Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

As a product of Montgomery County schools (Beall Elementary School, Julius West Middle School, and Richard Montgomery High School) and a father, Marc understands the importance of keeping Montgomery County schools among the best in the nation. Marc's goal will always be to make certain the schools serve his son and other County children as well as they served him. Montgomery County's brand is education. It is why many have decided to live here or base businesses here. We must make sure we continue to support and maintain this crown jewel of the County.

Marc will work to ensure Montgomery County schools will serve our children as well as they served him and past generations, fighting for the funding and support schools need to handle new challenges and keep them among the best in America. Over a quarter of school funding for the County comes from state aid. Marc will fight for Montgomery County's share of those funds, including for the Geographic Cost of Education Index (extra state funds dedicated to high cost areas like Montgomery County), programs to keep class size low, and contributions towards school construction. Our children deserve modern, clean, and spacious facilities and not cramped hallways and portable trailers.
The County schools as a whole are facing four major demographic shifts
More economically disadvantaged children are entering the system, with a third of students (approximately 50,000) receiving subsidized meals.
The school population is becoming more diverse, with approximately 15% of enrolled students in English as a second language programs.
More children are being diagnosed with special needs, requiring individualized education plans and other additional support services.
The entire school system is growing, from an enrollment of 114,000 students ten years ago to almost 150,000 students today and annual growth of 2,000 more students a year expected. In particular, District 16's school capacity constraints are severe as the growth in enrollment far surpasses the ability of our facilities to absorb the student population.
Each of these shifts must be responsibly handled and necessary resources must be provided to populations that need extra help. On school construction, Montgomery County must secure a special deal from the state similar to what other jurisdictions have received or program funding must accurately factor in size and growth when allocating dollars.

Marc knows our education obligations do not begin with elementary school or end with high school graduation.
Marc will work to support pre-K programs. Maryland currently has a program for economically disadvantaged four-year-olds to access this important service. Pre-K education has a beneficial effect on future educational development and this program needs to be strengthened.
Marc also recognizes that developing the best workforce in the nation and maintaining our economic prosperity means providing more opportunities for higher education in Maryland. Maryland has kept tuition growth low with low single digit percentage increases even during tough budget years. But more must be done to facilitate access to higher education and other post-high school programs for individual students who want to attend them.

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