"Maryland achieved an odd distinction last week. It was rated by Education Week magazine as having the top education system in the nation for the second year in a row. And it was ranked by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools as having the worst charter school law in the country. It would be easy to dismiss the report by the charter schools advocacy group -- after all, if we're No. 1, why bother with charter schools? But the truth is that even if we are as good as Education Week says we are, that's not good enough, and the details of the rankings reveal weaknesses that will prevent our children from competing fully in the global economy for years to come.
It's clear from Education Week's analysis that some of the policy decisions Maryland has made have paid off. State schools chief Nancy S. Grasmick has long focused on early childhood education, and that helps boost Maryland's ranking. The relatively small number of school districts in Maryland helps reduce funding inequities, and the massive infusion of state schools spending through the Thornton formula puts the state near the top in financial support for education."
It's clear from Education Week's analysis that some of the policy decisions Maryland has made have paid off. State schools chief Nancy S. Grasmick has long focused on early childhood education, and that helps boost Maryland's ranking. The relatively small number of school districts in Maryland helps reduce funding inequities, and the massive infusion of state schools spending through the Thornton formula puts the state near the top in financial support for education."