From Strong Schools Maryland for your individual consideration:
Governor Hogan has decided to veto the bipartisan Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. This historic piece of legislation passed with overwhelming majorities in both the House of Delegates (96-38) and the Senate (37-9) and had responsible safeguards put in place to protect our budget against downturns in the economy.
Please take action to help override the veto here:
secure.everyaction.com/4E6zrcype0Sovvtk_jelOQ2?emci=b3398b79-518e-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&emdi=833ae832-9b90-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&ceid=7825043
Now more than ever, students, families, and communities need the support and investment offered by the Blueprint. The Blueprint implements a series of important reforms that benefit our children's education, health and well-being, and the state's economy. Some of the benefits of the legislation include:
- Expanding college and career pathways including career and technical education opportunities
- Transforming teaching into a high status profession with increased preparation and benchmark salaries
- Fixing our regressive funding formula by providing extra support for students living in poverty and interventions for struggling students before achievement gaps grow
- Investing in early childhood education by expanding full day Pre-K for 3 and 4 year olds
- Adding a new accountability board to ensure the reforms are carried out with fidelity
The state of Maryland
must
remain committed to the goal of eliminating inequities and building an education system that works for all kids, families, and educators over the long term. This virus magnified the extreme disparities that exist in Maryland, including in our schools. The Blueprint was designed to close these disparities and eliminate the achievement gap. We can’t let this veto send a message that our kids’ future is not a priority for the state of Maryland.
Governor Hogan argued his veto had to do with the fiscal realities. Unfortunately, it was ignored that legislators wisely built a
pause button
into the Blueprint in the event of an extreme economic downturn. This pause button would slow implementation allowing the economy to recover before further funding ramps up.
The Blueprint takes a measured, cautious fiscal approach while implementing the supports that we know all of our students need. At a time when close to 1 million Maryland public schools students are missing invaluable in-person class time and parents are struggling to provide effective homeschooling, this political decision is not a good enough reason to deny kids desperately needed resources and future opportunities.
Now we must turn to our allies in the General Assembly who have been stalwart champions in the fight for education justice for all kids in Maryland. Now is the time for our leaders to ensure that Maryland will build the system we need not only to recover from this virus but to provide enhanced opportunities for all students, eliminate racial achievement gaps, and rebuild a strong economy for all Marylanders.
Strong Schools Maryland, along with our allies in the
Coalition for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future
, will work tirelessly to make sure members of the General Assembly override this veto so all of Maryland’s students have world-class schools. We ask you to continue the fight along with us.
