Kirwan Recommendations

Policy Area 1: Early Childhood 

• Expand publicly funded full-day pre-K 

• Increase number of high-quality providers and staff – technical assistance, tuition assistance, training 

• Expand number of Family Support Centers and Judy Centers 

Policy Area 2: High-quality and Diverse Teachers and Leaders 

  • Increase rigor and standards for teacher preparation programs and entering the teaching profession (licensure) 

  • Improve teacher compensation to be comparable to other professions with similar education requirements 

  • Initial 10% salary increase to close gap with average teacher salaries in peer states 

  • Career ladder that enables teachers to remain in the classroom with increasing responsibilities and salary upon achieving National Board Certification 

  • Improve working conditions in schools to give classroom teachers time to during the school day to: 


Policy Area 3: College and Career Readiness (CCR)

  • Implement rigorous and aligned pre-K-12 curriculum that culminates in as many students as possible becoming college and career ready by the end of 10th grade – and nearly all by the end of high school 

  • Post-CCR pathways for CCR students in the 11th and 12th grades focused on by high school graduation: 

  • Earning early college credits via IB/AP and dual enrollment, even an associate degree/60 credits 

  • Redesigned career and technical education (CTE) pathways that lead to industry-recognized workforce credentials/apprenticeship at high school graduation 

  • For students who are not CCR by the end of 10th grade, different courses that allow students to master the material and graduate high school CCR 

  • Transitional Supplemental Instruction (TSI) provides funding based on 3rd graders who have not achieved proficiency in reading to provide intensive intervention services to get students back on track 

Policy Area 4: More Resources for Students Who Need Them 

• Providing significantly more support for students – and the schools they attend – who need it most 

  • New Concentration of Poverty School Grant 

  • Eligible schools with 55% or more students eligible for free and reduced-price meals (FRPM) 

  • Full-time community school coordinator and health care coverage 

  • Per pupil funds (in addition to compensatory education funds) for wraparound services 

  • Additional support for English learners 

  • Additional support for special education students to fully fund special education expenditures 

Policy Area 5: Accountability 

• Establish independent oversight board to monitor progress of State and local agencies in implementing the Commission’s policy recommendations with authority to require change 

• Sunsets after 10 years 

  • State and local implementation plans with metrics 

  • Expert review teams to visit schools and make recommendations if student achievement not improving 

  • Meaningful consequences for under performance 

  • Most funding (at least 75%) following students to their schools 

Source: Overview of the Maryland Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, Final Recommendations; Department of Legislative Services Office of Policy Analysis; Annapolis, Maryland; January 2020 

This is the link to the entire document.

https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5300/sc5339/000113/024200/024233/20200029e.pdf