EDUCATION:
**WCNAACP supports every child reading by the first grade, mastery by the third grade.
Therefore we oppose current trending policies that hold back students in the third grade who
fail standardized tests in reading, math, etc. Furthermore, we advocate for reading proficiency
by the end of the first grade in an effort to promote early literacy building interventions in pre-K through third grade that would make retention unnecessary.
**Common Core State Standards
High quality common standards could ensure that all students have access to high-quality
educational content, supports, and opportunities that research demonstrates are essential to
ensure post-secondary success.
High quality common standards could allow parents and caregivers to more effectively
assess their children’s progress and compare their children’s education with the education of children in other communities, states and nations.
States must be held accountable for making sure that a set of common standards are the starting point and not the “end” for effective education of students.
Finally, the WCNAACP support Standard Core Curriculum and Assessment measures that take into consideration all students ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds in delivering education
services.
Support Maryland School Board of Education Proposed Regulations to Change
Discipline Suspension/Expulsion Policies: Pass legislation to enact new school discipline
regulations that will encourage a positive school climate that holds kids accountable,
maintain an environment for learning, and keeps more students in the classroom. Use
more restorative techniques that are less punitive for minor violations, limit use of
long-term out-of-school suspensions and expulsions: and mandate faster decision-making
timelines that keeps students in school and actively learning as much as possible.
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE:
WCNAACP support raising the Maryland minimum wage. Maryland’s minimum wage is
currently just $7.25 per hour. We urge you to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 by 2015.
Use the federal legislation (H.R.1010/S.460) as your guideline. Nineteen states-and the
neighboring District of Columbia-have minimum wages that are higher than $7.25 per
hour.
