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The Honorable Wes Moore
Governor of Maryland
State House, 100 State Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401
November 27, 2024
Dear Governor Moore,
As the top public education leaders in Maryland, and strong supporters of the Blueprint for
Maryland’s Future, we are writing to respectfully request the opportunity to collaborate with you on potential adjustments to the Blueprint in light of its impact on the State’s looming fiscal crisis.
The bold trajectory set forth by the Blueprint has inspired significant progress and optimism;
however, the challenges we face require partnership and pragmatic solutions to ensure both the sustainability of the Blueprint, the fiscal health of the State, and most importantly, the academic success of our students.
As the chief executives of our school districts, we understand and respect your difficult budget dilemma. In addition to being the chief fiscal stewards of our districts, we are also on the ground dutifully implementing the Blueprint, while continuing to battle the ongoing academic and societal
challenges caused by the pandemic. Despite these setbacks, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing the Blueprint’s transformative goals. We are your commanders in the field, and we offer our experiences and expertise regarding any modifications as we navigate this critical moment.
After three years of implementation, we can celebrate early successes, but it is clear that adjustments are needed. Adjustments are not to compromise the mission of the Blueprint, but ensure its long-term success. The Blueprint has set an ambitious and innovative path forward, and while every pillar of
the plan is transformative, the collective implementation has proven complex and uneven across Maryland’s diverse school districts.
We can offer modifications to the Blueprint that are grounded in real-world experiences, data analysis, and the guiding principle of enhancing student growth and achievement. As stewards of this historic investment in education, we must ensure that:
● The return on investment for every Blueprint initiative supports measurable student success.
● Human and fiscal resources are being utilized effectively to produce results.
● Ongoing evaluation and “course corrections” are embraced to adapt to emerging challenges, while maintaining the innovative spirit of the Blueprint.
We urge you to work with us to assess whether current and future expenditures under the Blueprint are producing the intended outcomes and to explore adjustments that align with the State’s financial realities. We stand ready to work with you, legislative leaders, and our State Board of Education and Accountability and Implementation Board partners to evaluate progress, identify inefficiencies, and prioritize spending where it will have the greatest impact on student achievement.
In addition to ensuring the academic success of Maryland’s students, we must voraciously advocate for adequate funding of public schools. In fact, this critical responsibility is enshrined in COMAR 4-205(g)(5): The County Superintendent shall try in every way to awaken public interest and improve
educational conditions....and in COMAR 4-205(k)(2): The County Superintendent shall seek in every way to secure adequate funds from local authorities for the support and development of the public schools.... We take these responsibilities seriously and will continue to advocate for necessary resources to ensure student success.
Governor Moore, the stakes are high, but the opportunities are immense. We urge you to let us be your partners to address the State’s budgetary challenges while safeguarding and strengthening the future of Maryland’s public education system.
We look forward to your partnership. Our Executive Director, Mary Pat Fannon, will be in touch to continue this important conversation with our organization, representing Maryland’s twenty-four public school superintendents.
Sincerely,
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