Billions later, not much has changed

 Billions later, not much has changed

The State Department of Education released the test scores for the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP).  There was not much joy in Mudville, Blueprint, the mighty Blueprint had struck out.  After spending BILLIONS and projecting that there would be a 10% gain in MCAP test scores over two years, only a 3.3 percent gain was seen in the last two years.   And only 51.5% of the students were proficient in reading while math saw a proficiency rate of only 21.7%.   Proponents of the Blueprint say the problem in there was more work to be done and there now needs to be even more money spent.  Overall the Blueprint is supposed to increase education spending by 5.2 BILLION in the next several years.

For all the investment, the gaps between Black and Hispanic students and white kids have barely budged.  In Prince George’s County, a majority Black district, the English proficiency rate rose less than one percent to 38.9% and the math scores rose to a very sad 13.7% up from 13.1% the previous year.   

So, what’s wrong.   Well first of all a huge chunk of the money is going towards raising starting salaries for teachers, the rising tide will lift other salaries as well.  Problem is you raise the salary of a weak teacher and you get a better paid weak teacher not a better teacher.

Another hunk of the money is going to kindergarten and early childhood education.   Those benefits won’t be seen until the children get older and move up the grade levels.  This year Maryland is sending reading coaches into the schools to improve the teaching of reading.  This tactic was used in Mississippi for Dr. Wright’s original miracle.  MSDE will be asking the ’27 legislature for money to add math coaches.  

And finally, the best method of all when your current measures aren’t showing progress, change the measuring stick. Sure, enough Maryland will be ditching the MCAP tests for a new batch of tests.  Let’s hope these tests can measure better results.