Education Workgroup

The Education Workgroup is responsible for issues relating to all levels of education, including early childhood development, primary and secondary education, higher education, and certain workforce issues.  Major policy areas covered by the workgroup include:

 

Primary and Secondary Education

Higher Education

Other Issues

State Aid

State Funding (operating and capital)

Early Childhood Development and Child Care Subsidies

Federal Requirements

4-Year Colleges and Universities

Career and College Readiness

Assessments and Accountability

Regional Higher Education Centers

Workforce Shortages

Teacher Certification

Community Colleges

Public Libraries

Curriculum

Affordability (financial aid, tuition and fees)

Governor’s P-20 Leadership Council

Public School Construction

Productivity

College Savings Plans

Charter Schools

Retention and Graduation

Collective Bargaining

 

The Education Workgroup monitors all education related matters occurring at the federal, State, and local levels, as well as maintains an awareness of education issues in other states.  This includes monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on the implementation of significant education legislation, like the implementation of the State Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act, the federal No Child Left Behind Act, and the State Public School Facilities Act.  The workgroup also monitors the education coordinating and governing boards, including the State Board of Education, the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the University System of Maryland Board of Regents and other governing boards, the Interagency Committee on School Construction, and the Governor’s P-20 Leadership Council. 

 

The Education Workgroup also provides in-depth staffing support to the Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families (ongoing) and many special legislative commissions and task forces, including most recently:  the Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence (Thornton Commission, 1999-2002); the Task Force to Study Public School Facilities (2003-2004); and the Commission to Develop the Maryland Model for Higher Education Funding (2007-2009).  The workgroup regularly reports on enrollment, funding, and student performance trends in primary and secondary schools, as well as Maryland’s institutions of higher education.  Regular reports are also completed regarding tuition and fee levels, financial aid, and other higher education issues related to affordability.  Finally, the workgroup maintains numerous data files that aid in the analysis of the education policy areas and enable the workgroup to respond to legislative information requests throughout the year.

 

Reports

 

            Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence (Thornton Commission, 1999-2002)

 

            Task Force to Study Public School Facilities (2003-2004)

 

            Commission to Develop the Maryland Model for Higher Education Funding (2007-2009)

 

Data Dashboards