Coalition in Maryland Celebrates Progress Towards Ensuring Full Funding for Education

Advocates in Maryland celebrated this week as a bill removing a controversial "trigger provision" from the "Thornton Plan" became law. The bill guarantees full funding of the recommendations made by the Maryland Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence ("Thornton Commission") in 2002. The Thornton Plan, acting on research and the recommendations of two costing-out studies, created a modern, standards-based, cost-based finance system and recommended a $1.3 billion annual increase in education funding, which the legislature enacted into law to be phased in over six years.

The "trigger provision" allowed legislators to decide by the 50th day of 2004 if the state had enough money to fully fund the Thornton Plan, and then to reduce the state's fiscal commitment to the plan if resources were not available. The bill, passed by the Legislature and neither signed nor vetoed by the governor, removes this provision. The Legislature's vote, according to Bebe Verdery, of the ACLU of Maryland, reaffirms its commitment to provide full funding for the Thornton Plan.

The Coalition for Public School Funding, composed of school-based associations, Advocates for Children and Youth, institutional members, such as the ACLU of Maryland, the Maryland Association of Boards of Education, the Public School Superintendents Association, the Maryland State Teacher's Association, the Maryland PTA, and others, had recently rejuvenated its efforts to advocate for full funding of the Thornton Plan. In addition to petition campaigns, the Coalition recently organized a large rally attended by an estimated 8,000 educators, parents, advocacy groups, and students.

Although advocates are hopeful that the passing of this bill will ensure full funding of Thornton, they will continue to defend the Thornton Plan from further revisions that are currently being considered. The Legislature will soon consider other proposals, which include the spreading-out of state contributions to the Thornton Plan over time to alleviate the state's funding burden and allow additional time for revenue generation. Further proposals recommend the relaxation of certain provisions, such as the requirement for all-day kindergarten.

The governor's proposed budget includes the third year of Thornton funding, yet legislators must now consider possible revenue sources to generate sufficient funding for future years. Several have proposed raising taxes, while the governor has suggested placing slot machines at race tracks and cutting the budgets of other programs and social services.

Prepared March 10, 2004