Maryland stands on the threshold of a new era in the education of Maryland students as policymakers weigh their options for a new education formula. The Commission on Innovation & Excellence in Education, commonly referred to as the “Kirwan” Commission, is a 25-member body working to rewrite Maryland’s current education funding scheme.
The Commission has a heavy charge. They are responsible for reviewing and assessing “current education financing formulas and accountability measures, and how each local school system is spending its funds, including the increased State funds provided through the Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act (Chapter 288, Acts of 2002).” While the Commission released preliminary recommendations in January 2018 and hope to release their final report this fall, it was originally scheduled to be released in December 2016.
The interim recommendations for Maryland’s public education system are bold. But we must continue to push for Commissioners to use a race equity lens throughout each of the four working groups (listed below). The Maryland General Assembly will review the Commission’s recommendations and craft legislation to implement changes to the “Thornton formula” that, hopefully, will equitably support the needs of all Maryland children.
These 25 Commission members will shape education funding policy for the next generation of Maryland children. So, who are the “Kirwan” Commissioners?
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William E. (Brit) Kirwan, Ph.D. |
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David M. Steiner, Ph.D. Appointed by: Governor Dr. Steiner is Director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy and Professor of Education at Johns Hopkins University. |
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Scott Dorsey Appointed by: Governor Mr. Dorsey is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at Merritt Properties, LLC. |
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Senator Nancy J. King Appointed by: Senate President Thomas Miller, Jr. Nancy King is a Democratic State Senator representing District 39 in Montgomery County. She serves at the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Youth and Families. |
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Richard S. Madaleno, Jr. Appointed by: Senate President Thomas Miller, Jr. Rich Madaleno is a Democratic State Senator representing District 18 in Montgomery County. He serves on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. |
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Paul G. Pinsky Appointed by: Senate President Thomas Miller, Jr. Paul Pinksy is a Democratic State Senator representing District 22 in Prince George’s County. He currently sits on the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee. |
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Stephen M. Waugh Appointed by: Senate President Thomas Miller, Jr. Stephen Waugh is a Republican State Senator representing District 29 in Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties. He is a member of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee. |
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Kalman "Buzzy" Hettleman Appointed by: House Speaker Michael Busch “Buzzy” Hettleman is a former member of the Baltimore school board, former state human resources secretary, and advocate for children with disabilities. |
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Adrienne A. Jones Appointed by: House Speaker Michael Busch Adrienne Jones was a Democratic State Delegate when she was appointed. She is now the House Speaker, the first African-American female to serve in that position in Maryland. |
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Anne Kaiser Appointed by: House Speaker Michael Busch Anne Kaiser is a Democratic State Delegate representing the District 14 and serves on the Ways and Means Committee. She is Maryland's majority leader and the chair of the Montgomery County House Delegation. |
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Delegate Maggie McIntosh Appointed by: House Speaker Michael Busch Maggie McIntosh is a Democratic State Delegate representing District 43 in Baltimore City. She is the outgoing Chairman of the Environmental Matters Committee and incoming Chairman of the Appropriation Committee. She is also a former Baltimore City Public School teacher. |
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Alonzo T. Washington Appointed by: House Speaker Michael Busch Alonzo Washington is a Democratic State Delegate representing District 22 covering Prince George’s County and a member of the Ways and Means Committee. |
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Margaret E. Williams Appointed by: State Superintendent of Schools Margaret Williams is Executive Director of the Maryland Family Network. |
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Chester E. Finn, Jr., Ed.D. Appointed by: President, State Board of Education Chester Finn is a former professor of education, an educational policy analyst, and a former United States Assistant Secretary of Education. |
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David E. Helfman Appointed by: Executive Director, Maryland State Education Association David Helfman is the Executive Director of Maryland State Education Association (MSEA). |
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Morgan Showalter Appointed by: President, Baltimore Teachers Union Morgan Showalter is a high school special educator in the Baltimore City Public Schools and a member of the Baltimore Teachers Union. |
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Joy Schaefer Appointed by: Maryland Association of Boards of Education Joy Shaefer is a member of the Frederick County Public School Board, and immediate past president of Maryland Association of Boards of Education. |
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Dr. Karen Couch Appointed by: Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland Dr. Couch is Superintendent of Carroll County Public Schools and the replacement Kirwan Commissioner for Stephen Guthrie. |
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Leslie R. Pellegrino Appointed by: Association of School Business Officials Leslie Pellegrino is the Chief Financial Officer for Frederick County Public Schools. |
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Elizabeth Ysla Leight Appointed by: Maryland PTA Elizabeth Leight is the past President of the Maryland PTA and current Director of Government Relations and Legal Affairs at Society of Professional Benefit Administrators. |
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Craig Rice Appointed by: Executive Director, Maryland Association of Counties Craig Rice is a member of the Montgomery County Council. |
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William R. Valentine Appointed by: Executive Director, Maryland Association of Counties “Bill” Valentine is the outgoing Allegheny County Commissioner and a member of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACO). |
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David R. Brinkley Appointed by: Ex officio David R. Brinkley is the Secretary of Budget and Management for the state of Maryland, appointed by Governor Larry Hogan. |
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Karen B. Salmon, Ph.D. Appointed by: Ex officio Dr. Salmon is the State Superintendent of Schools. |
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Robert L. Caret, Ph.D. Appointed by: Ex officio Dr. Caret is the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland. |
WORKING GROUPS
Working Group 1: Early Childhood Education
Craig Rice (Moderator)
Margaret Williams
David Brinkley
Adrienne Jones
Nancy King
Leslie Pellegrino
Working Group 2: High Quality Teachers and Leaders
Paul Pinsky (Moderator)
David Helfman
Steve Guthrie/Karen Couch
David Steiner
Bill Valentine
Bob Caret
Working Group 3: College and Career Readiness Pathways
Chester Finn (Moderator)
Steve Waugh
Scott Dorsey
Anne Kaiser
Elizabeth Leight
Karen Salmon
CTE Subgroup – Salmon/Dorsey Co-moderators
Working Group 4: More Resources for At-risk Students
Joy Schaefer (Moderator)
Buzzy Hettleman
Richard Madaleno
Maggie McIntosh
Morgan Showalter
Alonzo Washington
Chairman Brit Kirwan floats among groups
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