June 16, 2000

Dear Interested Party:

The enclosed press release announces public hearings to be held by the Maryland Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence in four regions of the State in July 2000. I strongly encourage you to participate in the hearings in order to ensure that your views are known to the Commission. The Commission is making an effort to ensure that all perspectives regarding education finance, equity, and excellence are considered during its deliberations and ultimate decision-making.

If you have any questions about the upcoming hearings or the work of the Commission, please contact Kathleen Boucher at the Department of Legislative Services (410-946-5530 or 301-970-5530) or Renee Spence at the Maryland State Department of Education (410-767-0469).

Sincerely,
Alvin C. Thornton
Chairman

ACT/KMB/kjw
Enclosure (1)

cc: Members, Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence
Governor Parris N. Glendening
President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.
Speaker Casper R. Taylor, Jr.

MEDIA ADVISORY - JUNE 16, 2000

CONTACTS:

COMMISSION ON EDUCATION FINANCE, EQUITY, AND EXCELLENCE
TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS IN FOUR REGIONS OF MARYLAND

Dr. Alvin Thornton, Chairman of the Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence, announced today that public hearings will be held in four regions of the State during July to allow the Commission to gain insight from the citizens of Maryland regarding issues that relate to the manner in which the State currently finances and ensures equity and excellence in public elementary and secondary education. Dr. Thornton stressed that "the Commission is seeking to include the public's perspectives in its complex deliberations before addressing strategic choices that must be made in the course of completing the Commission's work."

Dr. Thornton noted that "the Commission's statutory charge is very broad." The 27-member Commission, which was established by legislation in 1999, is charged with reviewing current education financing formulas and accountability measures and making recommendations for: (1) ensuring adequacy of funding for students in public schools; (2) ensuring equity in funding for students in public schools; (3) ensuring excellence in schools systems and student performance; (4) providing for a smooth transition when current educational funding initiatives sunset at the end of fiscal 2002; (5) analyzing whether it is more effective to provide additional State aid in the form of targeted grants or by increasing funding through the base formula; and (6) ensuring that local property tax policies do not affect the equitable allocation of funding for students in public schools.

The Commission seeks to obtain specific input from the public as to how the current financing system can be improved so as to further the goals of equity, adequacy, and accountability. In order to focus the public hearings on salient issues, the Commission intends to develop a list of questions that speakers should address at the hearings. These questions will be developed by the Commission at its next meeting on June 23, 2000, and distributed to the public immediately thereafter.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

The initial round of regional hearings in July is designed to secure individual and organizational comments about issues before the Commission prior to the issuance of the first draft of the Commission's findings and recommendations. The Commission will meet regularly throughout the summer and hold a second round of regional hearings in November after it issues the first draft of its findings and recommendations. The Commission will issue its final report to the Governor and General Assembly in December 2000. In the near future, Commission-related documents, including the Commission's schedule/workplan for the 2000 Interim, will be available on-line at www.mlis.state.md.us (under "Other Documents").

Speakers are encouraged to sign up to testify before the hearing by calling Kim Wilson or Judy Callahan at 410-946-5530 or 301-970-5530. Sign-up sheets also will be available at hearing sites one hour before each hearing. At the discretion of the Chairman, individual testimony at the public hearings may be limited to five (5) minutes or less. Speakers should submit fifty (50) copies of written testimony to the Commission's staff at the hearing. Individuals who would like to testify before the Commission, but are unable to attend a public hearing, may submit written testimony to Dr. Alvin Thornton care of the Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence, Room 214, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401. Written testimony may also be submitted via the Internet by sending e-mail to Education_Commission@mlis.state.md.us.