MABE's legislative priorities for the 2008 Regular Session include:
Full funding for the “Thornton” Bridge to Excellence Act in FY 2009 and beyond
Supports fully funding the levels of state aid for public education mandated by the Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act.
Supports fully funding the Geographic Cost of Education Index (GCEI), which would significantly increase state aid to certain school systems based on a cost index.
Supports sustaining a robust level of state aid to support Maryland’s standards-based school finance system, recognizing the significant costs of implementing new standards such as the High School Assessment (HSA) graduation requirement and the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
Opposes any reduction in the full amount of funding required by the Bridge to Excellence Act in FY 2009 and beyond, including the inflation factor needed to maintain adequate and equitable funding throughout Maryland’s 24 local school systems. MABE also opposes any shift in funding of teacher retirement from the state to the counties.
School Construction funding at the level sufficient to support school facility needs across the state
Supports a state funding level of at least $400 million for school construction and renovation projects for FY 2009.
Supports the state and local investments needed to address the findings of the Task Force to Study Public School Facilities, created by the Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act of 2002.
The School Facilities Task Force surveyed statewide school facilities needs and focused on 31 minimum standards deemed essential for complying with current federal and state facility requirements. The Task Force found that statewide facility needs totaled nearly $4 billion, representing failures to meet basic standards as well as costs to address student capacity. The Task Force recommendations were included in the School Facilities Act of 2004, and funding has increased from $250 million to $400 million—an amount we should strive to sustain.
Continued support of the General Assembly and Governor for local governance of public schools
Local Control
Supports continued autonomy for all local boards to adopt education policies that promote high standards for academic and fiscal accountability.
Unfunded Mandates
Opposes any legislative initiatives that have the effect of reducing local board authority or which create unfunded mandates.
Charter School Improvements
Supports local control and authority over public charter schools.
Supports amendments to the Public Charter School Act to more clearly define the amount of funding local school systems must provide to charter school operators.
Opposes amendments to the Public Charter School Act which would diminish the local board's role as primary chartering authority or otherwise weaken the Act's accountability requirements.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
2007-2008 LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
2008 LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS (Word)
Legislative Committee Calendar - Unless noted, all MABE Legislative Committee meetings are held in the MABE office, from 10:00 A.M. to Noon.
| MABE's Legislative Committee Meeting Calendar |
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| April 21, 2008 – Session Summary |
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Past meetings and materials:
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- January 14, 2008
10:00 a.m. to Noon
Meeting Materials
- Agenda
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2008 Session Bill Testimony
House Bills
House Bill 15 - Task Force on Classroom Indoor Air Quality Standards (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 21 - Education - Compulsory Attendance - Age of
Withdrawal (SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS) (Word)
House Bill 49 - Education - Maryland High School Assessment Test Results (SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS) (Word)
House Bill 119 - Education - Reporting Requirement – Class Size (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 121 - Education - Special Education Services - Children in a
Home School Setting (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 139 - Education - Multiple Student Suspensions - Services and Actions Required (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 169 - Education - Children in Informal Kinship Care Relationships (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 185 - Parental Choice Scholarship Program (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 186 - Great Schools Tax Credit Program (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 188 - Smart Start Scholarship Program (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 192 - Education - State Board of Education Members –
Qualifications (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 199 - Public Schools - Bullying and Cyber-Bullying - Policy and
Disciplinary Standards (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 206 - Education - Student Bullying - State and School Policy (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 285 - Education - Truancy Rates - Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support Programs and Behavior Modification Programs (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 367 - Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation –
Consolidation of Workforce Development Functions – Transfer of Adult Education and Literacy Services and Education Programs for Correctional Facilities (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 349 - State Government - Open Meetings - Votes of a Public Body (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 472 - State Retirement and Pension System - Imposition of
Administrative Fees on Employers (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 480 - State Retirement and Pension System - Unused Sick
Leave – Creditable Service (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 503 - Bryan Moore Student Health and Fitness Act (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 519 - Public High Schools - Graduation Requirements - Weighted
Numerical Assessment System (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 520 - Education - High School Assessment Requirement (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 523 - Criminal Law - Third Degree Sexual Offense –
Person in a Position of Authority (SUPPORT) (Word)
House Bill 546 - Local Boards of Education - Harassment and Intimidation in
Schools (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 592 - Education - Student Behavior Interventions –
Use of Time Out, Restraint, and Seclusion (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 596 - County Boards of Education - Procurement of Green
Product Cleaning Supplies (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 613 - Education - Maryland Education Fund –
Establishment and Funding (SUPPORT) (Word)
House Bill 616 - Public Schools - Children with Anaphylactic
Allergies - Reduction of Risk (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 641 - Teachers' Pension System - Ineligible
Positions – Transferring Membership (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 652 - Education - Public School Employees - Criminal
Convictions (SUPPORT) (Word)
House Bill 732 - Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation - School Policy (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 738 - State Aid for Education - Full-Time Equivalent
Enrollment – Calculation (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 760 - Public Schools - Interscholastic Sports Teams –
Participation at Another School (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 808 - Business Regulation - Stationary Engineers - Boilers
(SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS) (Word)
House Bill 808 - Business Regulation - Stationary Engineers - Boilers
(SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS) (Word)
House Bill 812 - Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers
(BOAST) in Maryland Tax Credit (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 837 - Classroom Placement - Multiple Birth Children –
Parental Discretion (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 841 - Public Secondary Schools - Fall Sports Season - Practice Sessions (OPPOSE)- Senate version (Word)
House Bill 893 - Education - Character Education Fund (SUPPORT) (Word)
House Bill 920 - Education - Student Who Is a Victim of Violent Crime –
Option to Require Offender to Change Schools (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 953 - High School Dropouts - Alternative Education Programs
and GED Requirements (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 970 - Procurement - Prevailing Wage (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 1099 - Task Force to Increase the Enrollment of Students in
Medicaid and the Maryland Children's Health Program (SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENT) (Word)
House Bill 1122 - Income Tax - Subtraction Modification and Tax
Credit for Dependent Care Expenses - Ineligibility (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 1148 - Public School Vending Machines - Nutritional Foods and
Beverages (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 1158 - Safe Schools Reporting Act (SUPPORT) (Word)
House Bill 1158 - Safe Schools Reporting Act (SUPPORT)- Senate version (Word)
House Bill 1209 - Safe Schools Reporting Act of 2005 - Sunset Repeal (SUPPORT)- Senate version - (Word)
House Bill 1249 - Public Schools - Classes and Extracurricular
Activities – Home-Schooled Students (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 1271 - State Board of Education - Development of Curriculum
Content - Financial Literacy (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 1319 - Early Childhood Education - Children in Military Families
POSITION: SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS (Word)
House Bill 1346 - Education - Student Health and Nutrition –
School Programs and Policies (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 1396 - Public High Schools - Safety Education Program –
Self-Defense Training (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 1411 - Fitness and Athletics Equity for Students with
Disabilities Act (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 1421 - Education - High School Diploma - GED Options Program (OPPOSE) (Word)
House Bill 1518 - Education - Collective Bargaining - Public School Labor
Relations Board (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bills
Senate Bill 50 -
Education - Special Education Services - Children in a Home School Setting (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 50 - Education - Special Education Services - Children in a Home School Setting (OPPOSE) - House version (Word)
Senate Bill 77 - Education - Children in Informal Kinship Care
Relationships (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 77 - Education - Children in Informal Kinship Care
Relationships (OPPOSE) (Word) - House version (4/1/2008)
Senate Bill 96 - Education - Truancy Rates - Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support
Programs and Behavior Modification Programs (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 203 - Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation –
Consolidation of Workforce Development Functions – Transfer of Adult Education and Literacy Services and
Education Programs for Correctional Facilities (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 203 - Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation –
Consolidation of Workforce Development Functions – Transfer of Adult Education and Literacy Services and Education Programs for Correctional Facilities (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 229 - Education - Classroom Instruction Expenditures - Required
Funding (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 264 - High School Dropouts - Alternative Education Programs
and GED Requirements (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 264 - High School Dropouts - Alternative Education Programs
and GED Requirements (OPPOSE) - House version (Word)
Senate Bill 373 - Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers
(BOAST) in Maryland Tax Credit (OPPOSE) (Word) - Vote "NO" Flyer
Senate Bill 373 - Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers
(BOAST) in Maryland Tax Credit (OPPOSE)- House version - (Word)
(Other Advocacy materials - MABE Memo, Public v. Private School Performance Study Highlights, Tuition Tax Credit Chapter of
NSBA's Voucher Handbook)
Senate Bill 375 - State Retirement and Pension System - Imposition of
Administrative Fees on Employers (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 376 - State Retirement and Pension System - Unused Sick
Leave – Creditable Service (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 428 - Education - Military Recruiters - Student Contact
Information - Opportunity to Opt Out (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 436 - Education - Age of Compulsory Attendance - Exemptions (SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS) (Word)
Senate Bill 436 - Education - Age of Compulsory Attendance - Exemptions (SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS)- House version (Word)
Senate Bill 447 - Education - High School Diploma - GED Options Program (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 487 - Teachers' Pension System - Ineligible Positions – Transferring Membership (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 519 - Education - Student Who Is a Victim of Violent Crime –
Option to Require Offender to Change Schools (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 582 - Multiple Suspensions (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 622 -
Business Regulation - Stationary Engineers - Boilers (SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS) (Word)
Senate Bill 622 - Business Regulation - Stationary Engineers - Boilers (SUPPORT)- House version (Word)
Senate Bill 714 - State Board of Education - Development of Curriculum
Content - Financial Literacy (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 740 - Criminal Law - Third Degree Sexual Offense –
Person in a Position of Authority (SUPPORT) (Word)
Senate Bill 787 - Education - High School Assessment Requirement (OPPOSE) (Word)
SB 824 - Education - Alcohol and Drug Testing for Pupils in Public or Private Schools (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 849 - Fitness and Athletics Equity for Students with Disabilities Act (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 850 - Education - Collective Bargaining - Public School Labor
Relations Board (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 912 - Early Childhood Education - Children in Military Families
(SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS) (Word)
Senate Bill 933 - Public High Schools - Graduation Requirements - Weighted
Numerical Assessment System (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 955 - Bryan Moore Student Health and Fitness Act (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 958 - Procurement - Prevailing Wage (OPPOSE) (Word)
Senate Bill 998 - Education - Maryland Education Fund –
Establishment and Funding (SUPPORT) (Word)
Special Session Bill Testimony
Budget Reconciliation Act - Amendments Handout and Funding Table
HB 1/SB1 - Budget Reconciliation Act - Support with Amendments (Outline of the Amendments)
HB 1 - House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on Proposed Reducations in Mandated Education Funding - Oppose
HB 10 - Public School Construction Act of 2008 - Support
HB 49 - GCEI Funding (Reduced Amount) - Oppose
HB 50 - State Retirement and Pension System - Employer Contributiuons - Educators and Educational Staff - Oppose
Special Session Testimony & Correspondence
MABE's Testimony on the Freeze on the Implicit Price Deflator (10/30/2007) (PDF) or (Word)
Governor's Testimony on the Budget Reconciliation Act - Including Education Funding
Superintendents Association Testimony on the Implicit Price Deflator (10/30/2007)
MABE's Letter to Governor O' Malley (10/22/2007)
Archives - Bill Testimony
2007 Session Testimony (and archives of prior sessions)
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
General Assembly Links
General Assembly Website
Roster with links to office websites, emails and telephone numbers
Session Calendar
Fiscal Note Instructions (PDF)
Background Materials
2007 Issue Paper on K-12 Education
Legislative Handbook Series (2006-2010) - K-12 Education Section
Links to Legislators
Find your Legislators
Contact your Legislators
Rosters for the Senate and House of Delegates (including updated 2007 committee assignments)
MABE Archives - 2007 Session Testimony and 2007 Session Summary (Word)
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Weekly Federal Highlights |
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WEEKLY FEDERAL HIGHLIGHTS
IN THIS ISSUE - May 22, 2008
*FY 2009 Funding for Education
This week, the House and Senate began consideration of a conference report for the Fiscal Year 2009 congressional budget resolution, which would establish overall funding levels for education and other domestic programs. The House-Senate conference agreement calls for an overall budget of approximately $3 trillion for FY2009, and would provide $94.3 billion for education and related programs. The proposed allocation of $94.3 billion is $8.4 billion more than the President’s budget request for education, training, employment and social services programs.
The proposed budget conference agreement also includes a number of “reserve funds” that would provide guidance, or a sense of Congress, for a number of issues important to schools, including infrastructure investments for school repairs and modernization, teacher quality, county payments legislation (the “Secure Rural Schools” Act), continued school-based Medicaid reimbursement and expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
According to House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-SC-5), “the agreement makes education and innovation investments that will generate economic growth and jobs, make college more affordable, improve student achievement, and …invests in our nation’s infrastructure – repairing crumbling roads, bridges, transit, airports, and schools.”
The House and Senate are expected to resume consideration of the conference agreement the week of June 2, after Congress’ Memorial Day recess. The next steps include the House and Senate Appropriations Committees crafting legislation that would establish funding levels for individual programs including Title I, special education, teacher quality, etc.
For FY 2009, NSBA continues to advocate for increases of $2.5 billion for Title I grants for disadvantaged students and $2.5 billion for IDEA/special education--the two major programs that benefit a majority of districts. NSBA also urges Congress to reject proposed cuts/eliminations to other programs such as vocational education and education technology, and to reject any private school voucher proposals (such as the Pell Grants for Kids Plan; Washington, D.C. pilot voucher program; and conversion of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program into a voucher experiment).
*FY 2008 Supplemental Appropriations
Today, the Senate voted 75-22 to include funding for domestic priorities in the FY2008 supplemental appropriations bill (H.R. 2642). Along with funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the bill also includes two provisions important to school districts: $400 million in additional funding for the “Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act” and an extension of the current moratorium allowing continued school-based Medicaid reimbursement.
Many thanks to those of you who contacted your senators today!
Both programs are set to expire this June if the Senate’s provisions are not enacted in a final bill. Hence, the fiscal impact on many school district budgets would be significant if the programs are not extended.
The “Secure Rural Schools” Act currently provides $229 million to more than 600 rural counties and 4,400 school districts in 42 states as federal payments-in-lieu-of-taxes to jurisdictions with federal forest lands.
Under the Medicaid program, schools are reimbursed for related functions (such as administration and transportation) provided as part of healthcare services for students. Last year, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced the implementation of a rule to cut Medicaid reimbursements to schools. Congress then passed a moratorium that was enacted to delay implementation of the Medicaid regulations until June 30, 2008. The Senate’s amendment to H.R. 2642 would extend the current moratorium until April 2009 to allow continued school-based Medicaid reimbursement.
The Senate’s roll call for the vote to add provisions for domestic programs in the FY08 supplemental is available here: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00137
The House is expected to vote on the Senate’s amendment to H.R. 2642 the week of June 2. NSBA will provide updates and further action alerts as needed.
FEDERAL LINKS & RESOURCES
NSBA
Federal Relations Network (FRN)
Thomas: Congressional Bill Status and
Information
FIND & CONTACT YOUR U.S. SENATORS
AND REPRESENTATIVES
THE
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT (NCLB)
THE
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA)
For
more information, please contact: John
R. Woolums, Director
of Governmental Relations, (410) 841-5414, (800) 841-8197.
