This week in Annapolis:

Alongside our Fair Funding coalition partners, 8 bills were heard in the House Ways & Means Committee that would fix our tax code and help generate millions to fund our schools. Political Director, Poetri Deal testified in support of House Bill 256 and House Bill 295.

House Of Delegates Passed House Bill 1- Build to Learn. This legislation authorizes the Maryland Stadium Authority to issue up to $2.2 billion in revenue bonds and would support a possible public-private partnership (P3) agreement for Prince George’s County. It also establishes a new special fund and mandate for the highest priority school facilities. 

Sponsors in the House and Senate introduced HB1300/SB1000 the “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future” bill to implement the commission’s recommendations on Friday. The proposed legislation would expand pre-kindergarten programs and career education for high schoolers, increase pay and career opportunities for teachers, and increase state funding for schools with high concentrations of poverty.

The reforms require an increase in annual state education spending of $2.8 billion over the next decade and an increase in county-level funding of $1.2 billion during that time. Due to the additional spending requirements that Prince George’s County is expected to pay- legislative leaders are developing a funding formula amendment to be introduced in a few weeks.

A joint hearing on The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future by the House Appropriations and Ways and Means committees, and the Senate’s Budget and Taxation and Education, Health and Environmental Affairs committees, is scheduled for Monday at 12 noon.

Upcoming events:

Rally for Kirwan: January 17th at 10:00 in the lobby of The House Office Building. Hearing on Kirwan Legislation is at 12.

PGCEA Education Lobby Day: February 24th 5:30-8:00 P.M in the Anne Arundel County Delegation Room.

Please stay abreast with news coming from Annapolis by signing up for the MSEA Newsfeed .

Sign up for February 24th, Educator Day at the Capitol in Annapolis by clicking here.

As a courtesy, we are resending this announcement as courtesy to remind you and/or in case you did not receive the communication that the Maryland State Education Association sent you on Monday, January 27 ^th .  The 2020 Election for the Maryland State Education Association and the Prince George's County Educators Association 2020 Election. Election-America is the service provider for these elections.

In addition to the MSEA races, the PGCEA 2020 Election has races for the PGCEA Treasurer (1 seat); PGCEA Board of Directors - Members at Large (4 seats); NEA Delegates (42 seats), and MSEA Delegates (136 seats).

Before you vote, you can read the 2020 PGCEA General Election Guide and view the PGCEA Candidate Speeches

To vote in the election, please follow these instructions:

The election closes at 5:00 pm EST on February 21, 2020.

For technical assistance with the voting process, please contact Election-America at [email protected] .

It’s your profession and your association—now it’s time to make sure your voice advocates for both.

Time is a precious gift; give some of your time to yourself and someone maybe you’ve been neglecting.

Listening is an art form when done well; so listen carefully and caringly before responding to a stress situation or someone you have been avoiding.

Plan a quiet time for yourself to reflect on who and what you care about; more over how you will appreciate that more.

My personal favorite; snuggle up and read to yourself or someone.

Remember; Breathe and Be Wonderful.

 

‘One day there will be no borders, no boundaries, no flags and no countries and the only passport will be the heart’ …… Carlos Santana

We recognize the importance of an accurate census count to ensuring that all our students and their families get the federal support they need. Every 10 years, the federal government aims to provide a complete count of EVERY person residing in the United States. Census numbers help determine the formulas for critical funding for our public schools, social programs, and infrastructure that make our communities thrive.

CLASSROOM SIZE? WHAT SHOULD IT BE?

Each year educators are plagued with unreasonable class sizes that negatively impact teaching and learning. PGCPS and PGCEA have formed a Joint Task Force to establish a mutually agreeable upon measure of class size. Your honest feedback and input is needed to effectuate change that will positively impact teaching and learning. This is an anonymous survey.



Prince George’s County Six Pillars of Community Schools 

Prince George's County Community Schools:

A community school is a community hub — both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development and community engagement leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. Community schools offer a personalized curriculum that emphasizes real-world learning and community problem-solving. Schools become centers of the community and are open to everyone — all day, every day, evenings and weekends.