2022 Fulfilling Maryland’s Promise of a Thorough and Efficient Education Symposium
On Wednesday, April 27th from 9:00-2:00 PM, the Nobody Asked Me campaign, which works to elevate student, family and community voice in Baltimore City, will be featured at Johns Hopkins School of Education’s Fulfilling Maryland’s Promise of a Thorough and Efficient Education Symposium. After two years of community engagement, campaign team members will discuss their findings and reveal policy recommendations, co-produced by students, parents, community members and experts, that empower communities to create effective and positive change. Participating attendees will help break down silos and open lines of communication between youth, community advocacy leaders, academic experts, Baltimore City and Schools leadership, as well as Maryland state representatives.
At 1:10 PM, Kwane Wyatt and Ruth Farfel, both authors of our NOT IN SERVICE report, will partake in a panel discussion, alongside other advocates and researchers, to discuss policy recommendations developed by the campaign’s transportation workgroup and share findings and recommendations from the Fund’s 2021 NOT IN SERVICE report. Registrants may attend the event in person or tune in virtually.
Interested in advancing transit equity? Check out the Fund’s NOT IN SERVICE webpage for immediate actions you can take to get involved in transportation advocacy: https://ffee.org/not-in-service/
Share Some Love for a School Staff Member
Given how challenging the past two years have been for everyone, the Heart of the Schools recently spoke to Baltimore City Public Schools staff in several schools to identify additional supports we could provide to help the broader school community. One of the things we heard most clearly from school staff was their desire to hear positive messages from their peers, students, parents and communities. Building on what we’ve done for principals in the past (PrinciPALentines, beginning- and end-of-year messages, sharing Heart of the School Award nominations), and in alignment with what school staff requested, we are running Share Some Love campaigns for schools.
Visit heartoftheschools.org/sharesomelove to write a heartfelt message to a school staff member. All notes will be shared with the person you select before the end of the school year. In order to prepare the designed notes, please submit your messages by May 6th! If your school isn’t listed, reach out to your principal and ask them to opt in to this campaign!
Share Some Love for School Staff Here
Maryland Gubernatorial Transportation Forum Recap
On Wednesday, April 20th, Bikemore in Action, Transit Choices, Central Maryland Transportation Alliance and The Real News Network hosted the Maryland Gubernatorial Transportation Forum. Participating candidates Rushern Baker, Peter Franchot, John King and Tom Perez were given the opportunity to share their positions, vision, and plans to improve Maryland’s transportation system with attendees. During the forum, candidates were asked specifically what they would do to ensure that MTA service meets the unique needs of Baltimore City Public School students: listen to their responses here.
Prior to the event, each candidate was asked to complete a transit questionnaire. The questionnaire responses can be viewed here: Candidate Questionnaire Response Booklet. Responses from gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore, who was unable to participate in the forum, are also included.
The Fund for Educational Excellence is proud to have been a supporting partner for this event alongside Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition, Maryland League of Conservation Voters, the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Transform Maryland Transportation Coalition.
Of Note:
Additional insights, updates and resources:
- Congratulations to the ten semi-finalists for the 2022 City Schools Teacher of the Year! See them all, here.
- Have a vision for what Baltimore City Public Schools should be? Applications will open for the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners through May 6th. Apply, here.
- Informed by parents, Learning Heroes’ new report Unlocking the “How” provides educators, district leaders, and others with tangible proven family engagement strategies. Read the report, here.
- The Baltimore Young Families Success Fund (BYFSF) aims to address income inequality and combat the economic fallout from COVID-19 by providing payments to parents who have been hit hardest in Baltimore City. Learn more, here.