Deborah Bailey
Especially for AFRO
Responding to pressure from education supporters and members of the Maryland General Assembly, Gov. Larry Hogan sent an additional request for funding of $ 139.9 million to the state budget for fiscal year 2023 to fully fund the education reform plan for the future Maryland state (Kirwan Commission).
Much of Hogan’s request for additional education funding, $ 125.5 million, is clearly earmarked for the Baltimore City ($ 99 million) and Prince George County ($ 26.5 million) school systems.
An additional $ 125.5 million for K-12 education was part of a larger additional budget request of $ 480 million announced by Hogan this week.
Senator Corey W. McCray (D-Baltimore), chairman of the Baltimore Senate delegation, said Hogan is committed to providing a budget that includes full funding for the Kirvan Commission reforms, which particularly affects high-poverty school districts.
“The $ 99 million redistribution to Baltimore City is a profound recovery step in the right direction. Thank you to all the defenders who raised their voices in silence, putting pressure on Governor Hogan to make the right decision in the additional budget, “McCray said in a statement.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Adrienne Jones thanked delegates Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore), Chair of the Baltimore City House Delegation, Nick Charles (Prince George County) and Maggie Mackintosh (D-Baltimore), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. remaining vigilant in his propaganda on behalf of Baltimore City and the Prince George Schools.
“I am pleased to announce that the governor has restored $ 99 million for Baltimore City, $ 26.5 million for Pr. George’s Co. and fully funded Blueprint, ”Jones tweeted.
While Hogan’s initial budget for fiscal year 2023 of $ 58.2 billion, submitted to the Maryland General Assembly in January, included $ 8.15 billion in funding for K-12 education, it did not include additional funding to implement Blueprint’s reforms Baltimore City and Prince George County, the systems with the highest concentration. poverty. The plan for the future of Maryland is called at the national level “education reform K-12” based on the recommendations of the Kirwan Commission, established by the General Assembly of Maryland in 2016. State lawmakers have passed a law funding the Commission’s recommendations in 2021. Hogan initially vetoed legislation that says Maryland cannot afford the effort, but the General Assembly overcame Hogan’s veto by outlining a funding plan to improve K-12 services, introduce universal pre-schooling and expand family support programs.
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