MD: Minority Leadership Issues Statement on Calls for Increased Education Funding: BOOST Funding Cut by Appropriations

(ANNAPOLIS – March 12, 2019) – House Minority Leader Nic Kipke and House Minority Whip Kathy Szeliga released the following statement regarding calls for increases in education funding:

“Our Caucus believes every child deserves a quality education,” said House Minority Leader Nic Kipke. “When the historic Thornton Commission funding was passed in 2002, it was widely believed that what our schools needed was more funding. After more than a decade after Thornton, the achievement gap continues, and less than half of our students can pass assessments in English and math. Clearly, our students need more than funding. There must be accountability.”

“We cannot solve the problems in our education system without looking at every avenue to educate our students,” said House Minority Whip Kathy Szeliga. “Just last week, the Appropriations Committee cut funding for the BOOST program – a scholarship program awarded predominately to minority students allowing them to escape failing schools. If we are going to have a serious discussion about improving education for our children, no option should be taken off the table.”