O’Malley/Brown Release Proposal to Retain Best Teachers in Maryland

Baltimore, MD (August 18, 2006) – Martin O’Malley announced a new proposal today to help keep Maryland’s best teachers in the state and improve student achievement. Speaking before an assembly of new Baltimore City school teachers, O’Malley announced that as Governor he would implement a “Teacher Working Condition� survey that would give teachers a direct voice to provide feedback on the quality of their teaching environments and allow leaders to identify areas where improvement is needed.

“The greatest factor in the quality of education our children receive is the quality of the teacher in their classroom,� said O’Malley. “By giving teachers an opportunity to be directly involved in shaping their learning environment, we can keep the best teachers in Maryland and improve student achievement.�

A similar proposal enacted in North Carolina by Governor Mike Easley has demonstrated direct links between working conditions of teachers and student achievement. (See http://www.northcarolinatwc.org/ for additional information about North Carolina’s effort.)

“While other states have moved forward on improving working conditions for teachers, Maryland is falling behind,� added O’Malley. “With new ideas Maryland can do better to help keep the best teachers in our state.�

In 2004, The General Assembly passed legislation to create a task force to study teacher working conditions. But the measure was vetoed by Bob Ehrlich.

O’Malley’s three-point proposal, which is attached, would:

  • Make the Teacher Working Conditions Survey a Part of the State Budget. An O’Malley-Brown administration will propose to the General Assembly a bill to seek teachers’ direct input every two years on issues pertaining to the quality of school leadership, professional development, administrative support, and facility conditions.

  • Enact Immediate Policies to Address Survey Results. Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown will draw upon the nationally recognized CitiStat model to deploy necessary resources in a timely and efficient manner based on actual survey data. Based on actual teacher survey data, Governor Easley in North Carolina enacted programs to: a) create evaluation tools for school principals, b) fund school-based professional services, c) allow teachers to have greater input into their professional development opportunities, and; d) direct facility-improvement funds to schools that need them the most.

  • Continue to Refine Efforts through Evaluation. Through the use of survey data and relentless follow-up on the program needs identified through the TWC’s, the O’Malley-Brown administration will be able to measure the effectiveness of each educational initiative, which will allow it to spend tax-payer funds in the most effective, efficient manner possible.

For more information on Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown’s new ideas for progress please visit www.martinomalley.com.

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Friends of Martin O’Malley – 2400 Boston Street, Suite 203 – Baltimore, MD 21221 – 410-814-4206 – fax: 410-814-4218

Authority: Friends of Martin O’Malley, Martin F. Cadogan, Treasurer