Closing the gap.

Abstract

From the beginning of its work, the Commission has been focused on addressing the needs of students who are falling behind – and who are being left behind – by the current education system. Every student in Maryland should have access to educational experiences and opportunities that enable them to reach their full potential and be ready for success in college and a rewarding career by the end of high school. This is a fundamental premise of the Commission’s recommendations. Unfortunately, Maryland is a long way from achieving this goal. The Commission learned that student performance gaps based on race, income, and learning disabilities, among other student subpopulations, persist. And once a student falls behind, it is even harder for them to get back on track to success. As in other states, too many Maryland students who fall behind are identified as requiring special education services, which is a label that too often permanently sets lower expectations for these students. In Maryland, about 12.5% of public school students receive special education services compared to less than half that amount in the top performing systems in the world.