This Week, Hearing Feb 17
County News / Education / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Kirwan “Blueprint” Bill: Coming This Week, Hearing Feb 17

The Chair of the Senate's Education Committee told colleagues today "by the end of the week, you'll be receiving the printed copy of the Kirwan bill."  Senator Paul Pinsky, member of the Kirwan Commission and Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs announced on the Senate floor that the bill text would be available by the end of this week. He then announced that the bill would have its public hearing…

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February 4, 2020
GPA Predicts College Success 5x Better than ACT Scores
Education
GPA Predicts College Success 5x Better than ACT Scores

A recent study published in the Educational Researcher journal demonstrated that a students high school grade point average (GPA) predicts college graduation rates five times more accurately than ACT scores. The study examined over 55,000 students who graduated from Chicago Public School and immediately attended a four-year college, with the GPA correlation remaining consistent regardless of which school the student attended. Findings show that each incremental increase in GPA improved the odds of college graduation…

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February 3, 2020
“Senior Planet Montgomery” Technology Classes to Begin Monday, February 3
County News / Education
“Senior Planet Montgomery” Technology Classes to Begin Monday, February 3

The Montgomery County Department of Technology Services is offering a program targeted at senior residents to help improve their technology skills and lives. "Senior Planet Montgomery" is a free program that offers learners 60-and over classes on financial security and health, starting a new business, and improving their ability to live independently. Enrollment is now open and winter classes begin Monday, February 3. From Montgomery County's website: Classes meet twice a week over the course…

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January 31, 2020
Revived Labor Day School Fight
County News / Education / General Assembly News
Revived Labor Day School Fight

This week, Governor Hogan introduced the Universal School Start Act of 2020, which would require that Maryland public schools begin after Labor Day. HB 743/SB 558, would repeal legislation from last year, allowing all of Maryland's 24 individual school boards to be in charge of their own start and end dates. The bill would also codify Governor Hogan's executive order from 2016 for schools to complete the 180 days that are required under state law…

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January 31, 2020
Bill Introducing Geothermal Energy System Requirement in Schools
County News / Education / Energy / General Assembly News / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Bill Introducing Geothermal Energy System Requirement in Schools

A bill to establish a new school construction policy statewide has been proposed for consideration this session. HB 665, Public School Construction and State Buildings - Use of Geothermal Energy, sponsored by Environment and Transportation Committee Chair Kumar Barve and Vice Chair Dana Stein, has been introduced. The bill prohibit the Interagency on School Construction from approving the construction of a public school unless a geothermal energy system will be installed in the school building…

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January 30, 2020
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