Education Update

Youth and Parent Conversations about School Discipline Policies

A First Step to Improving Child Health Through Schools

There are a greater number of youth suffering from obesity-related health conditions. Schools are a critical link in helping to improve student health. Therefore, the Maryland legislature authorized local education officials to develop and implement wellness policies. Although this mandate was given three years ago, it is unclear the extent to which schools are implementing these policies. Other unknowns are whether these policies are effective in promoting higher levels of physical activity and healthy eating habits. This brief examines the incentive-based model as one approach to increase participation in wellness activities and foster an environment of accountability to create healthy schools in Maryland. Read more >>

ACY Supports School Suspension/Expulsion Overhaul

The Maryland State Board of Education (MSBE) released a set of proposed changes to the suspension and expulsion regulations. ACY supports the proposed regulation overhaul and would like MSBE to consider further defining the definitions of suspension, ensuring that parents and students are properly notified and have time to respond to the school and reinstituting the discipline code workgroup. In collaboration with our work on reducing the number of and disproportionality of school-based arrests, ACY will continue to push for a more equitable approach to school discipline that keeps more students in the classroom and prepared to learn. Read more >>

ACY Addresses Prince George's Educational Forum

The Community Foundation for Prince George's County brought thought-leaders together to discuss critical issues in education in Prince George's County, as well as potential solutions. The forum posed the question "What action steps must be taken to propel Prince George's County toward achieving a shared vision- a strong 'Cradle to Career' education system that prepares all County children, youth and adults for success in college and careers and engages them in lifelong learning?" Read more >>

ACY testifies to stop school funding cuts

The Ways and Means committee of the House of Delegates has proposed linking education funding to attendance rates, punishing districts that struggle to get their students to come to school. In a place like Baltimore City, with so many high needs students, funding cuts like these would be devastating. Rather than cut the city’s funding, the legislature should consider increasing funding to help launch attendance improvement strategies. Read more >>

Governor Gets To Decide
About Education Reform

Legislators are blocking a proposed new teacher evaluation system which considers student achievement. Governor O'Malley now gets to immediately confirm the commitment to education reform he made during the election. Read more >>

Limited English Students
Behind on High School Tests

Achievement disparities between Limited English Proficient and English Proficient high schoolers in Maryland remain wide. Read more >>

BCPS Releases Monumental 10-Year Facilities Plan

Governor Receives Principals Recommendations

The Governor officially received the recommendations of his P-20 Task Force, including strategies to attract and retain strong principals in challenging schools. Studies by Advocates for Children and Youth have shown that these schools suffer from rampant principal turnover. These recommendations will serve as the basis of a plan to improve student achievement, a priority the Governor recently identified.

Governor Reiterates Call For Stronger School Principals

Governor Martin O'Malley renewed his support for financial incentives and other strategies to attract strong principals to the State's most challenging schools. Speaking to the Maryland State Board of Education, the Governor said that retention and signing bonuses for principals were needed. The Governor proposed a reform agenda that builds upon recent successes, includes higher academic standards and seeks to take advantage of new competitive grants available through the federal stimulus package. He asked the State Board to take an active roll in moving these reforms forward.

Governor Uses Federal Funds To Avoid Education Cuts

The Governor has proposed using $152 million in FY 2010 to avoid his proposed cuts in education funding and to maintain the current Thornton funding formulas. School districts will also receive increased federal funding for disadvantaged and disabled students. Maryland can apply for additional funds that will be awarded competitively. As reflected by The New York Times, the federal legislation will require Maryland to strengthen academic standards and better ensure that the neediest schools do not end up with the least qualified teachers. Read more >>

Multiple Suspensions Drop To Lowest Level On Record

Multiple suspensions fell to the lowest record on record, and there were fewer suspensions across the State, in an analysis of recently released data for last school year, by Advocates for Children and Youth. One driving force is the expansion of school-based programs,like Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, that reduce disruptive behavior. Read more >>

Abell President Challenges Claim That Maryland Schools Are #1

Abell Foundation President Bob Embry challenged a report ranking Maryland schools number one, noting poor scores on national reading and math tests. Read more >>

Ed Week Highlights New Baltimore Research Consortium

Education Week gave national attention to the Baltimore Education Research Consortium, a new effort to examine critical issues relating to education in the Baltimore City Public Schools. Read more >>

Thornton Raised Scores But Left Instructional Leadership Gap

A final study by the Maryland State Department of Education on the Thornton legislation highlighted increased test scores and identified strong instructional leadership as the single most important factor for narrowing achievement gaps. However, the study did not indicate that school districts are using new state funding to improve the quality of school principals, particularly in the most challenging schools. Read more >>

Proposed Education Reform Strategy Pays For Itself

Maryland can recruit strong principals to the most challenging schools and expand proven interventions that reduce disruptive classroom behavior, at no extra cost to the State, according to a new fiscal analysis by Advocates for Children and Youth. The State can redirect part of an existing state fund that no longer serves its original purpose. Read more >>

ACY Studies Show Persistent Principals Crisis

Challenging schools in Maryland are suffering from startling turnover in principals and are relying on replacements that do not have a track record of success, according to new studies by Advocates for Children and Youth. One analysis found that only 3 of 48 newly appointed principals in Baltimore City had previous track records. A second study found that challenging schools in five jurisdictions were experiencing high principal turnover. Baltimore County; Prince George’s; and Montgomery. This demonstrates the urgent need for recruitment incentives and ongoing supports to attract and keep strong instructional leaders in the most hard-to-staff schools. Click here >>

Limited English Proficient Students Spread Across State

According to a new analysis by Advocates for Children and Youth, there are significantly more Limited English Proficient students in Maryland’s school districts. They are no longer as concentrated in one county. Prince George’s County has seen particular growth. State funding for these students has increased six-fold under the Thornton legislation; however, achievement gaps persist, and it is unclear whether school districts are providing the targeted interventions needed by this growing segment of their student population. Read more >>

Charles County Schools Buck Statewide Suspension Increase

In contrast to the statewide trend, suspensions have decreased in Charles County as the school system implemented Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, an alternative approach to school suspensions. Read more >>

Cautious Optimism From Test Score Increase

The percentage of students proficient in Maryland State Assessments has increased for the 2008 school year, particularly for disadvantaged children, but an expert panel found that changes in the content and length of tests were at least partially responsible for the increase. Read more >>

O’Malley Education Era Starts

With the swearing in of four new members, the Maryland State Board of Education now consists of a majority of appointees of Governor O’Malley. This provides the Governor with more opportunity to implement his educational priorities. Read more >>

Maryland Has Largest Teacher Quality Gap

Newly released data shows that Maryland has the nation’s largest gap in teacher quality between high and low poverty schools. Education Week called Maryland’s gap “glaring,” noting that “95 percent of elementary classes in low-poverty schools were staffed with highly qualified teachers, compared with only 66 percent in poorer schools.” Maryland had the largest gap for both elementary and middle schools. Read more >>

Principals Bonuses an International Trend

From North Carolina to Australia, principals with proven track records are receiving significant financial incentives to work in the most challenging schools.

School Truancy & Suspensions Linked To Community Violence

More and more evidence shows that student suspensions and truancy are harmful to public safety. This includes: a Baltimore City Health Department analysis; statements by First Lady and Judge Katie O’Malley; a Centers for Disease Control study; and legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports helps reduce overall misconduct, while Functional Family Therapy addresses the needs of students with more severe needs. Read more >>

State of Maryland's Kids: Education

Maryland’s students rank 20th on national tests. Despite a doubling of state funding, low-performing students lack summer school, tutoring and other supports. Governor O’Malley has not fulfilled his promises to recruit strong principals to challenging schools or expand alternatives to suspensions. To address the problem of instructional leadership in Prince George’s County Public Schools, Superintendent John Deasy is offering principal bonuses in some schools. Read more >>

No Action During Session To Address Achievement Gaps

The Governor did not move forward with his promises to recruit strong principals to challenging schools, expand alternatives to suspensions or ensure that increased state funds help low-performing students. Despite a growing awareness of persistent achievement gaps, the General Assembly took no further action to require targeted interventions for needy students. Read more >>

Two Districts Boost Instructional Leaders, Principal Bonuses

Principals will have more authority and receive financial incentives under plans put forward by the school district heads in Prince George's County and Baltimore City. As highlighted in a Baltimore Sun op-ed and Washington Post advertorial by Advocates for Children and Youth, the Governor can help these critical efforts by moving forward with his proposal to provide $200,000 bonuses to strong principals who work in challenging schools. Read more >>

Judge O'Malley Links School Truancy to Delinquency

Volunteering at a truancy court, Judge Katie O'Malley said there is a direct correlation between school truancy and those she sees in her court as criminal defendants. "It's sort of depressing in District Court, seeing the defendants I see after they've failed in school, become addicted to alcohol or drugs, gotten into prostitution or theft," said Judge O'Malley, also Maryland's First Lady. Read more >>

Sun Notes Suspensions Spike, Calls for More PBIS

School suspensions spiked and hit near record levels last school year, according to a new analysis by Advocates for Children and Youth. The Baltimore Sun recognized the study in an editorial and the need to address the growing suspensions problem with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Read more >>

Governor, State Superintendent Agree on Principal Priorities

Recruitment and retention of strong principals were among the priorities the Governor and State Superintendent agreed to prioritize. Read more >>

Your Action Needed for Good Principals & Suspension Options

As highlighted in a Baltimore Sun op-ed by ACY's Terrylynn Tyrell and an ACY ad in The Washington Post, the Governor needs your encouragement to move forward with his educational campaign promises, including recruiting strong principals to challenging schools and expanding Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports as an effective alternative to suspensions. Act now >>

Interventions Needed in Early Middle Grades: New Study

Baltimore City students who drop out in ninth grade have a pattern of truancy and poor achievement, according to a new study by the Baltimore Education Research Consortium, which recommends interventions for students in the early middle grades, a policy priority of Advocates for Children and Youth. Read more >>

Students Needs Voters Support Effective Teachers, Services for Students

By vast majorities, Maryland voters support professional development and other incentives to attract effective teachers to challenging schools, and they support extra services to help struggling students achieve high academic standards. Existing federal and state funding is available to pay for these reforms. Read more >>

Race to the Top Begins For Maryland Schools

The Governor and State Superintendent are justifiably proud of winning a $250-million federal Race to the Top grant, reflecting a renewed commitment to address large and persistent achievement gaps. Read more >>

Latest State Test Results Show Persistent Achievement Gaps

The 2010 results from Maryland State Assessments show large achievement gaps between low-income, English Language Learners and other students, especially among 8th graders. To address these gaps, school districts with the help and oversight of state education officials need to provide more support at the middle school level for students and their teachers. In short, Maryland, whether it wins a federal Race to the Top grant or not, needs to move forward with its application proposals, faster, in more schools and with an additional emphasis on providing extra services to struggling students. Read more >>

Prince George's Addresses Latino School Readiness Gap

After meeting with Advocates for Children and Youth and Latino community leaders, Prince George's school superintendent Dr. William Hite has asked a work group to identify strategies to narrow the kindergarten readiness gap between Latino and other students in the county. Read more>>

Schools Can Provide Better Interventions to Readers

Many Maryland schools are implementing the basic elements of Response to Intervention, a proven approach to help struggling readers. However, ACY found that only one-third of schools offer more intensive interventions with highly-trained staff needed for students who are the furthest behind. Read more >>

Few Baltimore City Students Proficient on National Reading

Few Baltimore City students achieved proficiency on the reading National Assessment of Educational Progress. This is a sobering reminder of how far Baltimore City has to go to provide its students with the skills needed to compete in the global economy. Dramatic increases will require significant improvements in the quality of instruction and the availability of interventions for failing students. Read more >>

Failing Schools Still Not Getting Effective Staff

Advocates for Children and Youth examined schools required to zero-base, or replace, their staff because of persistently low student achievement. There is no evidence that these schools were able to attract or keep more effective principals and teachers or implement other research-based instructional improvements. Read more >>

We Know How To Help Struggling Readers

At an ACY policy and advocacy briefing, education expert Dr. Robert Slavin said there is clear research on how to help struggling readers in elementary school: professional development for classroom teachers in structured, systematic phonics instruction plus one-on-one phonics-based tutoring. However, few schools are using this approach, generally called Response to Intervention. Read more >>

Literacy Readiness Gaps in Kindergarten Grow

Literacy readiness gaps of kindergarteners grew significantly in 2010. African-American, Hispanic and low-income students fell further behind their White and higher-income peers. Overall progress stalled in two key school districts. Read more >>

Race to Top Draft Application Lacks Substance, Boldness

The proposed strategies in Maryland’s draft Race to the Top application are neither sufficiently specific nor bold. If the Maryland State Board of Education is serious about closing large and widening achievement gaps, it can deny state licensure to teachers who are not effective. For low-achieving schools, it can offer districts a choice to either improve staffing and services or close or contract the schools to third parties. Read more >>

Modest State School Reforms, Despite Federal Incentives

Overcoming significant resistance, the General Assembly made modest improvements to a broken teacher evaluation system. Evaluations will consider student achievement. Incentives will be offered for staff to work in challenging schools. The bill increases the State’s chances of winning a $250-million Race to the Top federal grant. However, without bold action by the Maryland State Board of Education, Maryland remains a long shot and will not address widening achievement gaps.

Race to the Top Winners Highlight Maryland's Challenge

The two winners of the Phase I Race to the Top grants--Delaware and Tennessee--demonstrate that the federal government is looking for bold ideas and evidence of actual implementation. Advocates for Children and Youth has updated its analysis of where Maryland stands. Read more >>

Post Calls On Governor To Save Education Reform Bill

In a stern editorial, The Washington Post called on the Governor to intervene forcefully to ensure that his education reform bill is not watered down to the point of meaninglessness. The Post recently decried the Governor's "timid education initiatives" and "their further dilution by the General Assembly." State legislators are jeopardizing the State's chances of winning a $250-million federal Race to the Top grant. ACY examined the key features of strong grant applications, and so far, there is no indication that Maryland is considering the bold reforms needed to keep highly effective staff in challenging schools, turn around failing schools or win the grant. Read more>>

Achievement Gap Widens; Bold Actions Needed

The reading proficiency gap between lower-income and other Maryland students grew in 2009. To address this gap and win federal federal funds, Maryland must provide equal access to talented staff and early interventions to all struggling students. Read more >>

Broken Teacher Evaluation System in Maryland

0.02 percent of Maryland teachers were fired for incompetency last year. To improve classroom instruction and improve chances of winning a significant federal education grant, Maryland needs to incorporate student achievement results into teacher evaluations and establish a more effective process for removing incompetent teachers. Read more >>

Teachers in Challenging Schools Do Not Plan To Stay There

Only 29 percent of teachers in challenging middle schools in Baltimore County plan to stay in their current schools long term. This is part of a statewide problem. To ensure that all children have equal access to effective teachers, the State needs to provide significant financial incentives, intensive professional support for teachers and strong principals. Read more >>

Prince George's To Cut Parent Liaisons for Latino Students

Despite receiving more than $50 million in state funds to help Limited English Proficient students, Prince George's County plans to cut bilingual parent liaisons who help connect Latino parents to their children's schools.
Read more >>

Teachers Favor Better Principals Over Pay Raises

More teachers support having a good principal in their school than raising their own salaries, based on a survey by the Gates Foundation. One solution according to a prominent Washington Post columnist: double the pay for principals willing to work in challenging schools. Read more >>

10 Education Reforms To Close Achievement Gaps, Win Grant

Maryland school districts will receive more than $100 million in extra state funds next school year because of increases in the number of low-income students. This creates a significant opportunity to expand services to disadvantaged students and to demonstrate to federal officials that Maryland is serious about closing the achievement gap. Good use of these funds, combined with other policy changes that do not require changes to law or extra money, will greatly improve Maryland’s competitive position for a $250 million Race to the Top grant. Read more >>

Maryland Charter Schools Seek Access to State Facility Support

Charters schools seek legislation that will enable them to gain public funds for facilities. This support is a factor in the federal Race to the Top grant criteria. Read more >>

Maryland Ramps Up Race to the Top Process

Maryland released a Race to the Top reform plan and formed a steering committee to help the State submit a competitive proposal in June for $250 million in federal funding. Public comments are due March 15th. Read more >>

Abell Head Seeks Expanded Alternative Teaching Paths

Abell Foundation President Bob Embry asked state education officials to remove self-imposed restrictions on allowing qualified non-traditional teachers to work in Maryland schools. Read more >>

Maryland Gets "F" for Removing Ineffective Teachers

A respected national organization gave Maryland an "F" for ability to remove ineffective teachers. Overall, Maryland received a "D" for policies that promote effective teachers. Read more >>

Governor's Budget Boosts Aid for Disadvantaged Children

A boost in the number of low-income students will increase state compensatory education funding by $101 million, including $43 million for Baltimore City. Click here for a district-by-district breakdown. However, districts are not required to spend this money on disadvantaged children, and many most likely will not do so. Read more >>

Governor Working on Education Reform Bill

Reports are that Governor O'Malley is working on legislation that will improve Maryland schools and increase the State's chances of getting $250 million in new federal funding. Maryland needs to make significant policy changes to win the Race to the Top grants. Read more >>

Documentary Features Geoffrey Canada on Reform Efforts

A new documentary Waiting for Superman by Academy award winner David Guggenheim features Geoffrey Canada, founder of the Harlem Children Zone, in a discussion about successful education reform. Mr. Canada will speak in Baltimore this fall. Read more >>

State Superintendent Won’t Rest On Education Week Laurels

Despite a recent number one ranking of Maryland schools in Education Week, the State Superintendent noted that there is still considerable room for improvement and that the State needs to make a number of policy changes in order to improve its position for the Race to the Top grant competition. Read more>>

Maryland Ranked Dead Last in Support for Charter Schools

Maryland's charter school law ranked 40th out of 40 states with such laws, because of a difficult approval process and restrictions on charter autonomy. These weaknesses will hurt the State's efforts to win a $250-million federal education grant. Read more >>

Legislators To Address School-Based Arrest Disparities

Despite the State’s fiscal situation, there are significant low- and no-cost opportunities to improve services for children. As state legislators convene in Annapolis, delegates and senators will consider strategies to end racial disparities in school-based arrests. Read more >>

State Delays Race To Top Application For Policy Changes

State education officials will not apply for the first round of federal Race to the Top grants in order to prepare a stronger proposal. Maryland needs to make a number of important changes in policy to be competitive. Read more >>

Local Expert Points Out Need for Principal Support

Baltimore-based Buzzy Hettleman noted that the success of school reform in Baltimore City may depend on the extent to which newly-empowered principals are given adequate support. Read more >>

School Suspensions Drop Sharply; Leadership Key

School suspensions fell to the lowest level in more than a decade. Baltimore City, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County accounted for more than 80 percent of the change. Baltimore County bucked the statewide trend and now has the highest suspension rate among Maryland’s largest school districts. The number of students receiving multiple suspensions also fell. Read more >>

Few Baltimore City Students Proficient on National Math Test

The participation of Baltimore City students in a national testing program reflects very positively the willingness of the district to be accountable to a rigorous academic standard. The results show that Baltimore schools are certainly not worst in the nation, but they are also a sober reminder of how much progress is still needed. Read more >>

No Maryland Public Schools Have Significantly Longer Days

Of 655 schools across the country with school days at least 25 percent longer than normal, none are public schools in Maryland, according to a new survey. When used right, more time can close achievement gaps, and public support has more than doubled. Read more >>

Sun Blasts State's Lack of Effort To Win Big Education Grants

In a news analysis and editorial, The Baltimore Sun sharply criticized state leaders for not laying the groundwork needed to win the large federal Race to the Top education grants. In an accompanying letter, Advocates for Children and Youth noted that the State is not strengthening school leadership, which gets the most points in the grant guidelines. Read more >>

To Win Federal Grants, Maryland Will Need Major Policy Changes

Advocates for Children and Youth has examined the final criteria for the large federal Race to the Top grants. To win one of the grants, Maryland will have to make some significant changes in education policy. Read more >>

Governor Reiterates Support for Principals Bonuses

Governor O'Malley said that new federal grants can help recruit outstanding principals to challenging schools in Maryland, an idea he championed as a candidate. Strengthening school leadership is one of the most significant factors that will be considered in awarding the grants. Read more>>

Reading Readiness Gaps Remain Large: ACY Study

A new study by Advocates for Children and Youth finds that minority, low-income and Limited English Proficient students lag behind their peers in literacy skills from an early age, setting the stage for ongoing achievement gaps. Improved access to quality prekindergarten programs can help more children enter school ready to read. Targeted, personalized interventions in the early grades can help struggling readers catch up before it is too late. Read more >>

Maryland Academic Standards Among Lowest in Nation

It is easier to pass Maryland state tests than in virtually any other state, according to a new federal report. Low standards mean that Maryland's children don't receive the extra services they need to get the skills they need to compete internationally. Read more >>

City Principals Have Less Time As Instructional Leaders: Survey

Over half of Baltimore City principals responding to a recent survey were not satisfied with the supports provided under the 2008-09 school-based management system. Principals had less time to be instructional leaders in their schools and are concerned about losing programs because of budget cuts. Read more >>

National Tests Show Maryland Needs To Help Students Earlier

Maryland students improved on the math portion of the National Assessment of Educational Progress in 2009. Yet, too few students are proficient, particularly those who are minority or economically disadvantaged. Schools can best help students by providing early, extra services to anyone not achieving the “advanced” score on state tests. Read more >>

Texas Study Finds High Principal Turnover in Challenging Schools

Texas schools with more low-performing, low-income students experience higher principal turnover, confirming similar studies by ACY in Maryland. Read more>>

Study Shows Interventions Effective for Preschoolers

The Response to Interventions (RtI) framework improves outcomes for preschoolers by targeting extra services, according to a new study. ACY is examining the use of RtI in schools in Maryland. Read more >>

National Union Agrees to Help Challenging Schools

The National Education Association will ask local chapters to waive contract provisions that have kept the best teachers out of challenging schools. However, many say that these schools need better principals to attract and keep good teachers. Read more>>

Annual Coalition Meeting Featured State Treasurer

State Treasurer Nancy Kopp was the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Maryland Education Coalition.

Students Get Diplomas Despite New Graduation Tests

Maryland education officials claim that few students were denied state diplomas because of new high school graduation tests, in large part because of numerous loop holes and not counting students who dropped out. As The Sun points out, raising standards will require providing more interventions to students at the first signs of trouble. Read more>>

U.S. House Approves Early Learning Challenge Fund

Congress is expected to approve a significant boost in federal funding to improve the quality of preschool by requiring states to raise standards and measures of program effectiveness. Read more >>

Voters Strongly Oppose Cuts To Education Funding

Maryland voters strongly opposed reduced state aid for public education or services for the poor, according to a new Gonzales poll. Voters also opposed increasing the state income or sales tax. Read more>>

PBIS Helps Further Reduce Suspensions in Charles County

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, a system for improving student behavior, helped produce a fifth-consecutive drop in student suspensions in Charles County Public Schools. ACY previously reported on the positive impact of PBIS in Charles County. Read more>>

Baltimore Schools Significantly Expand Full-Day Pre-School

Significantly more four-year-olds will have access to full-day pre-school in Baltimore City, thanks to the school system and the effective advocacy of the ACLU of Maryland. Read more >>

For Federal Grants, Maryland Will Have To Make Changes

Under proposed criteria for new federal education grants, Maryland will have to raise its academic standards and use student achievement to measure teacher and principal effectiveness. The Education Advocacy Action Network is closely tracking how Maryland can compete effectively for these grants. Read more>>

Montgomery Schools Receive Award for Summer Programs

As other school systems cut back, Montgomery County expanded summer programs that close achievement gaps and received an award from the Hopkins Center for Summer Learning. Read more >>

Scores Rise on State Tests, But Questions Remain

Education officials touted increases on state tests, but, as one State Board member noted, there are unresolved questions about the rigor of the tests. Read more >>

Racial Achievement Gaps Have Not Narrowed in Maryland

A national report finds no narrowing of the achievement gap between white and black students in Maryland at a statistically significant level. Read more >>

Abell Report Shows Need To Intervene Earlier

Half of Maryland's students need remedial math in college because of an excessive focus on passing basic math tests in high school, according to a report by The Abell Foundation. To raise academic standards in high school, schools will need to start helping low-performing students earlier. Read more >>

Revamped State Board Faces "Steep Climb" For Federal Funds

The Governor is replacing 7 out of 12 members of the Maryland State Board of Education, which faces what one member called a "steep climb" in securing large new federal education grants. Read more>>

Blair Ewing Passes Away; Champion for Disadvantaged

Blair Ewing served on the Maryland State Board of Education, had long supported equal educational opportunity and was an endorser of the Maryland Can Do Better for Children campaign. Read more >>

Prince George's Seeks Major Reduction In Suspensions

Prince George's County may eliminate suspensions of elementary school students, reduce suspensions in middle school except for situations in which a student poses a danger to others, and encourage schools to develop effective programs to handle discipline in ways that keep students on campus. The school system has suffered from high rates of suspension. Read more >>

ACY Praises Senator For Ban On Attendance-Related Suspensions

State Senator Catherine Pugh led a successful legislative effort to ban kicking students out of school solely for attendance-related issues. Advocates for Children and Youth recently recognized Senator Pugh for her “dedication to fighting potential academic failure, drop-out rates and incarceration.” The new law went into effect July 1st. Read more >>

Maryland Joins Other States In Support of National Standards

ACY sent letters to Governor O’Malley and State Superintendent Grasmick congratulating them for signing an agreement to join 45 other states in creating national academic standards. Currently each state has its own individual criteria for assessing students, and Maryland's tests are particularly easy. The agreement will hopefully mean that Maryland's students have the skills needed to compete internationally. Read more >>

Governor Sets Improving Student Achievement As Top Priority

Governor established as one of his top priorities improving student achievement.

Hoyer Aide Briefs Action Network

Amy Schultz, Senior Legislative Assistant to Maryland Congressman and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, briefed the Action Network about opportunities to secure new federal education funding. She said that states seeking the money need to focus on innovation, creativity and being reform-minded. Extended day and year are good options. States should think outside the box, but not too far outside the box.

Principals Survey: Not Enough Time for Instructional Leadership

In a recent survey of school principals organized by the Governor, a majority of principals said that they have too little time to focus on instructional leadership. Read more >>

ACY Launches Action Network for Federal Education Funding

ACY launched a new action network to ensure that Maryland competes effectively for new federal education grants and uses the money to make much-needed reforms in public schools. Mike Griffith, of the Education Commission of the States, kicked off the network with a discussion about the opportunities created by the new funding. Read more >>

Wisconsin: PBIS Can Avoid Restraints on Disabled Students

A Wisconsin legislator is introducing legislation to use Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports to reduce physical restraint and seclusion of disabled students, a problem brought to light by a recent federal report. Read more >>

ACY Joins National Coalition for Education Reform

Advocates for Children and Youth became the first Maryland group to join the Coalition for Student Achievement which is "committed to ensuring that federal education funds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are leveraged to both stimulate economic recovery and drive education reform that will dramatically improve U.S. student achievement." Read more >>

Maryland’s Missed Opportunities to Help Struggling Readers

Many Maryland schools wait too long to provide interventions for struggling young readers. Maryland schools should follow the research-based Response to Intervention and tiered intervention approaches to close the achievement gap and ensure every student can read by third grade. Read more >>

Post Study: Disadvantaged Students Get Novice Teachers

Students in the region's poorest neighborhoods are nearly twice as likely to have a new or second-year teacher as those in the wealthiest, a Washington Post analysis has found. Advocates for Children and Youth found that these schools also suffer from rampant turnover of school principals. Maryland will have to address these staffing disparities to compete for new federal grants. Read more >>

President, Governor To Drive Education Reforms

Governor O’Malley said that the State will compete aggressively for new federal grants that require reforms proposed by President Obama. Maryland will have to raise academic standards, track individual student progress, recruit stronger staff for disadvantaged students and intervene more effectively in low-performing schools. The Governor's active support will help overcome resistance which has blocked these reforms in the past. Read more >>

Addendum to Thornton Study Confirms Lack of Interventions

Faced with criticism from legislators and Advocates for Children and Youth, the Maryland State Department of Education was forced to supplement a study of Thornton funding, exposing the failure to provide targeted interventions for low-performing students. ACY noted the new findings in a letter to Senate President Miller and House Speaker Busch. Read more >>

Legislators, State Board, Sun Decry Achievement Gaps

Despite an infusion of state funds, achievement gaps remain too large, according to members of the Maryland State Board of Education, state legislators and The Baltimore Sun. They criticized a failure of the Maryland State Department of Education to examine the issue fully, as required by the General Assembly. Read more >>

Continued Mismanagement of Thornton Funding

A new report from Advocates for Children and Youth explains that school districts are still not spending Thornton funds on services for low-performing students and how the State Superintendent defied a legislative order to study the problem. Read more >>

Baltimore City Schools CEO Backs Principal Bonuses

Dr. Andres Alonso told The Baltimore Examiner that he backs a plan, first proposed by Governor O'Malley as a candidate, to provide $200,000 financial incentives to strong principals who agree to work in challenging schools for at least four years. Read more >>

Continued Attention to Principal Turnover Study

A Prince George's Gazette article continues focus on a study by Advocates for Children and Youth finding that challenging schools in Maryland are suffering from startling turnover in principals and receiving inexperienced replacements. This problem demonstrates the urgent need for financial incentives and other efforts to attract and keep strong instructional leaders in the most troubled schools. Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes is a national leader on this issue. Read more >>

Sun Endorses PBIS Expansion; City Reduces Suspensions

The Baltimore Sun, in an editorial, praised Baltimore City schools CEO Andres Alonso for reducing school suspensions and called on him to expand Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) as a "proven" alternative to suspensions. Read more >>

Students Lack Summer School

Only a small percentage of low-performing eighth graders received summer school last year, based on an analysis by Advocates for Children and Youth. These students are at grave risk of failing the High School Assessments. Read more >>

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