AFT-Maryland | AFT Stateweb

Hogan budget cuts $35.5 million from Baltimore City Schools

When Larry Hogan announced the details for his first budget as Maryland governor last week, the state’s teachers and parents were shocked to learn that among his biggest cuts were to Education. Baltimore City Public Schools in particular were singled out for the biggest hit, losing $35.5 million, or nearly 4% of the aid they normally rely on from the state.

While City Schools CEO Gregory Thornton has not yet announced how the schools system will handle this cut, union officials are worried that the governor’s budget will result in job losses for teachers and educational support staff

Charter School Law change unnecessary

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"26638","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","height":"725","style":"width: 25%; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 3px; float: right;","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"600"}}]]Is changing state law regarding charter schools a solution in search of a problem? AFT-Maryland and BTU President Marietta English responds in a Baltimore Sun Op-Ed:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-charters-atf-20150126-story.html.

Statement on the Inauguration of Gov. Larry Hogan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 22, 2015

Contact: Ray Baker, (410) 764-3030

Baltimore, MD - AFT-Maryland President, Marietta English, has released the following statement on the occasion of the inauguration of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan:

"I commend and congratulate Mr. Hogan on being sworn-in as Maryland's 62nd governor. The entire AFT-Maryland family looks forward to working with the governor on a range of issues including providing the best schools and teachers for Maryland families as well as ensuring fair wages and benefits for the state employees that make Maryland work.
I also want to thank

Lobby Night in Annapolis: Feb. 9, 2015

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"26622","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","style":"width: 25%; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 2px; float: right;","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]The 2015 Maryland Legislative Session is under way, and AFT-Maryland is launching its legislative agenda early in the session, bringing the issues that support Maryland workers and their families to the attention of the Maryland General Assembly.

Join AFT-Maryland as we visit Maryland's elected leaders and make the case for workplace safety, equitable education funding, protecting due process rights for teachers, and legislation for corporations to pay their fair share of taxes.

Hogan Inauguration Today, Budget Concerns Tomorrow

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"26620","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","height":"358","style":"width: 33%; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 2px; float: right;","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"477"}}]]Larry Hogan will shed the “Governor-Elect” title later today and be sworn in as the 62nd Governor of Maryland. While his inauguration speech is expected to address a general direction and plans for the next four years in office—particularly in regard to private-sector growth and across-the-board tax cuts—many are looking with greater anticipation and anxiety as Hogan announces his budget plans this coming Friday. In specific, public sector and education workers are concerned with how Hogan will make up a $760 million budget deficit.

Legislative Session Begins January 14th

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"26536","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","style":"width: 30%; float: right;","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]Following a tumultuous election season which saw a reshuffling of the makeup of the state legislature and Governor’s mansion, union leaders are anticipating a challenging legislative session—especially for public school teachers and staff, as well as state employees—set to begin today, January 14^th.

While Governor-elect Larry Hogan has been mum on specific legislation he wishes to pass and budget decisions he plans to make, most foresee possible cuts to education in key jurisdictions like Baltimore City, as well as a loosening of the restrictions placed on charter school management, as key legislative battles looming in Annapolis over the next 90 days.