Peter Franchot's Priorities

Yesterday's Baltimore Sun reported that "Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot says for the sake of tourism and family memories, schools should open after Labor Day"....

Many educators have watched in amazement as Virginia argues over their so-called "Kings Dominion Law" that for years has prohibited schools from opening before Labor Day so families keep spending money at Kings Dominion, and so students don't leave their summer jobs before the "big" Labor Day weekend.

Most observers believe that students in the 21st century need more time in school, not less - and that educating our children should come first.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/blog/bal-franchot-wants-a-statewide-prohibition-on-starting-school-before-labor-day-20120419,0,2352008.story

New State Superintendent Named

From the MSDE Press Release:

STATE BOARD SELECTS DR. LOWERY AFTER NATIONAL SEARCH; TERM BEGINS JULY 1

BALTIMORE, MD (April 20, 2012)

The Maryland State Board of Education today announced that Dr. Lillian M. Lowery, Secretary of Education for the Delaware Department of Education, has been selected the State’s next State Superintendent of Schools.  Dr. Lowery will take the helm of the nation’s number one-ranked State school system on July 1.  She will succeed Interim State Superintendent Bernard J. Sadusky. The State Board will take official action on Dr. Lowery’s appointment at its next scheduled meeting, Tuesday, April 24.  Dr. Lowery will begin scheduling a series of public meetings to listen and learn from education, parent, civic, legislative, and other public and stakeholder groups. “I am very excited to join an outstanding educational system, and look forward to working with Maryland educators across the state,” said Dr. Lowery.  “The success of the State of Maryland’s public education transformation agenda, just as the national agenda, is an economic must and the means to future success for our youngest citizens.  For our nation’s children to be prepared to thrive in the 21st century economy, creating and attaining jobs that will sustain them and their families, the system of education must ensure that student performance expectations for Marylanders are comparable to performance expectations of children across the nation and the world.” State Board President James H. DeGraffenreidt, Jr. said Dr. Lowery comes to Maryland well prepared to lead the State’s system to continued improvement.  “Dr. Lowery comes to Maryland with impressive credentials, skill sets and notable accomplishments to lead our state’s educational system as we continue our efforts to provide our students with a world class education that prepares them for lifelong success,” DeGraffenreidt said. “The Board looks forward with great excitement to working with Dr. Lowery in building upon the well documented successes that Maryland has already achieved, and leading our State to even greater educational achievements in the coming years.” Dr. Lowery has worked in various educational institutions and programs since 1976. Dr. Lowery has been Secretary of Education in the State of Delaware since 2009, where she distinguished herself by facilitating a broad-based statewide strategic planning and grant application process which resulted in Delaware being selected as the “First State” to be awarded the federal Race to the Top grant.   She has led the efforts to establish Teacher and Leaders Effectiveness Units as well as Turnaround Units within the State Department, which have assisted in the implementation of the grant and the improvement of instructional opportunities for students.  Additionally, she has helped to differentiate the support for local school districts in an effort to assist them in their improvement efforts, as well as hold them accountable for student success. Prior to serving as the Secretary of Education, Dr. Lowery was the Superintendent in Christina School District in New Castle County, Delaware for three years.  She has served as an Assistant Superintendent in Fairfax County, Virginia and an Area Administrator in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Other administrative experiences have included serving as both an assistant principal and principal at the high school level, and as the Minority Student Achievement Monitor.  In addition, she taught English at the middle and high school levels in Virginia. Dr. Lowery holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Polytechnic and State University, as well as a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from University of North Carolina, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Secondary Education from North Carolina Central University. She is also a nationally known speaker and recognized as a leader among chief state school officials. Board President DeGraffenreidt said the Maryland State Board of Education would like to thank the citizens of Maryland for enthusiastically participating and providing invaluable insights throughout the selection process.  Community members shared with the Board their perspectives, opinions, concerns and ideas through various meetings, focus groups and surveys.  The Board found this input invaluable in evaluating each candidate and reaching a final decision, he noted. Dr. Sadusky has served as Interim State Superintendent since July 1, 2011.  He replaced Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick, who retired in 2011 after 20 years as State Superintendent of Schools.

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Collaborating to increase student achievement

This week's  Living in Dialogue blog on Edweek.org,  features a guest post by past MCEA President Mark Simon on how MCEA/MCPS collaboration has led to decreased teacher turnover and increased student achievement in low performing schools.

Specifically, the story details the collaborative intervention that occurred at Broad Acres ES starting back in 2000.  While not always smooth, the story of Broad Acres has become a go to case study in how union/district collaboration can work.  The study shows how decreasing teacher turnover has such a large impact on increasing student achievement and how long-term strategies, and not knee jerk "reforms," can lead to increased student achievement for our neediest students. 

Unfinished Business in Annapolis

Passage of the bill to fix the State's Maintenance of Effort law has been a huge victory for education funding. However the legislature has failed to complete action on the state budget.

This past Monday was supposed to be the final day of the session. But the clock struck midnight before the legislature acted on important components of the budget that would protect state funding for our schools in the coming year. If the legislature fails to reconvene to address this, it will trigger a so-called “doomsday budget” that will mean more than $200 million in cuts to school funding next year. 

Our Advocacy Must Continue

We need one more phone call, email, text, and legislative contact to force the General Assembly and Governor O’Malley to act and ensure the Doomsday budget is not enacted. Send an email with this link, and/or call our legislative hotline at 866-268-MSEA today!