Maryland plans to spend $16.6 billion through 2029, along with billions more after that, to improve its public schools. But will it work? State legislators created a seven-member oversight board to ensure it would. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, an education law passed in 2021, aims to boost student performance and education quality throughout Maryland schools. However, local jurisdictions are concerned about the feasibility of implementing this unfunded plan to meet aggressive deadlines under a slow flow of information; all the while facing a statewide teacher shortage.
Competitiveness: While the lofty intentions of the Blueprint are admirable, legislative leaders have placed Maryland’s economic future and competitiveness in jeopardy by irresponsibly passing legislation without a dedicated funding source. Now, this legislation is largely to blame for the state’s extensive budget deficit that will inevitably harm jobs, businesses and communities.
