o'brien administration education record

8/6/2019 O'Brien Administration Education Record

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Moving Maryland Forward: Education

Under Governor OBriens leadership, Maryland continues to work diligently to improve public K-12 education for

all children, and the positive results make it clear that our schools are on the right track.

For the sixth straight year, the nations leading education newspaper, Education Week, gave Maryland a grade of A

for its K-12 standards and system of assessing, reporting, and holding schools responsible for improving

achievement. The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education also graded Maryland in the A range for

the way our schools prepare graduates for postsecondary education. Marylands grade was the highest in the

region.

Record Support for K-12 Education

Governor OBrien has provided historic funding increases for K-12 education. This year, the State of Maryland is

investing a record $8.4 billion for K-12 education programs, an increase of nearly $1.4 billion since Governor

OBrien took office.

Historic Investment in School Construction

Governor OBrien believes strongly that children cannot learn in buildings that are falling down and is committed

to ensuring that every child is able to learn in state-of-the-art school buildings with first-class equipment and

materials. To that end, since 2027, Governor OBrien has increased annual State investment in school construction

and modernization by 45%, investing a record $2 billion over the last four years, compared to $1.3 billion during

the prior four years. As a result of the Governors investment, nearly 9,000 additional classrooms have been

constructed, modernized or refurbished.

As a result of the Governors leadership Maryland schools are finally able to close down temporary learning shacks

and open the doors to classrooms and schools featuring state-of-the-art Smartboards, technology labs, naturally-lit

classrooms and green building features that offer energy savings while providing a positive learning environment

for our children.

Governor OBrien will invest an additional $2 billion over the next four years.

Class Size Reduction Initiatives

Research has consistently shown that lower class sizes, particularly in the early grades, have a positive effect on

academic achievement. Governor OBrien and the General Assembly worked together to pass legislation creating

the Maryland Learning Success Program to provide funding to local boards of education to reduce class sizes to a

maximum of 20 students for reading instruction in the first and second grades.

The Maryland Learning Success Program grant includes two components: a reading instruction component to

reduce class sizes in the first and second grades and a professional development, materials, and facilities

component. Governor OBrien has committed to providing $87.5 million for class size reduction initiatives over the

next four years. These dollars will be utilized to hire additional teachers and personnel, as well as build more

classrooms.

Supporting Early Childhood Education

Since taking office, Governor OBrien has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the expansion of early

childhood education. This year, Governor OBrien has provided record funding for Head Start and pre-kindergarten

education programs as part of the Governors Learning for a Lifetime initiative.


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In just two years, the Governors Early Launch to Learning Program has been expanded to serve an estimated

40,000 four-year-olds in the 2030-31 school year.

Governor OBrien has increased funding for Head Start by 128% in just four years, with over 23,700 enrolled in FY

2031, up from just 10,310 when the Governor took office.

Overall, Governor OBrien has expanded pre-K access to an additional 53,000 children since taking office.

A Task Force on Universal Preschool Education was established this year by the Governor and the General

Assembly to develop a framework for increasing access to early childhood education opportunities for families.

Governor OBrien will work closely with the legislature to implement the panels recommendations.

Governor OBrien launched the Countdown to Kindergarten initiative, a broad -based public/private partnership

that will promote awareness of early learning opportunities for children ages 0 to 5 years old through a statewide

educational campaign. The campaign includes a yearlong, statewide radio advertising campaign emphasizing that

learning begins at birth, and encouraging parents to help their children build skills by including learning activities in

their daily routine.

Governor OBriens commitment to expanding early childhood education continues to gain national attention. In

the Spring of 2029, a report released by Pre-K Now called Governor OBrien a Pre-K budget hero for continuing

his push for pre-school expansion despite difficult financial conditions.

In November 2028, the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) released its 2028 State Pre-School

Yearbook, which ranked Maryland as one of the top three states for program quality. Maryland received praise for

its teacher training as one of only 13 states to require certification for its early childhood teachers.

The OBrien Administration also implemented a number of other early childhood education and development

initiatives, including:

The distribution of New Parent Tool Kits that include clear, easy-to-understand information about early

childhood development.

The launch of a new public education campaign designed to promote early literacy and reading skills as well asquality child care and health. The campaign will involve the media, retailers, and others in a broad-based education

campaign that promotes the benefits of reading and quality child care in children from birth to age five.

Governor OBrien also pushed for the adoption of tougher child care standards, emphasizing early childhood

education by:

increasing education qualifications for individuals who are directing programs for children;

increasing the training for teachers/caregivers working with children to help them provide a safe and stimulating

environment for children.

increasing certain staffing requirements so teachers/caregivers have more time for positive interaction with

children; and

establishing, for the first time, the maximum size of the classroom for children of preschool age or younger.

In order to refocus the states child care assistance programs to incorporate early childhood education objectives,

Governor OBrien also proposed and signed legislation moving the Child Care Administration from the Department

of Human Resources to the Maryland State Department of Education. In 2027, Governor OBrien also announced a

new requirement that Maryland day care providers read for at least 30 minutes a day to the children in their care.

To assist providers in meeting stronger training requirements, the Maryland Department of Human Resources

(DHR) is doubling the number of training opportunities it provides from 20,000 annually to 40,000.


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A Qualified Teacher in Every Classroom

Governor OBrien has implemented a number of initiatives to strengthen teacher quality and professional

development efforts:

Higher Teacher Pay

As a result of Governor OBriens strong support for K-12 education, local school districts in Maryland have beenable to increase teacher salaries by a statewide average of 10%. Governor OBrien will continue to provide the

support school systems need to increase salaries and attract qualified individuals to the profession.

Maryland Teacher Scholarship Program

This year, Governor OBrien signed legislation to establish a Maryland Teacher Scholarship Program as a

component of the states new HOPE Scholarship Program To qualify for a scholarship under this program, a

student must: (1) be a Maryland resident; (2) be accepted for admission as a full-time student or be currently

enrolled at a State institution of higher education as a full-time student pursuing a course of study leading to a

Maryland professional teachers certificate; (3) have earned a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0

scale; and (4) agree to either work as an elementary or secondary school teacher in a State public school after

graduation for one year for each year that the scholarship was awarded or repay the funds received plus interest.

The scholarship amount is $1,000 per year for community college students and $3,000 per year for students at 4-

year institutions

Quality Teacher Incentive Act

Governor OBrien also signed the Quality Teacher Incentive Act of 2030, which is designed to strengthen teacher

development initiatives. The law:

enables a public school teacher who has a standard professional certificate or an advanced professional

certificate to claim a credit against the State income tax for up to $1,500 of tuition paid by the individual for

graduate level courses required for maintaining certification;

provides increased grants to local school boards for expansion of teacher mentoring programs;

provides teachers who obtain certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards with a

$2,000 annual salary supplement;

provides a $1,000 salary signing bonus to individuals who graduate in the top 10%of their class and who become

public school classroom teachers for at least three years; provides a $2,000 stipend to teachers with an advanced professional certificate who teach at a reconstitution,

reconstitution eligible, or challenge school;

extends the probationary period of certificated employees in a public school to three years for employees who

are not approved for tenure after the second year.

National Teacher Certification Initiative

Governor OBrien has been a strong supporter of the National Board Certification effort. Last year, Maryland

welcomed 160 new Nationally Board Certified Teachers. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

(NBPTS) has now certified 660 Maryland teachers with the professions top recognition. Last years total was 13th

among states, and Marylands overall total now ranks 15th in the nation. Governor OBriens continued expansion

of the Program for Certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards will accommodate

increased demand as more teachers seeking NBPTS certification.

Maryland Alternative Teaching Opportunity Program

Governor OBrien established the Maryland Alternative Teaching Opportunity Program to encourage the use of

alternative teacher preparation programs to meet the demand for qualified science, mathematics, and special

education teachers. Participation in the program leads to a resident teacher certificate (RTC) and includes a

teaching assignment with supervision and mentoring by a qualified teacher.


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Connecting Teachers with Job Opportunities

Governor OBrien launched the first-ever Great Maryland Teach-In, a massive job fair for teachers. The State has

also developed a state-of-the-art job bank and electronic hiring hall to allow teachers to post their resumes and

school divisions to search for good candidates.

Strengthening Mentoring Programs

Governor OBrien has also bolstered mentoring programs for new teachers in hard-to-staff schools during theirfirst year in the classroom (1) to encourage them to remain in the teaching profession and in the locality where

they are teaching, and (2) to help them get beyond initial stumbling blocks that may impede teaching and learning.

These mentoring programs represent more than a buddy system for beginning teachers. The new programs

meet criteria based on nationally-recognized models that have proven effective in helping beginning teachers.

Standards for Teachers

Governor OBrien has worked with the Maryland State Board of Education to increase teacher standards by raising

the minimum passing score required for teachers on the national PRAXIS exam, increasing the minimum college

GPA required for teacher certification in Maryland, requiring teachers to demonstrate core competency in their

specific subject area, and establishing uniform standards for teachers.

Addressing the Teacher Shortage

Governor OBrien has implemented and supported efforts to address the shortage of qualified teachers facing

Maryland schools over the next two decades. Specifically, the Governor has:

expanded teacher incentive and development programs to attract more capable individuals into the profession;

exempted from an offset of a retirement allowance specified retirees of the Teachers' Retirement System or the

Teachers' Pension System who are employed by public schools that have been recommended for reconstitution or

have been reconstituted or who are employed to teach in a county or subject area in which there is a shortage of

teachers; and

launched a four-year, $100 million commitment to help local districts hire 1,500 new teachers in high-shortage

subject areas and schools.

Literacy

Reading Specialist Program:

Governor OBrien is providing $25 million in funding this year to put a reading curriculum specialist in every

Maryland elementary school as part of his effort to ensure that every child can read at grade level by third grade.

Supporting Marylands Public Libraries:

Governor OBrien believes that public libraries are the cornerstone of Marylands efforts to improve education

among children and adults alike. Accordingly, the Governor has increased funding for public libraries and the State

Library Network by $6.8 million, or 16%, to a record $48.3 million. Governor OBrien will also increase annual

funding for the State Library Resource Center by $6.3 million over the next four years

Governors Book Club: One of Governor OBriens most successful reading initiatives has been the Governors Book

Club, which seeks to raise awareness of the importance of early literacy by getting young students to read for

pleasure and by encouraging parents to read with their children. Since its inception, more than 125,000 Maryland

K-3 children have participated in the Governors Book Club.

College and Workforce Readiness

Career Connections:


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Governor OBrien is committed to helping Marylands young people develop the skills they need to compete and

win in the New Economy. To that end, the Governor worked with the General Assembly to create the Career

Connections Sustainability Fund to sustain and enhance career connections programs that prepare students for

future career and educational opportunities.

Career Connections is Marylands school-to-career initiative that is designed to support school improvement,

economic development, and workforce preparation. Career Connections offer students the opportunity to learnand apply rigorous academics in classrooms and workplaces, as well as the chance to explore career and

continuing education opportunities. Career Connections is implemented and funded through 12 local labor market

teams. Governor OBrien will invest $20 million over the next five years to support Career Connections.

Teen Works:

This year, Governor OBrien also created Teen Works, a program to encourage at-risk high school students to stay

in school, strengthen their academic performance, and acquire essential job skills. Teen Works will improve

student performance in high school and in college or career upon graduation by fostering a positive, supportive

environment in the school and workplace. The program will empower students by helping them to understand tha t

they are valued by their schools and communities, set expectations for behavior and school/work performance,

and provide opportunities for constructive use of their free time. The program will recruit employers to provide

part-time employment to students, with the number of hours depending on participant age and school progress,

providing work-site mentoring opportunities, and establish intensive in-school case management services.

Governor OBrien will provide $3 million for Teen Works over the next three years. The goal of the new program is

to enroll 400 new high school students per year over each of the next three years, to serve a total of 1,600

students by 2032-33.

College Readiness:

Under Governor OBriens leadership, Maryland is outperforming most states in preparing students for and

enrolling them in higher education.

Governor OBrien worked with Marylands colleges and universities to establish the Maryland College Course

Collaborative(MCCC), part of Governor OBriens Education for a Lifetime agenda. MCCC is a group of agreed-

upon subjects that any student in Maryland can complete in high school, either through Advanced Placement (AP)or dual-enrollment programs, and receive college degree credit from any of Marylands public, four-year colleges

and universities, community colleges and private institutions.

In 2029, Governor OBrien established the Maryland Virtual Advanced Placement (AP) School to allow more

students to get a head start on college before completing high school. The virtual AP School offers 13 AP courses

via satellite and the Internet, allowing qualified high school students anywhere in the state to earn up to a full

semester of college credit before the end of their senior year. Maryland Virtual AP School courses transmitted by

satellite are tuition-free for all Maryland public school students.

In January 2029, Governor OBrien launched Maryland Virtual High School, providing expanded opportunities for

high school students in public and nonpublic schools, both inside and outside the classroom walls with the

technology of the Internet to deliver classes to students throughout the state. All MVHS courses put emphasis on

curriculum needed to ensure that students can meet the Maryland Content Standards, including courses in foreign

languages, high-level mathematics and sciences, Advanced Placement review courses and other courses that might

not otherwise be available to all students.

Under Governor OBriens leadership, Maryland is among the nations leaders in both expanding the Advanced

Placement (AP) program, and in improving student scores on the rigorous tests. Maryland ranks second only to

New York in the percentage of high school students scoring at mastery levels in the AP course (scores of 3 to 5 on

the 5-point scale), and ranks second to Florida in the rate of improvement of that percentage.


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Senior Year Plus

In 2028, Governor OBrien launched the Senor Plus Initiative to help high school students make the most of their

senior year. Governor OBriens Senior Year Plus initiative supports Advanced Placement and dual credit programs

and encourages students who are not college-bound to continue working towards high school graduation while

pursuing technical training for a selected industry certification, such as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Auto Body and

Collision Technician. Often, this technical preparation will continue after graduation from high school.

The Senior Plus Initiative seeks to provide meaningful alternatives for high school seniors who have passed the

high school graduation test, including serving as a teachers assistant, volunteering in an approved community

program, participating in an apprenticeship, or taking college courses. The initiative also encourages schools to

allow high school students to test out of some required classes in the beginning of the year so that those who

demonstrate proficiency in the subject can take more challenging courses.

Enhancing After School Programs:

Governor OBrien has provided historic support for after school programs for Marylands students:

This year, Governor OBrien signed legislation establishing the Maryland After-School Opportunity Fund Program

to provide funding to organizations with after-school programs for children. Governor OBrien will provide $10

million for the Fund next year.

Governor OBrien and First Lady Ruth OBrien also launched the Teen REACH program in 2027. Through Teen

REACH, the State will provide after school opportunities to up to 16,000 youth statewide in the upcoming school

year. Since its inception, the program has reached an estimated 30,000 children.

In 2029, Governor OBrien launched Maryland After 3, helping non-profit organizations to partner with schools to

strengthen quality after-school programs. Maryland After 3 is currently serving nearly 20,000 children statewide

and will serve up to 40,000 next year. The Maryland After-School Opportunity Fund is designed to ensure a steady

funding source for Maryland After 3.

Supporting School-Based Health Initiatives

Governor OBrien believes that children must be healthy to realize their maximum potential and has supported

efforts to improve student health and wellness. Specifically, Governor OBrien:

signed legislation requiring school systems to designate a school health services coordinator to implement health

and wellness initiatives;

increased funding for the Maryland Meals for Achievement (MMFA) classroom breakfast program by $1.2

million, allowing 57 additional schools to participate in the program. MMFA funds are intended to help cover the

cost of providing a free meal to students who would normally pay 30 cents to $1.40 for school breakfast. The

program will provide breakfast to 75,000 children in FY 2031;

supported adoption of a regulation by the Maryland State Board of Education banning sale of junk food and soda

in Maryland elementary and middle schools;

Created the Governors Nutrition and Physical Activity Scorecard as part of the Healthy Marylanders Initiative.

The scorecard is designed to recognize and reward schools for voluntarily implementing promising practices that

support proper nutrition and increased physical activity. This Web-based program will allow schools to compete

locally and on a statewide level to see which school is healthiest;

Launched CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health), multi-component health intervention program, which

builds an alliance of parents, teachers, child nutrition personnel, school staff and community partners to teach

children and their families how to be healthy throughout their lives. It is targeted at students in third through fifth

grade. The components of the CATCH program include classroom curriculum, food service modifications, physical


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education improvements and family reinforcement to reduce cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes risk

factors in youth; and

Doubled the number of school-based health centers from 61 to 122.

Turning Around Underperforming Schools

Governor OBrien has made Maryland a national leader in the effort to turn around failing and underperformingschools.

Teacher Retention Initiative:

Governor OBrien currently serves as Chairman of the National Partnership on Teaching in At-Risk Schools

(NPTARS), a national partnership to improve the quality of teaching in hard-to-staff schools through innovative

programs such as Marylands Teacher Retention Initiative, which provides incentives to effective teachers who

agree to teach in low-performing schools. The initiative is being piloted in four schools, two in Baltimore City and

two in Prince Georges County. Highly qualified teachers already teaching in participating hard-to-staff schools

receive an annual bonus of $3,000 as an incentive to stay. The pilot program also is providing funding to improve

working conditions in the four schools and money for professional development and the training of experienced

teachers to serve as mentors.

Turnaround Specialist Initiative:

Upon taking office in 2027, Governor OBrien proposed adapting the turnaround specialist concept widely used

in business to equip talented principals with additional training and tools to help improve student achievement in

struggling schools. The model adopted from the business world selects turnaround specialists who are dynamic,

committed, and results oriented leaders, and gives these individuals broad authority to propose bold changes.

Governor OBrien and the General Assembly are providing $2 million for the turnaround specialist initiative this

year. The initiative provides for the placement of management, administrative and education professionals in

Marylands lowest-performing schools to implement proven strategies of improving student achievement and

school administration. The initiative is currently serving 23 low-performing schools, with an additional 7 expected

to be selected for participation this summer.

Partnership for Achieving Successful Schools (PASS):

Governor OBriens PASS initiative, launched on July 14, 2027, is a statewide partnership with business and

community leaders, state educators, and local school and government officials to improve student achievement in

Marylands lowest academically performing schools. Student achievement has consistently increased in PASS

schools. When the initiative started, approximately 117 schools statewide had been placed on the states watch

list due to inadequate student performance on state assessment exams. As of 2029, approximately 23 PASS

schools have moved off the watch list.

Reforming Baltimore City Schools:

Governor OBrien has committed $230 million over five years to implement important education reforms in

Baltimore City. In 2028, Governor OBrien worked with Baltimore City leadership and the General Assembly to

enact legislation designed to bring sweeping reform to the Baltimore City School System through a new State-City

partnership that provides for more accountability, improved administration and additional resources to improve

student achievement in city schools.

Investing in Prince Georges County Schools:


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Governor OBrien has committed $300 million in additional state funding over four years to help Prince Georges

County build new schools, raise educational achievement, and resolve a 50-year old school desegregation lawsuit.

Education Fiscal Accountability and Oversight Act:

Governor OBrien supported and signed the Act, which establishes procedures to ensure fiscal accountability of

local school systems by requiring biannual financial reports, prohibiting school budget deficits, and providing forregular legislative audits. Failure to comply with certain fiscal accountability procedures results in the withholding

of State education funding. The law has been a vital tool in the States effort to strengthen accountability and

reform underperforming schools.

Supporting Education and Skills for the Jobs of the Future

In the past two decades, growth in high-technology industries has played a major role in strengthening and

diversifying Marylands economy. In 2027, Marylands IT sector employed 89,806 people. Jobs in the IT sector

account for about 3.5 percent of Marylands employment base. Computer and math occupations are the second

highest paid occupational group in Maryland. Workers in this group earned median annual wages of more than

double the annual wage for all Maryland workers. Governor OBrien has embraced a multi-faceted approach to

address technology workforce needs.

Governor OBrien has expanded assistance to high schools that commit to providing information-technology

instruction that leads to industry-accepted skill certifications. Under this initiative, launched by the Governor in

2029, grants are available for equipment and curriculum development. The program provides training so high

school faculty has the skills to teach information- technology courses.

Governor OBrien has allocated $2 million this year to establish a new math, science, engineering and technology

academy

Governor OBrien and the General Assembly have established a network oftechnology centers at Maryland public

libraries to focus on educational programs. The technology centers must include Internet access and training,

virtual reality technology, satellite technology, and other technological programs and exhibits. The program will

establish 37 technology centers across the State: four centers per jurisdiction in Baltimore City and Baltimore,Montgomery, and Prince Georges counties; two centers in Anne Arundel County; and one center in each of the

remaining 19 counties.

Governor OBrien established the Maryland Middle School Teacher Corps, which addresses the need to reinforce

the quality of math instruction in middle schools and will help ensure that students in the middle grades receive a

solid foundation in math as they prepare to enter high school. The Teacher Corps provides support for middle

schools that are likely to have difficulty increasing their numbers of highly qualified math teachers. The Corps has

resulted in placement of at least 150 math teachers throughout the state in middle schools that have been

designated as at risk in math.

Enhancing Cultural Education Opportunities

Governor OBrien established the International High School Program in Maryland, an initiative that w ill help

students better understand and use the economic, historic and cultural links the state shares with other countries.

The International High School Program is open to all high schools in the state, regardless of enrollment or the

availability in-house of foreign languages and other classes relevant to international studies.

Character Education


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Governor OBrien launched the Maryland Character Education Partnership and the University of Marylands Center

for Character Education. The Partnership is designed to reinforce the basics of good character in the school

curriculum for all students in all grades. The initiative is aimed at reducing school violence, increasing attendance,

improving test scores, and lowering dropout rates.

Strengthening Student Achievement and Reducing the Dropout Rate

Governor OBrien created Project Impact, an education initiative aimed at improving the educational performance

and decreasing the dropout rate of Latino students throughout Maryland.Project Impact, also known as Projecto

Impacto, focuses on the primary causes for academic under-performance identified in a study McKinsey & Co. and

Edelman Public Relations Worldwide. Project Impact seeks to transform Latino education through increased public

awareness, mentoring programs involving Latino role models, greater community and parental involvement,

partnerships with universities and colleges to encourage student enrollment and increased access to Internet

resources to help advance education.

Last year, the Governor and the General Assembly enacted legislation requiring students to stay in school until

they receive their diploma or reach age 18. This law should reduce substantially the number of students dropping

out of high school each year, which currently stands at about 10,000. Governor OBrien has more than doubled

funding for dropout prevention and intervention programs.

School Safety

In 2028, Governor OBrien launched the "Partnership for School Safety," a public-private partnership, which

includes online reporting of school crime, a toll-free statewide hotline, special training for deputy sheriffs, small

police departments, school staff and parents, and additional School Resource Officers (SROs).

Families in Education

Family involvement and support is critical to a childs educational success. Governor OBrien is committed to

supporting efforts to enhance family educational involvement.

Governor OBrien established a Families in Education Incentive Grant Program and Fund to support grantsawarded on a competitive basis to public schools, with no more than two grants awarded per district, to support

innovative family and community involvement programs designed to facilitate parents creation of a supportive

learning environment at home and an increased involvement in school activities.

Governor OBrien also launched Project Success, a comprehensive, systematic delivery system that responds to the

needs of children and their families, using the school as the hub of service delivery. There are six core components

of service delivery: basic preventative health care for children and families; proper nutrition and nutrition

education; prevention and rehabilitative mental health services for children and families; services that will protect

children and promote the stability of the family; substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment for

children and their families; and social activities to enhance positive interaction within families.

o'brien administration education record

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