Governor O'Malley Launches "Steady Progress for Maryland's Schools" Education Tour

Tour Begins at Leith Walk Elementary/Middle School and Carver Vocational Technical High School in Baltimore City; Governor to Tour Schools Across State

 

BALTIMORE, MD (September 2, 2008) – As students across Maryland begin another school year, Governor Martin O’Malley, joined by Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick, today kicked off his “Steady Progress for Maryland’s Schools” tour to highlight Maryland’s progress and investments in public education. In his first in a series of school visits across the State, Governor O’Malley visited Leith Walk Elementary/Middle School and Carver Vocational Technical High School in Baltimore city, where he was joined by Mayor Sheila Dixon. 

“Over the last two years, we have made a truly historic investment – $741 million – in school construction and renovation,” said Governor O’Malley.  “In 2006, Maryland was ranked 25th in the nation in Education Week’s annual report for public education, but Maryland is now ranked third in the nation for best schools.  As a State, we must continue to protect our investments in our schools to ensure that every Maryland child receives a world class education and a better future.”

“The beginning of school brings with it a feeling of excitement and optimism, and Maryland’s children have reason to be excited,” said Dr. Nancy Grasmick.  “For the fifth consecutive year, all 24 school systems have shown academic improvement across-the-board.  We believe in our students, and we are so pleased the Governor is taking this tour to highlight their many achievements.”

During his education tour, Governor O’Malley will meet with students, faculty, and administrators from across the State to discuss the benefits and opportunities created by State investments in education over these past eighteen months.  The series of visits will include schools in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties throughout the month of September. 

While at Leith Walk Elementary/Middle School, Governor O’Malley met with students and teachers from third grade who were learning about statistics.  After their lesson, students presented Governor O’Malley with a stack of letters thanking him for Maryland’s investments in public schools.  Math proficiency scores for third graders at Leith Walk improved from a 49.4 percent in 2003 to 85.2 percent last year. 

During his visit at Carver Vocational Technical High School, Governor O’Malley planted a tree with students from the student ambassador program.  Governor O’Malley also visited a culinary arts class to view the new equipment and improvements to the school.  In a computer technology class, Governor O’Malley talked with students about the importance of choosing technology as their career path in an ever-increasing competitive world. 

In addition to ranking third in the nation for best schools, according to Education Week, Maryland ranked second nationwide in the percentage of graduating seniors who had passed an AP exam, and in the rate of improvement, according to the College Board’s 2007 report.  Maryland also leads the U.S. in improving eighth graders’ math performance.  Seventy-four percent of Maryland 8th graders met or exceeded the Basic level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress exam, according to figures released earlier this year.  Maryland is also among the top seven states in preparing students for college.  The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education gives Maryland an A- in college preparation, behind just three states.  Earlier this year, the Milken Institute ranked Maryland second in the nation in technology preparedness and first in the nation for human capital investment. 

To ensure that every Maryland child receives a world class education, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has made an historic $5.3 billion investment in K-12 education, including $741 million for school construction and renovation so Maryland’s students are not housed in temporary trailers or crumbling classrooms. The O’Malley-Brown Administration also froze state college tuition for a third consecutive year so higher education is accessible to more Maryland families. 

Baltimore City has received $93.7 million in school construction funds, a 312% increase compared to the previous administration.  In FY 2009, Leith Walk Elementary/Middle School received $1.9 million and Carver Vocational Technical High School received $10.5 million of those funds. 

Leith Walk Elementary/Middle School, located in Northeast Baltimore, is renovating the 75,223 square foot facility to accommodate the growing student population with $23 million in state aid.  The completed facility will house 1,550 students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade.  The project replaces six modular, temporary learning shacks.  The newly renovated elementary school, and the addition of the new middle school wing will feature naturally lit classrooms, remotely monitored energy efficient heating and cooling systems, integrated stormwater management, high speed data connections, smartboards, and state-of-the art audio visual equipment in every classroom.  This is the first significant renovation since the school was built in the 1950s. 

Carver Vocational Technical School, a joint college preparatory high school and career technology center, was founded in 1925 and is a city-wide competitive co-ed academic institution.  Carver trains thousands of students who serve Maryland in leadership, entrepreneurial, government and technical trade roles.  The curriculum at Carver includes English, Science and Mathematics, in addition to two years of a foreign language and courses specifically tailored for their career technology program.  Career technology programs available to students include Business Management and Finance, Design Technology/CAD, Cosmetology, Early Childhood Education/Child Care, CISCO Networking, Food and Beverage Management, Graphic Design and Printing, Construction, Carpentry, Electrical Construction, and Masonry.  Over $27 million in State school construction funds will help transform Carver into a fully modernized, state of-the-art facility capable of holding 1,300 students, with classrooms clustered according to the career-technology education programs offered.

In addition to the historic investments for schools across the State, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has:

  • Provided funding for the Geographic Cost of Education Index for the first time;
  • Established the first-ever Higher Education Trust Fund to stabilize tuition costs for families;
  • Increased aid for community colleges by 9% and invested a record $150 million over the last two years in better facilities at community colleges around our State; and
  • Created the SEED School – Maryland’s first statewide public boarding school.

 

 

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