Ensuring school success

The Baltimore Sun

For those who think that educating children well is a complicated matter, an analysis by The Sun of successful schools in and near Baltimore confirms that many of the most essential contributing elements are very basic and not very mysterious, starting with quality teaching and strong leadership from principals. Since so much is known about what makes a school successful, the issue is ensuring that every public school in Maryland works well for students.

Reporter Liz Bowie examined schools with large percentages of students who are not only proficient but are considered advanced in math and reading, as measured by their scores on the latest annual state assessment. Many of the schools producing those high scorers are in more affluent suburban areas, particularly in Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Howard counties. But nearly half the pupils at George Washington Elementary School in Baltimore, who are mostly low-income and minority children, are performing at the advanced level, one of the best showings in the city.

Wherever they are located, successful schools usually have some common characteristics, including quality teachers, strong leadership, high expectations for students, smaller classes, focused curriculums, extracurricular activities and involved parents. But even in schools such as George Washington, with limited parental participation, quality teaching and strong school leadership can still make a tremendous difference.

Maryland's Department of Education has rightly concentrated on developing principals who can be effective educational leaders and a voluntary state curriculum that provides guidance to districts as to what students should know. But hiring good teachers and principals costs money, and with a looming $1.5 billion state budget deficit, local districts are not likely to get any additional help.

That makes it all the more critical for the state to at least honor its commitment to provide Thornton plan funds for the next school year. And school districts would be wise to use that money to ensure effective leadership, quality teaching and manageable class sizes in every school.

Copyright © 2021, The Baltimore Sun, a Baltimore Sun Media Group publication | Place an Ad
72°