Governor O'Malley Addresses Maryland State Teachers Association Annual Convention
ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 17, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley addressed attendees of the Maryland State Teachers Association (MSTA) Annual Convention today, focusing on the progress achieved by Maryland’s children, and the continued investment in education despite difficult economic times. Noting significant improvements in MSA scores statewide over the last few years, Governor O’Malley congratulated the teachers on their progress, and thanked them for their dedication.
“Our shared destiny as a people has brought us to our own cutting edge of history, and from this vantage point, we can see a very strong future across the horizon,” said Governor O’Malley. “In every corner of our One Maryland, we see this great potential in the eyes of our children and in the dreams of their parents, who want so desperately to leave their kids with a better world than the one we inherited.”
Governor O’Malley cited historic education investments made over the last two years as evidence that the O’Malley-Brown administration is committed to protecting the shared priorities of Maryland’s future. In spite of difficult economic times, a record $5.3 billion, including $741 million in school construction, has been invested in K-12 education.
Over the past two years, the O’Malley-Brown administration has made strides to strengthen education throughout Maryland, including the creation of the P-20 Council bringing together the efforts of education professionals from kindergarten through graduate school in a more coordinated, cogent, and comprehensive way. In addition, a renewed emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), as well as Career and Technology Education (CTE) calls for the preparation of every student for the needs of a modern workforce.
“We’re protecting these important priorities together and we believe that in so-doing, we are positioning ourselves to climb out of this national economic downturn more quickly than other States,” said Governor O’Malley. “At the end of the day, the strength of our economy is interwoven with the strength of our workforce and the strength of our public schools. It’s no coincidence that Forbes magazine says we have one of the nation’s three most highly skilled workforces, and Education Week says, thanks to all of you, that we have one of the nation’s three best public school systems.”
Governor O’Malley also addressed the budget implications for education, in light of the FY2009 budget reductions this week, and expected revenue shortfalls of FY2010. Noting the importance of identifying new revenue in order to meet the funding mandates for education, Governor O’Malley urged support for the upcoming slots referendum, endorsed by the MSTA, which would pump more than $660 million in education funding alone by FY2012.
“This is one of the most taxpayer-friendly referendums of its kind anywhere in America and a large percentage of the revenues go right to public education,” said Governor O’Malley. “We continue exporting revenues to other states, and we find ourselves having to figure out how to close budget holes in a state budget where 80 percent of our funding goes to education, health, and public safety.”
