MEDIA ADVISORY - October 12, 2000
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Contacts: |
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Kathleen Boucher |
Tina Bjarekull |
Commission
on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence to Hold
Public
Hearings in Five 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 five
regions of the State during November to allow the citizens of Maryland to
comment on a draft of the Commission's recommendations for the 2000 interim.
The recommendations will be released in late October. In reflecting on the
first round of public hearings that took place this past July, Dr. Thornton
said, "The hearings were extremely helpful in setting a direction for the
Commission. The Commission sincerely hopes that citizens will continue to
participate in this important process."
Dr. Thornton said, "The Commission believes its recommendations for the
2000 interim address some of the major concerns expressed by the public during
the initial set of hearings." In addition, Dr. Thornton stated that the
Commission's recommendations are consistent with the goal of ensuring equity in
the education funding system. Following the hearings, the Commission will
finalize its interim report and submit its proposals to the Governor and the
Maryland General Assembly for consideration during the 2001 General Assembly
session.
Dr. Thornton also said the Commission will continue its work during the 2001
interim "in order to give due time to all the important issues required by
the Commission's statutory charge." The 27-member Commission, which was
established by legislation in 1999, is charged with reviewing current education
funding 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
school 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. Dr. Thornton said the Commission
will be paying particular attention to the issue of adequacy during the 2001
interim.
Regional Public Hearings
Locations and Dates
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Date |
Location |
Time |
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Thursday, November 2, 2000 |
Towson State University |
7:00 p.m. |
|
Wednesday, November 8, 2000 |
College of Southern Maryland |
7:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday, November 9, 2000 |
Salisbury State University |
7:00 p.m. |
|
Monday, November 13, 2000 |
Allegany College of Maryland |
7:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday, November 16, 2000 |
Bowie State University |
7:00 p.m. |
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 will
also be available at hearing sites one hour before each hearing. At the
discretion of the chairman, individual testimony at the 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, 90 State Circle, Room
214, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401. Written testimony may also be submitted by e-mail
to Education_Commission@mlis.state.md.us.
Additional information about the Commission and its work can be found on-line at www.mlis.state.md.us (under "Other Documents").