Elementary school students take a standardized test in this file photo. (Photo by Will and Deni McIntyre/Getty Stock Photo)
Every time Maryland’s budget woes make headlines, the same tired scapegoat gets dragged out: the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which is Maryland’s plan and funding system for public education. State spokespeople and some media outlets keep repeating that our fiscal challenges stem from “too much spending on education.” It’s an easy line. It’s also wrong—and it ignores what cuts would mean for kids, families, and entire school communities.
When someone says we should “cut the Blueprint,” they aren’t talking about trimming a line on a spreadsheet. The Blueprint is not a separate program. It is the state’s commitment to public schools. They are talking about eliminating legally required services for children: fewer reading specialists, counselors, tutors, college and career pathways, and fewer supports for the students who need them most. Stripping money from the Blueprint means taking resources out of public schools, classrooms, and communities. It’s not abstract. It’s kids who pay…