Families & the Community

Md. School-Funding Rally Draws About 10,000

By David J. Hoff — February 18, 2004 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Thousands of protesters marched on the Maryland Capitol last week to support a plan to raise school funding in the state.

The Feb. 9 rally in Annapolis drew educators, school board members, and even some schoolchildren who back the 2-year-old effort to dramatically increase the K-12 budget and equalize spending across districts. Organizers of the evening event estimated that at least 10,000 attended.

The size of the crowd was larger than expected, according to Debra Williams-Garner, a spokeswoman for the Maryland State Teachers Association. The National Education Association affiliate co-sponsored the event with groups representing parent- teacher groups, school boards, and school administrators.

The size of the crowd “is a testament to the seriousness of the issue,” she said.

In 1994, Maryland legislators passed a law to increase annual education spending by $1.6 billion over six years. This year, lawmakers must pass a $382 million—or about 10 percent—increase to keep that promise on schedule.

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican who took office a year ago, has proposed funding that amount by opening video gaming at horse-racing tracks and other venues—a plan that failed to clear the legislature last year. The state teachers’ union recommends raising the sales tax 1 percentage point—from 5 percent to 6 percent.

Mr. Ehrlich promised not to raise taxes when he campaigned for governor in 2002, said Henry P. Fawell, a spokesman for the governor. “He’s got a $700 million-a-year plan to fund [education increases], and it’s a popular one, too,” Mr. Fawell said.

Service Credits

To give teachers and students time to attend the rally, the 137,000-student Prince George’s County, Md., schools closed early on Feb. 9. Other districts rented school buses to organizers to transport marchers.

Some high schools students who attended the rally earned community-service credits, which the state requires for graduation. State regulations allow districts to grant credits for political activities if students provide proof of attendance and write papers about the experience, according to Brian J. Porter, a spokesman for the 139,000-student Montgomery County, Md., district.

Events

Student Well-Being Webinar After-School Learning Top Priority: Academics or Fun?
Join our expert panel to discuss how after-school programs and schools can work together to help students recover from pandemic-related learning loss.
Budget & Finance Webinar Leverage New Funding Sources with Data-Informed Practices
Address the whole child using data-informed practices, gain valuable insights, and learn strategies that can benefit your district.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar
ChatGPT & Education: 8 Ways AI Improves Student Outcomes
Revolutionize student success! Don't miss our expert-led webinar demonstrating practical ways AI tools will elevate learning experiences.
Content provided by Inzata

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Families & the Community 3 Signs That Schools Are Sending the Wrong Message About Attendance
How schools communicate attendance policies can affect how parents report absences and whether students are motivated to show up.
3 min read
Empty desks within a classroom
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Families & the Community Some Students Are Less Likely to Have Absences Excused. Why That Matters for Schools
Schools' punitive responses to unexcused absences can be counterproductive, a new analysis suggests.
5 min read
Image of a conceptual dashboard that tracks attendance.
Polina Ekimova/iStock/Getty
Families & the Community Q&A How One High School Became a Model for Intergenerational Learning
School and community leaders say “there’s no down side.”
5 min read
Swampscott High School students and Senior Center members hold a quilt they made together for Black History Month at Swampscott High School, which is collocated and shares space with the senior center in Swampscott, Mass., on March 8, 2023.
Students and senior center members display a quilt they made together for Black History Month at Swampscott High School, in Swampscott, Mass, on March 8, 2023. The high school and senior center were designed and built to be part of the same complex, providing opportunities for teenagers and senior community members to collaborate and learn from one another.
Sophie Park for Education Week
Families & the Community A Town Put a Senior Center in Its High School, Offering a Model for an Aging Nation
When crowded classrooms pushed Swampscott, Mass., to consider building a new high school, some innovative thinkers saw another opportunity.
7 min read
A Swampscott Senior Center bus sits in front of an entrance to Swampscott High School, which is collocated and shares space with the senior center in Swampscott, Mass., on March 8, 2023. As America’s population ages and the number of school-aged children decrease, district and community leaders are finding ways to combine services and locations.
A Swampscott Senior Center bus sits in front of an entrance to Swampscott High School, which is collocated and shares space with the senior center in Swampscott, Mass., on March 8, 2023. As America’s population ages and the number of school-aged children decrease, district and community leaders are finding ways to combine services and locations.
Sophie Park for Education Week