I attended a meeting before the last rally and it was dominated by schools that have after schools programs run by Child First. It was obvious that the main concern was that BCPSS would cut funding to their program if the state cut finding to BCPSS. The edu-pimps had the audience believing it was their right to have state funding. Seemed to me that the expense was something those parents should have been willing to pickup rather that beg the state to do it.

This time it seems to be lead by TFA and the Baltimore Charter School Network. I think I see astroturfing here in Baltimore.

You would think that something like "Rally in Annapolis to demand full Thorton funding!" would be non-controversial (among teachers, students and parents) and uniting. OTT shows that you would be wrong thinking this. It seems it's more important to make jabs against political opponents than to unite and demand what we all know is just.

Sad really...

If everyone who reads this blog and cares about City Schools would call or write to their state officials and demand full funding it would be bound to show that this budget cut won't go through without a fight. That has to be seen as a good thing, doesn't it?

@AP so if the dozens of people who read and respond to this blog make a call, can you would really expect change? This is a political ploy at its worst. The dooms day budget scenario is put out only to garner a newsworthy reaction. The question should be why did he put it out there? Hasn't he done this before? Is it only to get people riled up, have them load buses to Annapolis, to have him later reverse course and become their savior. No it not political, its reality. The movement is being played and corrupted. I also believe there are other local options instead of running hat in hand to others every time there is a "crisis".

Dear OTT:
Evidently your sad cynicism knows no bounds. The Thornton law funding formula was changed, costing City Schools about $71 million. In Baltimore City, enrollment has increased for three straight years, the dropout rate and suspension rate has decreased substantially, 81 percent of the money is controlled by each school, and parents and students have more choice with a menu of options from traditional schools, charter and transformation (grades 6-12) schools to alternative programs. By every measure, both within the state (MSA's and HSA's) and nationally (NAEP scores), Baltimore City students are improving in greater numbers and at a pace that leads all urban districts in the United States. Yet you cling to old prejudices and notions about what used to be. Smell the roses, wake up, and be a part of the success story being written every day here in Baltimore.

@SoSR-
Cynicism is the right word. That and political machinations. I've never seen a place that was more reminiscent of a Kafka's novel's description of bureaucracy than walking through the bowels of North Ave. about five years ago. I guess those were the "good old days" as far as OTT is concerned. For bureaucrats who wanted to while away the days doing little and changing nothing, all these initiatives are an unmitigated disaster. To individual students and families it's a much more mixed bag. When taken on the aggregate it is impossible not to see the positive direction the system is going in.

It just goes to prove that perception is all relative.

@ SoSR - first explain how it went from $15 million to $71 million.

Your POV is not universal. We have heard from teachers on the enrollment "surge" and many agree that FSF has not been properly hashed out yet. As far as the testing, I will give praise to the teachers and students for that BUT let’s not celebrate being the best of the worst just yet? There is still a way to go.

What the current "supporters" lack is a sense of HISTORY. Reform has been going on in some form or fashion for decades. This is a “been there done that” moment. Maybe I am scarred because I was involved in 1997 when the then Mayor was forced to make our children wards of the state. So I get a little peeved when asked to go to the taskmaster to beg for more rather than wresting control away from them.

Finally, the success you see comes at a price. It’s nice to hang your hat on Thornton but it was flawed from its inception and has been misused since its implementation. Full funding of Thornton gets BCPSS to zero with little for advancement. Under the current reform efforts, the already too small pie of education resources in Baltimore is being cut into increasing smaller pieces thereby leaving everyone wanting except the few who have never experienced the hunger.

What I am hopeful about is that the current Mayor, unlike her predecessors has skin in this game and if she stays true, will suffer some of the frustrations that many of Baltimore parents suffer. Then and only then will we have a city government that pays more than lip service to the plight of our public school students.