How to Spend School Money? Start with the Bathrooms.
Earlier this month, the General Assembly approved a financing plan for the first phase of a 10-year, $2.4 billion project to upgrade Baltimore city’s deteriorating schools. Now, officials at some of...
View ArticleBaltimore Schools Lose $23 Million in Federal Funding
The first public hearing on Baltimore city schools’ $1.3 billion budget takes place tonight before the school board of commissioners. With fewer federal dollars available for the 2013-2014 school year,...
View Article'Right time' to resign, says Alonso
Dr. Andrés Alonso is stepping down as Baltimore city schools CEO on June 30. At a press conference today, Alonso said he is moving to New Jersey to assist with the care of his elderly parents. He has...
View ArticleGetting To School Is Harder Than You Think
More than 17,000 Baltimore students miss 20 or more days of school a year. Many of these chronically absent students and their parents say transportation is a major reason for their absences. That’s...
View ArticleBaltimore Teachers Struggle To Keep Chronically Absent Students On Track
Nearly a quarter of Baltimore city’s public school students are considered chronically absent. They miss more than 20 days of school every year. And that puts added pressure on teachers to bring those...
View ArticleChronic Absenteeism In Baltimore—A Look At The Numbers
Chronic absenteeism—missing 20 days or more of school in a year—dropped in Baltimore city last year, but only by about 2 percent. This graph compares school years 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012,...
View ArticleScience On Wheels
Classes ended a week early for one popular Baltimore County school program. The Mobile Agriculture Science Laboratory closed up shop Friday at Ridgely Middle School in Lutherville after making stops at...
View ArticleTeacher Group Calls For End To Pay-For-Performance
Only 11 percent of Baltimore city teachers would vote for their current contract again, according to a survey released today. Contract negotiations are currently underway between district school...
View ArticleSchool's Out, But Teachers Not Resting For Summer
School’s out. And that means most students are concentrating on the freedom that summer vacation brings. But they aren’t the only ones ready for fun and travel. Many teachers have their own plans for...
View ArticleFifth Graders Take On The War of 1812
Patterson Park Public Charter School fifth graders spent their school year learning about the War of 1812, inside and outside the classroom. And yesterday they were rewarded for their efforts with the...
View ArticleStudents Pay To Clean Up City Schools
Some Baltimore city schools got mini facelifts this week—courtesy of nearly 200 volunteers from Catholic Heart Workcamp. The faith-based, non-profit organization sends more than 13,000 youths across...
View ArticleMaryland Educators Get Educated On Common Core
The much talked about Common Core State Standards for grades K through 12 are designed to make students think more critically and abstractedly in reading/English/language arts and math. The goal is to...
View ArticleFor The Love of Science
While many students are enjoying a break from the books this summer, four Baltimore city youths are spending their time working on complex experiments in labs at Johns Hopkins University. The students...
View ArticleCity Grade Changing Allegations May Alter District-Wide Policies
Baltimore school officials say the investigation of grade changing at a district middle school may lead to a revamping in how grades are handled. The investigation was prompted by allegations of dozens...
View ArticleIn City Schools, Climate Change Is Not About the Weather
Another installment in our year-long series Empty Desks: The Effects of Chronic AbsenteeismWith more than 17,000 Baltimore students missing more than 20 days of school last year, it is no surprise that...
View ArticleCommon Core: Coming To A School Near You
In a little more than a week, local schools will be opening their doors for the start of a new year and a new curriculum. This school year marks the full implementation of the Common Core State...
View ArticleNo Picture ID, No Entrance At Baltimore County Schools
With the shooting that marred Perry Hall High School’s opening day last year still fresh in their memories, Baltimore County school officials have spent nearly $4 million to upgrade the district’s...
View ArticleMs. Miller's Classroom, Established 2013
The first day of school can be a working definition of chaos: everyone needing directions, projectors that don’t work, balky computers, students looking for supplies and parents trying to decipher an...
View ArticleDr. C. T. Vivian Honored During Anniversary Week
During the 50th anniversary celebrations of the 1963 March on Washington, speakers often told of those who worked hard, but didn’t get the recognition they deserved. The Rev. Al Sharpton, an organizer...
View ArticleHead Start Benefits From State Response To Sequestration
The state’s Head Start program got a much needed funding boost yesterday. State officials approved $4.1 million for Head Start, making up for the $5 million in federal dollars lost this school year...
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