Legislators on Blueprint for Maryland’s Future

Salisbury, Md. – Conversations over the the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future continue throughout the state as districts try to meet their required investments this fall.

The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, passed in 2021, increases state funding for public schools over the course of 10 years, focusing on bolstering early education, increasing teachers salaries, improving students’ college readiness and more.

As schools try to meet the $60,000 a year teacher salary mandated by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, State Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R – District 38) says most of the school districts on the Lower Shore are on track.

“Looks like all the school systems, including the three counties that I represent, are either on track or have achieved that goal. I know Somerset County is still working through some issues but is on track to meet that,” she said.

Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (D – District 37A) says while the Blueprint is a “hot topic,” she says funding is especially important for young children so that their families are able to work while the children are in a safe environment.

“What happens is when their funding is cut, that’s a trickle down effect,” Sample-Hughes said. “If it affects the child who may not be getting the services that they may need, and affects the families that maybe need to show up to work, but they have their child in a safe environment, educational environment.”

However, Carozza, who serves on the state’s Education, Energy and the Environment Committee, argues school districts should be able to have more flexibility on how they’re able to invest in their schools, saying a trade off might be balancing out in other areas.

“It could be possibly in some school systems are talking about larger class sizes,” she said. “I’m not sure if that’s beneficial to students. So we have to find this balance.”