PreK-12 Education
Action Plan
High quality equitable public education is of critical importance to our City, to our nation, and most of all, to our children.
And indeed, it was of critical importance to me as a child. From kindergarten through graduation from City College, I proudly attended Baltimore City Public Schools. My sister is a special education teacher in the City schools, my mother has spent her career advocating for arts education in public schools, and my father, through his service on the City and State school boards and philanthropic role, has long supported educational initiatives.
When I finished my high school education, I was well prepared for college, for a career, and for life. I can personally attest to the many high quality teachers working day in and day out in City schools throughout Baltimore. These teachers – and the many strong principals, administrators, support staff and parents who encourage them, and give them the support to become life-changing teachers – are the foundation and the future of City Schools.
Through research, we know more than ever about how kids learn, and the ways in which a whole education is essential for developing the sorts of skills necessary for a diverse and engaged workforce for a knowledge based economy. Moreover, at a time when our democracy is under threat, public education is critical for the future of our country.
And yet, as a nation, State and City, we are falling far short of this mark. Across the City, our children are deprived of foundational skills in reading and math, knowledge of science and history, as well as creative and character building opportunities presented by the arts, physical education, and foreign languages.
As a member of the House of Delegates, I will work for the funding and education opportunities that our children in Baltimore City Schools are owed.
The recent Blueprint legislation provides an important substantial funding increase, and is creating an accountability process for ongoing improvement. It also for the first time recognizes the impact of concentrations of poverty on our students and provides supplemental funding for schools in which the majority of students live in poverty.
Going forward we must fight to make sure full funding is in the budget every year, work with teachers, principals, advocates and parents to make sure that accountability metrics and data are accessible, fair and clear so that adjustments can be made as necessary.
To increase education funding, I will:
Work in Annapolis to ensure that the State provides adequate funding so that all City Schools can comply with State regulations in the arts, foreign languages, physical education and other critical disciplines.
Fight for equity, specifically the compensatory education dollars that City Schools are owed to counter the devastation of cycles of concentrated poverty and segregation and decreasing population.
Advocate for ongoing City and State support of the 21st Century Buildings program supplemented by the Built to Learn Act, as well as maintenance of school buildings, many of which are outdated.
Support salaries for teachers and support staff at levels that allow our schools to continue to attract and retain the expertise and talent necessary for a world-class educational system.
To enhance community and family engagement with our schools, I will:
Establish regular discussions with District 43 students, parents, educators, and education advocates to better reflect their priorities as a legislator.
Commit to providing transparent reporting of state budget data so parents and communities know if their schools are operating with adequate and equitable resources.
Work with constituents to identify and support innovative education programs through partnerships with public agencies and the private sector.
To support and implement key policies for excellence in our schools I will work at the City and State levels to:
Address the COVID gap caused by inconsistencies in instruction delivered virtually and in person through proven strategies such as learning acceleration.
Invest in community schools.
Support public charter schools that work.
Support effective STEM education for Baltimore’s future.
Recognize the importance of arts education and the education of the whole child.
Provide special education programs that enable all children to achieve at their highest levels.
Expand early college, college preparation, and career training opportunities for students.
To advance opportunities for families and children in early childhood development, I will:
Advocate for the expansion of access to full day pre-kindergarten and early childhood care programs.
Work to ensure that early childhood education and child care programs are parent and family focused so that parents can access the best options for their children and be supported in their own roles in the children’s development.
To support our youth after and out of school, I will seek to maximize State and other support to:
Expand access to enriching after school programs.
Invest in programs that provide opportunities for skill building student employment during the summer.
Provide a safety net for those who drop out of the system.
I invite you to consider this platform to bring equity and excellence to our schools in Baltimore. Please contact me at embryfordelegate@gmail.com with your thoughts and comments. We have to join together to drive the reforms that provide the next generation of this City and State the education they deserve.
— Elizabeth Embry