Back to School in Baltimore

August 31, 2009

 

Good morning and thank you Principal Colbert for your introduction.

These are difficult economic times. Maryland faces some of the same challenges that other states do: unemployment is up (though not as high here as in other parts of the country), wages are down, state revenues are declining. And if you read the newspapers last week, the national downturn has forced Governor O’Malley and me to make some very difficult choices.

But despite the challenges we face, we made a promise to improve public education across the state. And we’ve done that. Since taking office, we’ve gone from the fifth best school system in 2007, to the third best in 2008 to the best in 2009. We lead the nation in AP participation and performance. And 83 of our state’s high schools rank among the nation’s 1,000 public high schools.

It’s more important now than ever – especially during tough times – that we continue to make the investments that have created these results. So, this year we’re investing $5.5 billion in K-12 education and fully-funding the GCEI.

We’ve invested over $1 billion in school construction during three challenging years; $178 million more than the previous administration invested during four much more prosperous years.

So, as another school year begins, I am personally looking forward to seeing this years’ students outperform last year’s. Principal Colbert, faculty and staff, and the students at Dunbar, across Baltimore and throughout Maryland – I send you all my best wishes for another successful year.

And with that, it’s my pleasure to introduce our “Education Governor,” Governor Martin O’Malley.

 

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