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Where Did the Gambling Money Go?

In 2008, Maryland voters approved casino gambling at the ballot box. And in 2012, Marylanders approved the expansion of gambling into table games. Many people cast their votes in favor believing that it would lead to dramatic increases in public school funding. That hasn’t happened. Source: Department of Legislative Services The Education Trust Fund (ETF) […]
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Legislators, Educators Launch Fix the Fund Campaign

Montgomery County special educator Carissa Barnes flanked by President Weller and legislators at the Fix the Fund press conference on January 30. THIS WEEK IN ANNAPOLIS Legislators, Educators Launch Fix the Fund Campaign With the state facing a $2.9 billion funding shortage, MSEA teamed up with state legislators to announce the first step in a year-long plan […]
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Maryland Wins Big on ESSA Thanks to the Protect Our Schools Act

Photo © Stephen Cherry In September, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) submitted our state’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan for federal approval. The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) replied in December with a list of plan provisions that in their judgment did not comply with ESSA. The Protect Our Schools Act — passed last year […]

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Get $125 in Credit to Purchase Brand New Books for Students

Baltimore County teacher Heather McNeal’s class with their brand new books from First Book and MSEA. “I believe that books best serve as both windows and mirrors for children, yet my classroom library was lacking important mirrors for my African-American students,” said Heather McNeal, a fifth grade teacher at Halstead Academy in Baltimore County. “I took […]
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Washington’s Dysfunction Impacting Maryland’s Budget and Economy

The federal government casts a long shadow on Maryland’s budget and economy. THIS WEEK IN ANNAPOLIS Washington DC’s Shadow Over Annapolis From the federal tax bill to the federal shutdown, what happens in Congress has a direct impact on Maryland’s economy and budget. The Comptroller’s Office issued a detailed review of the effects of federal tax […]
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Where’s All That Casino Money?

In 2011, casinos contributed $50 million to the Education Trust Fund; in 2013, $284 million; in 2015, $350 million. Projections for last year are $500 million — in total, $2 billion since 2011. If you’ve been wondering about the influx of casino cash lawmakers promised when casino gambling passed in Maryland, you’re not alone. Talk about school […]
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10 Ways Public Education in Finland and Singapore Is Different Than in the U.S.

Photo: The Atlantic, October 1, 2015. 1. In Finland, law mandates that for every 45 minutes of instruction, students get 15 minutes of play. U.S. kids get less than 30 minutes per day. 2. College is free in Finland — even master’s and doctoral programs. 3. Teachers are highly respected and are paid better in Finland and Singapore. […]
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OPPORTUNITY • EQUITY • PAY

Dramatic salary increases leading to parity between teachers and professionals with similar educational backgrounds. Living wages for ESP. Increased time for planning and collaboration. A locally-negotiated career ladder that gives educators an opportunity to make administrator-level pay without leaving classrooms. Expanded pre-kindergarten, career-technical education, and community schools. We could see these transformational changes in our […]
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The Tipping Point: Solving the Staffing and Salary Crisis in Maryland Schools

What does $2.9 billion in annual underfunding in our schools look like? A slow-building — but now impossible to ignore — crisis of inadequate staffing levels and educator pay that has direct consequences on the quality of teaching and learning, especially in high-poverty schools. After major progress on both staffing and pay following the state’s last revision of the […]
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