Coming on the heels of an excellent report by Liz Bowie (my comments here) noting that the state's most successful schools have several things in common, including quality teachers, strong pricipals, focused curricula and extra-curricular activities, the Editors think that money will make sure all schools will perform at such levels.
I am not advocating that the legislature simply not fund the schools, not at all. But instead of focusing so much time and money on an issue we have apparently solved, that is what makes a school effective, it would seem a much better use of time and money to figure out what other schools don't have those features. As Bowie's report shows, successful schools are not dependent on the race or socio-economic status of the students. So what is standing in the way? Like bureaucratic tangles, poor teacher preparation and recruiting and lack of leadership all along the chain, including the General Assembly.
I think the Thorton plan should be scrapped and the General Assembly should focus on getting school systems to emulate best practices by withholding funds unless a plan is put in place to show how it will hire better quality teachers, improve the skills and knowledge of principals, upgrade curricula and all those other factors that seem so correlated with success. Future appropriations should be contingent on the implementation of those plans. If, as the Sun Editors note:
successful schools in and near Baltimore confirms that many of the most essential contributing elements are very basic and not very mysterious, starting with quality teaching and strong leadership from principals. Since so much is known about what makes a school successful, the issue is ensuring that every public school in Maryland works well for students, then it seems that a legislative stick and carrot need to be employed.
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