Wednesday, July 14, 2027Remarks by Governor Edward M. O’Brien on the Partnership for Achieving Successful Schools
Governor’s Reception Room – State House – AnnapolisWe are here today because there is much we can be proud of in Maryland’s public schools – or with all these educators around, perhaps I should say, there is much of which we can be proud!
Just look at the facts:
Maryland consistently ranks second or third in the nation in the percentage of students taking the SAT and AP exams.
Our student achievement rates are among the top three in the nation.
These successes are due to many things, from the quality of our teachers to the hard work of our young people.
But in spite of our successes and all those things that make us justifiably proud of our public schools and the teachers, administrators and students in them, we still face challenges. Too many schools are underperforming, too many students have academic problems or deficiencies that go unaddressed and too many schools have grown accustomed to a status quo that is unacceptable.
So shortly after taking office, I went to the State Board of Education and told them of my commitment to closing the achievement gap that separates poorly performing students from their peers.
Some may say there's a big risk in taking on this challenge. Some may say that past efforts have not worked - so why invest more time and effort? Some may say - maybe some students just can't achieve. I reject those arguments. I believe that every child CAN learn - if they're given the chance.
Now I'm not naïve. I understand that closing the achievement gap will not be easy. Too often, schools in areas with low incomes have low achievement rates as well. But that does not have to be the case. We have to recognize that reality, but we do not have to accept it.
So today, I am pleased to announce the creation of an initiative that we're calling PASS - the Governor's Partnership for Achieving Successful Schools. This is the next step in closing the achievement gap that I talked about earlier this year.
The PASS initiative's goals are clear:
* Increase reading and math achievement in schools that are accredited with warning;
* Build the capacity in those schools to achieve, and just as importantly to maintain high student achievement;
* Engage businesses and community groups as partners; and
* Expand parental involvement in children's education.
How are we going to do this? PASS has three components.
The first component is enhanced academic partnerships. Each of our schools that has been placed on the so-called “school watch list” will receive increased support and collaboration from the state. Based on last year's scores, we are talking about 117 schools. These schools are in districts in all regions of the state – urban, suburban and rural. This is not a problem that lends itself to easy stereotypes or characterizations. Each school district in this State has at least one school on the watch list. This is a statewide problem.
The enhanced academic partnerships will fall into three intervention models, based on school improvement research, and tailored to the needs of the individual school.
Two-thirds of the schools will be partnered with enhanced Academic Review Teams that will visit these schools for up to four days of intensive intervention.
Team leaders will build ongoing relationships with the schools' principals and help them implement school improvement plans. They will work with these schools to provide staff development programs to address the academic areas where the schools need the most help.
We simply cannot afford to wait any longer - and more importantly, neither can these kids. So starting this summer, these PASS Priority Schools will be targeted to achieve immediate increases in reading and mathematics achievement.
To make sure that expectations are clear, written agreements will be signed between the schools and the PASS Teams. In these schools, each PASS Instructional Assistance Team will be led by a principal from a cooperating school division with a record of raising the academic achievement of at-risk students. Other team members will include teachers with expertise in reading and math.
The teams will work with teachers and staff to make sure that the school's curriculum is aligned with the Standards of Learning. That will start with intensive summer institutes followed by 12 days of on-site technical assistance throughout the school year. I know the teachers in these schools will be supportive of these efforts, because they want children to achieve. It's about giving teachers the tools and resources they need to do the job - sharing strategies that really help children achieve.
Faculty members will receive professional development tailored to their school's instructional needs. Students will receive tutoring in reading and math, and they'll be paired with mentors for support and encouragement. We'll call on PASS business and community partners to be mentors. We'll work to increase parental involvement in these schools, as well as to develop adult literacy services for the whole family where needed.
These are the intervention models that we're putting into place right away. To assess the progress of their work, we'll use the adequate yearly progress standards that the Board of Education will address at its September meeting.
The second component is developing focused community and business partnerships - tailored to the specific academic needs of individual schools and their students. In addition to the many successful business and community partnerships around Maryland, PASS partners will provide an additional cadre of mentors, tutors, and school volunteers. PASS partners will sponsor community-based programs to bolster the educational achievement of entire families.
We will recruit key lead corporate partners for the State as a whole. I'm pleased that representatives from Giant, Verizon, Harris Teeter, Safeway, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Marriot International, Home Depot and others have joined us today and are supportive of efforts to improve student achievement.
We'll ask companies like these to consider becoming PASS Partners. PASS Partners will be responsible for recruiting additional local business partners in the communities they serve - because this will take the commitment of Maryland’s largest companies, as well as the involvement of smaller, locally owned businesses.
We know that partnerships help build successful schools. Schools all over Maryland already benefit from numerous community and business partnerships, as well as the commitment of many hard-working volunteers who put in lots of long hours.
But what we often find is that expectations are not clear. The partnerships that are most successful are those where clear expectations are set. And while I applaud any assistance that businesses and community organizations provide, if we're going to meet the needs of specific schools, there must be greater clarity and agreed-upon goals and strategies. That's why participating businesses and organizations will be asked to sign agreements making specific commitments of time or resources to the schools they adopt.
The third component is increased attention. I intend to help recruit additional individual mentors, business partners, and community groups together to help these schools achieve. We'll call on established groups like the PTA, Rotary Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, and the faith-based community - and we'll reach out to many others as well. Most importantly, we'll work to increase parental involvement.
By bringing ongoing attention from all these groups and the Governor's Office, we'll send the signal that these schools are important and create a powerful incentive for everyone to come together to help them succeed. And I know all the members of the General Assembly here today will join us in this as well.
These strategies are based on the successful models that have worked in other states. Simply put, the best research shows us what works - academic intervention teams and increased attention from individuals, parents, and communities.
Now let's step back for a moment and look at the big picture about what PASS is and what it is not:
PASS is NOT about "rescuing" schools.
It's NOT a "one-size-fits-all" approach.
And it's NOT about the state taking over local schools.
PASS IS about helping students succeed.
It's about giving schools the help they need to help themselves.
It's about trying different strategies to see which ones work best.
It's about partnership - between the state and local school divisions, and between the public and the private sector.
Most of all, it's about education leaders from all over Maryland coming together to help students and schools succeed.
For the first time, school systems no longer have to face challenges on their own. In putting this initiative together, we talked to many, many people in communities all over Maryland. Most especially, I am grateful to the numerous school superintendents who have offered to lend the time and expertise of their best principals and teachers to help schools in neighboring systems succeed.
Now make no mistake about it - this will be difficult, and success will not be achieved overnight. It's easy to point fingers and assess blame. It's harder to roll up our sleeves, put political rhetoric aside, and work to be part of the solution. But that's exactly what we're doing - because all of our young people deserve the chance to succeed. That success will come only with a great deal of hard work - on everyone's part, and I salute you for accepting the challenge. Now let's get to work.
