Maryland Business
Roundtable for Education

About MBRT  .  Contact us   .  Vision & Mission   .   Leadership / Members / Committees

2010 Policy Statements   .   MBRT Strategic Plan    .   STEM Innovation .   Technology (TAB)

Achievement Counts Campaign components:

--- Maryland Scholars - Choices matter, courses matter

--- Speakers Bureau - Your voice matters (Sign up for 2009 program)

--- Parents Count - New messages of support for busy parents

--- Be What I Want To Be
---      the website ....... learn why students love this web resource
---      the magazine ... a one-of-kind magazine for teens

Membership / How To Get Involved

Products & Publications

Associates / Related Links

Leadership

Contact Us / Directions

Search

Media & Public Relations

STEM Innovation Network

The Daily Record
Innovator of the Year Award
September 2002

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Washington, DC Chapter
Silver Inkwell Award
September 2002

The Public Relations Society of America, National Capital Chapter
Thoth Award
September 2002

The Holmes Report
Top 100 Public Relations Programs of 2001
August 2002

The Public Relations Society of America, Maryland Chapter's
Best in Maryland Award for Public Service
June 2002

SABRE   Award
(Superior Achievement in Branding & Reputation)
May 2002

National Association of State Directors of Vocational Technical Education
Outstanding Contribution to Vocational Technical Education 2001

Gov. Glendening, State of Maryland
Governor's Citation  --  9/11/2001

Maryland State Teachers Association
Friend of Education  -- 1999

National Alliance of Business
State Business Coalition of the Year 1997 Distinguished Performance Award

MBRT's executive director has been recognized by:

Achievement Initiative for Maryland's Minority Students (AIMMS)
Nancy S. Grasmick Excellence for Minority Achievement Chair Award 2001

National Alliance of Business
Education Professional of the Year 2000

Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals
Outstanding Service 1999

Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals
Outstanding Service 1998

The Daily Record
Maryland's Top 100 Women 1998

What You Should Know About MBRT

Founded in 1992, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) is a coalition of more than 100 leading employers that have made a long-term commitment to support education reform and improve student achievement in Maryland.

MBRT works to achieve meaningful, measurable and systemic improvement in schools and student achievement.  We believe the keys to this improvement are high standards, rigorous assessments, and strong accountability.  We identify the most compelling educational issues that need to be addressed, and target our involvement where we can be most effective.  Our objectives are ambitious, but we are convinced that their achievement will result in a brighter future for Maryland -- its business, its citizens, and its children. More than 2,600 volunteers work with MBRT on efforts to ensure that Maryland students are well prepared to succeed in the 21st century.

MBRT supports - and works to preserve and improve - key elements of school reform through leadership changes in the legislature, the executive office, and State Board of Education. MBRT successfully pushed for more rigorous high school standards and assessments that are linked to receipt of a high school diploma.

MBRT launched Achievement Counts -- an innovative and highly-acclaimed campaign that demonstrates the important connection between achievement in school and success in the workplace.   Elements include:

Since 1999, a Speakers Bureau consisting of 2,600 volunteers has made presentations to over 200,000 students in 8th and 9th grade in 140 high schools in 24 school districts.

The Maryland Scholars program ensures that more students are well prepared to succeed in life and in college by encouraging students to take and master rigorous high school coursework -- particularly in math and science. MBRT provides speakers to help motivate and guide students as they are preparing to select courses for their high school program and incentives to encourage students to stay the course throughout high school.

Our Parents Count website provides parents with monthly information on how they can help their child succeed in school.  Every month, hundreds of businesses and organizations promote the webpage to employees and members.

Be What I Want To Be. com is an interactive teen website that sustains the Achievement Counts conversation with teens. It reaches over 220,000 students of many ages, and moves them from interest in careers to action. The site bolsters student motivation by highlighting exciting careers, demonstrating what a student will need to accomplish in school to qualify for a great job, and providing examples of outstanding student and employee work ... all in an engaging, multi-media format. ( see live site, see news about project)

In partnership with the Daily Record, MBRT created the Be What i Want To Be magazine. The career exploration publication is delivered to students in classroom across Maryland. In 2009, 100,000 magazine copies were distributed.

MBRT partners with Maryland State Department of Education on the Maryland Classroom publication, distributed to 75,000 teachers statewide.  MBRT also worked with the Maryland Higher Education Commission Step Up planning calendar, a year-long planning guide to post-high school education for Maryland families.

MBRT - in partnership with other stakeholders - conducted three Workforce Skills Surveys (1997, 1999, and 2001) to gauge employer needs and satisfaction with high school and college graduates.  The survey results help guide business, public policy, and instructional decisions.

• MBRT developed "skills for success" - the abilities to communicate, problem-solve, use technology, work in groups -- which were effectively integrated into high school standards and curriculum.

• MBRT developed and continues to monitor the Maryland Plan for Technology in Education, which has significantly increased student and teacher access to technology and promotes effective use of technology.   MBRT's Committee on Technology in Education created one of the nation's first on-line school-by-school technology inventory systems that tracks access and use of technology in schools and provides data that reveals the digital divide and technology's impact on learning. 

Vision

All children in Maryland achieve a quality education and are well prepared for college, the workplace and a productive, successful life.

• The Maryland high school diploma signifies achievement of high standards
• The public carries the banner for education excellence
• The system of continuous school improvement is self-sustaining

Mission

To bring the voice of business to support high standards, rigorous assessments, and strong accountability in K-12 education. To demonstrate the connection between achievement in school and the success in the workplace, in college and in life.

• Influence policies and practices affecting education
• Leverage public and private expertise and resources
• Impact educational outcomes and workplace readiness