Maryland
U.S.
Rank
Score:
62%
Grade:
D
Rank:
#41
With a charter environment which primarily operates in Baltimore, despite much needed improvements in most of the state’s 23 counties, the districts that control those counties wield enormous power in the legislature, making any improvements highly unlikely.
Law passed: 2003
Most recently amended: 2015
Number of charter schools: 50
Number of charter students: 22,882
Cap on the number of schools allowed:? No
Virtual charters allowed? No
AUTHORIZERS: Local school districts are the only authorizer for the majority of charter schools. The state board can authorize restructured charters as well as schools that appeal denials to the state board and are reversed.
GROWTH: The state places no formal cap on the number of schools that can be authorized. However, because school districts are vested with authorizing and regulatory authority, there is an implicit cap on charter school growth— other than Baltimore within a few years of the law’s passage, districts do not typically authorize schools they see as competitors.
OPERATIONS: Charters in Maryland are subject to all of the same regulations that apply to all public schools, including collective bargaining agreements, though they can apply to the state Board of Education for exemptions. These requirements drastically limit charter school autonomy, innovation, and success.
EQUITY:
A 2007 Maryland Court of Appeals ruling reaffirmed the State Board of Education’s decision that the law requires charter students be funded in a “commensurate” manner and at the same level as traditional public schools. However, school districts set charter school funding first, and appealing inequities in funding to the Board can be an onerous process. Funding inequities persist. In reality, they receive, on average, only two-thirds of the total funding the traditional district schools receive.
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#18
A small “boost” in the state’s private scholarship program helps low-income families to choose the private school of their choice, bringing the low-scoring state just a little closer to education opportunity for all.
Law enacted: 2016
Number of programs: 1
Statewide Participation: 3,168
Types of programs: Voucher
Voucher
Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Program
There are more than 2,500 students participating in the 2020-2021 school year, with over 1,300 currently on the waiting list. In April 2021, HB 588 expanded the program’s budget to $10 million for the first time in state history. Students are eligible if their family income does not exceed 100% of the federal free and reduced- price lunch program. The program does not have an enrollment cap.
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#24
“Maryland does not collect or publicly report data that connect student growth to teacher preparation programs,” nor supports linking pay to performance.
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT: 73%
General Teacher Preparation 62%
Elementary Teacher Preparation 75%
Secondary Teacher Preparation 73%
Special Education Teacher Preparation 82%
Alternate Routes 75%
STAFFING AND SUPPORT: 67%
Hiring 70%
Retaining Effective Teachers 63%
TEACHER EVALUATION: 78%
TEACHER COMPENSATION: 72%
Score:
62%
Grade:
D
Rank:
#41
With a charter environment which primarily operates in Baltimore, despite much needed improvements in most of the state’s 23 counties, the districts that control those counties wield enormous power in the legislature, making any improvements highly unlikely.
Law passed: 2003
Most recently amended: 2015
Number of charter schools: 50
Number of charter students: 22,882
Cap on the number of schools allowed:? No
Virtual charters allowed? No
AUTHORIZERS: Local school districts are the only authorizer for the majority of charter schools. The state board can authorize restructured charters as well as schools that appeal denials to the state board and are reversed.
GROWTH: The state places no formal cap on the number of schools that can be authorized. However, because school districts are vested with authorizing and regulatory authority, there is an implicit cap on charter school growth— other than Baltimore within a few years of the law’s passage, districts do not typically authorize schools they see as competitors.
OPERATIONS: Charters in Maryland are subject to all of the same regulations that apply to all public schools, including collective bargaining agreements, though they can apply to the state Board of Education for exemptions. These requirements drastically limit charter school autonomy, innovation, and success.
EQUITY:
A 2007 Maryland Court of Appeals ruling reaffirmed the State Board of Education’s decision that the law requires charter students be funded in a “commensurate” manner and at the same level as traditional public schools. However, school districts set charter school funding first, and appealing inequities in funding to the Board can be an onerous process. Funding inequities persist. In reality, they receive, on average, only two-thirds of the total funding the traditional district schools receive.
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#18
A small “boost” in the state’s private scholarship program helps low-income families to choose the private school of their choice, bringing the low-scoring state just a little closer to education opportunity for all.
Law enacted: 2016
Number of programs: 1
Statewide Participation: 3,168
Types of programs: Voucher
Voucher
Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Program
There are more than 2,500 students participating in the 2020-2021 school year, with over 1,300 currently on the waiting list. In April 2021, HB 588 expanded the program’s budget to $10 million for the first time in state history. Students are eligible if their family income does not exceed 100% of the federal free and reduced- price lunch program. The program does not have an enrollment cap.
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#24
“Maryland does not collect or publicly report data that connect student growth to teacher preparation programs,” nor supports linking pay to performance.
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT: 73%
General Teacher Preparation 62%
Elementary Teacher Preparation 75%
Secondary Teacher Preparation 73%
Special Education Teacher Preparation 82%
Alternate Routes 75%
STAFFING AND SUPPORT: 67%
Hiring 70%
Retaining Effective Teachers 63%
TEACHER EVALUATION: 78%
TEACHER COMPENSATION: 72%
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#49
Maryland has digital learning standards for students and educators, and provides many other resources and digital tools for schools. The state promotes digital learning in districts by using Open Educational Resources (OER), providing resources on their state digital management system econnect, and creating a State Educational Technology Plan.
Maryland’s Digital Learning Framework was designed by the Maryland Instructional Technology Advisory Council (MITAC) to encourage school districts to implement blended learning models in their classrooms. The framework outlines five guiding principles that range from personalized learning instruction, to technology infrastructure implementation.
Bandwidth: “99.5% of students in Maryland can access the Internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student, and many students are connected at higher speeds. But there is still work to be done. 4,573 students still need more bandwidth for digital learning.”
Maryland does not appear to have any policies in place to promote personalized learning in districts and schools.
Maryland’s initial response to the COVID crisis provided little guidance to teachers and schools on developing remote learning plans or setting expectations for districts to do remote learning. Districts varied widely in their remote learning offerings, with some providing excellent instruction daily and some providing little or none. The state also did little to ensure students had wifi and devices. As of April, the remote learning information was a single page as a PDF.
Governor Hogan announced schools would be closed for two weeks on March 12th, and it was extended to April 24th on March 25th. Maryland students received no instruction between Hogan’s announcement on March 12th and the first week of April. Since then, however, the state has focused on reopening strategies, improved communications through weekly e-newsletters, had weekly meetings with superintendents, and provided many more resources, primarily through a new website, here.
The thorough reopening guidelines, were released in June.
Several school districts have announced virtual-only instruction for the first semester of the 2020-21 school year, including Montgomery County Public Schools, the state’s largest district. That county’s health department also ordered all private schools to be virtual-only, which was overturned by the governor. All districts had to submit reopening plans by August 14, and could have in-person instruction as long as they follow federal and state health recommendations.
Fast Facts
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
12th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
12th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Graduation Rate:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Public School Enrollment:
Percent Enrolled in Charter Schools:
Average Student Funding:
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#49
Maryland has digital learning standards for students and educators, and provides many other resources and digital tools for schools. The state promotes digital learning in districts by using Open Educational Resources (OER), providing resources on their state digital management system econnect, and creating a State Educational Technology Plan.
Maryland’s Digital Learning Framework was designed by the Maryland Instructional Technology Advisory Council (MITAC) to encourage school districts to implement blended learning models in their classrooms. The framework outlines five guiding principles that range from personalized learning instruction, to technology infrastructure implementation.
Bandwidth: “99.5% of students in Maryland can access the Internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student, and many students are connected at higher speeds. But there is still work to be done. 4,573 students still need more bandwidth for digital learning.”
Maryland does not appear to have any policies in place to promote personalized learning in districts and schools.
Maryland’s initial response to the COVID crisis provided little guidance to teachers and schools on developing remote learning plans or setting expectations for districts to do remote learning. Districts varied widely in their remote learning offerings, with some providing excellent instruction daily and some providing little or none. The state also did little to ensure students had wifi and devices. As of April, the remote learning information was a single page as a PDF.
Governor Hogan announced schools would be closed for two weeks on March 12th, and it was extended to April 24th on March 25th. Maryland students received no instruction between Hogan’s announcement on March 12th and the first week of April. Since then, however, the state has focused on reopening strategies, improved communications through weekly e-newsletters, had weekly meetings with superintendents, and provided many more resources, primarily through a new website, here.
The thorough reopening guidelines, were released in June.
Several school districts have announced virtual-only instruction for the first semester of the 2020-21 school year, including Montgomery County Public Schools, the state’s largest district. That county’s health department also ordered all private schools to be virtual-only, which was overturned by the governor. All districts had to submit reopening plans by August 14, and could have in-person instruction as long as they follow federal and state health recommendations.
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
12th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
12th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Graduation Rate:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Public School Enrollment:
Percent Enrolled in Charter Schools:
Average Student Funding:
Wes Moore (D)
First term begins in 2023 (two-term limit)
Whatever Governor-elect Wes Moore’s views once were, the race for Governor has produced an apparent change of heart, in which he faithfully follows the Maryland Education Association’s positions. For example, he proposes that: “As governor, I will support efforts to ensure teachers have the ability to include class sizes in their collective bargaining agreements.” Moore does not support the expansion of charter schools, saying that he wanted to focus on improving public school districts but wanted to ensure accountability for current charters. This is in contrast to personal statements he has made and his work as CEO from 2017-21 of the Robin Hood Foundation where he supported dozens of public charter schools in New York City.
The majority in the state legislature generally continues to take the positions of the Maryland Teachers Association (whose building sits across the street) on most issues and were it not for an affable Governor more might be lost.
“The Maryland Constitution does not contain a Blaine Amendment but Maryland courts have a long tradition of reading its Compelled Support Clause narrowly. In more recent decisions, the court has noted that even direct grants to private educational institutions are acceptable when the state has not attempted to provide universal education at that level. Vouchers, which provide money directly to students and parents and only incidentally benefit the schools they choose to attend, are therefore likely to survive constitutional scrutiny.” (Institute for Justice)
School and district report cards are easily accessible from Maryland’s DOE homepage under Quick Links. Reports are written in a clear format, and have a summative rating of overall performance as well as a state average score which is a useful feature for parents. Report is comprehensive and includes data on academic achievement, progress, English language proficiency, school quality indicators and demographics. Information on their private school choice program is found by clicking Spotlight, then Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST).
School board elections are during the general election cycle, which gives parents more power in their decision making because of higher voter turnout.
Wes Moore (D)
First term begins in 2023 (two-term limit)
Whatever Governor-elect Wes Moore’s views once were, the race for Governor has produced an apparent change of heart, in which he faithfully follows the Maryland Education Association’s positions. For example, he proposes that: “As governor, I will support efforts to ensure teachers have the ability to include class sizes in their collective bargaining agreements.” Moore does not support the expansion of charter schools, saying that he wanted to focus on improving public school districts but wanted to ensure accountability for current charters. This is in contrast to personal statements he has made and his work as CEO from 2017-21 of the Robin Hood Foundation where he supported dozens of public charter schools in New York City.
The majority in the state legislature generally continues to take the positions of the Maryland Teachers Association (whose building sits across the street) on most issues and were it not for an affable Governor more might be lost.
“The Maryland Constitution does not contain a Blaine Amendment but Maryland courts have a long tradition of reading its Compelled Support Clause narrowly. In more recent decisions, the court has noted that even direct grants to private educational institutions are acceptable when the state has not attempted to provide universal education at that level. Vouchers, which provide money directly to students and parents and only incidentally benefit the schools they choose to attend, are therefore likely to survive constitutional scrutiny.” (Institute for Justice)
School and district report cards are easily accessible from Maryland’s DOE homepage under Quick Links. Reports are written in a clear format, and have a summative rating of overall performance as well as a state average score which is a useful feature for parents. Report is comprehensive and includes data on academic achievement, progress, English language proficiency, school quality indicators and demographics. Information on their private school choice program is found by clicking Spotlight, then Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST).
School board elections are during the general election cycle, which gives parents more power in their decision making because of higher voter turnout.