2010 MBRT Board Policy Statements
In April 2010, the MBRT Board of Directors recommended that Maryland educational and political leaders move swiftly to adopt Common Core Standards, to implement a comprehensive Education Longitudinal Data System, and to adopt the Education Reform Act of 2010 and adopted the following position
2009 MBRT Board Policy Statements
In December 2009, the MBRT Board of Directors considered the recommendations of the Governor’s STEM Task Force Report and adopted following endorsement >
MBRT’s Streckfus Honored for Efforts to Improve Student Achievement in Maryland
BALTIMORE, MD (4/29/09) — June Streckfus, Executive Director of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT), will be inducted into the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame when the Chamber holds it’s annual Awards Dinner, held April 29, 2009.
For Streckfus, the induction marks the second major recognition this month for a career spent working to improve student achievement in Maryland. Earlier in April, Streckfus received the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Award of Excellence “for inspiring our youth and serving as a role model for young men and women who are focused on reaching their full potential,” according to Dwayne Ashley, President and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Streckfus has served as Executive Director of MBRT – a coalition of more than 100 Maryland companies that have made a long-term commitment to support education reform and improve student achievement in Maryland – since the organization was founded in 1992.
Since that time, Streckfus and MBRT have been in the forefront of Maryland’s school reform effort. MBRT consistently has worked to achieve meaningful, measurable, and systemic improvement in schools and student achievement by stressing high standards, rigorous assessments, and strong accountability.
Under Streckfus’ leadership, MBRT has also pioneered Achievement Counts, an innovative and highly acclaimed campaign that demonstrates the important connection between achievement in school and success in the workplace. Elements of Achievement Counts include:
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A Speakers Bureau comprised of 2,600 volunteers that, to date, has made more than 200,000 presentations to eighth and ninth graders statewide;
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Maryland Scholars, a program that encourages students to take and complete rigorous high school coursework, particularly in math and science; ”
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Parents Count, a website that provides parents with information on how they can help their children to succeed in school; and
- BeWhatIWantToBe.com, an interactive, career-exploration website aimed at teens.
Both the business and education communities have recognized Streckfus and MBRT for their successful efforts to involve business as a full partner in comprehensive education reform. Previous honors include awards from the National Alliance of Business, The Business Roundtable, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Association of State Directors of Vocational Technical Education, and the Maryland State Teachers Association.
In addition, Streckfus has been named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women and the recipient of the Nancy S. Grasmick Excellence for Minority Achievement Award. She received the Alumni Award as the Outstanding Professional from the University of Maryland in 2007.
Beyond MBRT, Streckfus has served as Co-Chair of Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s Education Transition Team in 2006 and is currently co-chairing the Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Task Force. She is also a member of the U.S. Department of Education’s Negotiated Rulemaking Committee for Academic Competitiveness Grants in 2007.
Prior to leading MBRT, Streckfus spent 11 years as a classroom teacher before entering government service as State Administrator to U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski and Intergovernmental Coordinator and Assistant to the Administrative Officer of Baltimore County Government.
Streckfus’ induction into the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame will take place on Wednesday, April 29, beginning at 5:30, at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, 300 Light Street in Downtown Baltimore. For more information about the Awards Dinner, contact the Maryland Chamber at 410-296-5247 or visit the Chamber’s website at www.mdchamber.org.
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November 8, 2007
MARYLAND SCHOLARS CAMPAIGN BACKED BY POLITICAL, SCHOOL, AND BUSINESS LEADERS STATEWIDE
Program Increasing Number of High School Students Completing Rigorous Courses
BALTIMORE, MD — To help ensure that students throughout Maryland will be better prepared for college and the kinds of jobs that are likely to flourish here in the future, state political, school, and business leaders are expected to pledge their support for the Maryland Scholars program when the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) holds its Annual Meeting today.
The MBRT Annual Meeting , held from 9:30-11 a.m. at the Center Club, 100 Light Street in downtown Baltimore, is open to members of the media.
The Scholars program – a national initiative conducted in Maryland by MBRT in partnership with Governor Martin O’Malley and State School Superintendent Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick – is designed to increase the number of students who take and complete a specific set of rigorous high school coursework, including math through Algebra 2, three lab sciences, and two credits of the same foreign language.
“Maryland Scholars helps to motivate students to take and complete challenging coursework and that, in turn, can greatly enhance their chances of earning scholarships, graduating college, passing entry-level employment tests, and increasing their earnings potential,” says MBRT Executive Director June Streckfus.
According to Ms. Streckfus, taking the rigorous courses required to qualify as a Maryland Scholar can also help more students in the state to garner a larger share of the Academic Competitiveness Grants awarded annually by the U.S. Department of Education.
Recently released data indicate that while Maryland and Indiana are similarly sized states with comparable student demographics, students in Indiana received more than $6.6 million in Academic Competitiveness Grants in 2006-07, compared to $2.7 million in Maryland – a 142 percent difference.
Pell-eligible students who qualify for Academic Competitiveness Grants earn an additional $750 for freshman year college tuition and $1,300 for sophomore year, provided they maintain a 3.0 GPA. The federal government has allocated $4.5 billion over the next five years in Academic Competitiveness Grants to help students who complete Scholars’ coursework pay for college tuition.
“This is a great incentive, particularly for lower-income students, to achieve at higher levels,” notes Ms. Streckfus, “and the good news is: it’s working.”
Maryland Scholars is producing results. The introduction of Maryland Scholars in jurisdictions such as Harford and Frederick Counties has resulted in a marked increase in the number of students – particularly low-income and minority students – taking and completing high-level math and science courses, which ultimately will better position them to enter and complete college or to qualify for higher paying jobs.
Data collected by MBRT indicate that more than half (54%) of the graduating class of 2007 in Harford County were Maryland Scholars – up from 36% in 2003 – while the number of low-income students qualifying has more than tripled.
“Maryland Scholars provides the blueprint for our children to succeed in the workplace, in college, and in life,” says MBRT Chairman Raymond A. “Chip” Mason. “Maryland can continue to have a high-quality, world-class workforce, but only if today’s students work hard and apply themselves now.”
Governor O’Malley has strongly endorsed the Maryland Scholars program and supports providing a graduation certificate to all Maryland Scholars completers in the state.
Maryland Scholars (www.mbrt.org/scholars) is part of MBRT’s Achievement Counts campaign, a nationally recognized initiative that focuses on demonstrating to students, parents, and educators the critical connection between achievement in school and success in the workplace and in life. Launched in 1999, Achievement Counts includes a speakers bureau (www.mbrt.org/speak), a teen career website (www.bewhatiwanttobe.com), and a webpage providing parent information to help children succeed in school (www.mbrt.org/parents).
# # #
April 20, 2007
Assistant U.S. Secretary Of Education Justesen Visits Baltimore
To See Maryland Scholars In Action
BALTIMORE, MD (4/20/07) — Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education Troy Justesen joined Maryland business and education leaders today at Digital Harbor High School to see first hand why the Maryland Scholars program is so successful in motivating students to achieve at higher levels.
Part of the national Scholars initiative, Maryland Scholars is designed to increase the number of students who complete rigorous coursework in high school and, as a result, are better prepared to succeed in college and/or the workplace.
Maryland Scholars is a comprehensive campaign led by the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) – a coalition of more than 100 leading employers committed to improving student achievement in the state – in partnership with the State Department of Education, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, and local school superintendents.
“Not only is Maryland the first state to implement the Scholars initiative statewide, but it is also the only state that has several years of impressive data in rigorous course completion,” explains MBRT Executive Director June Streckfus.
According to Streckfus, the Maryland Scholars course of study – which includes four credits of English, three credits of Math (Algebra I and II, and Geometry), three credits of Science (Biology, Chemistry and one other lab science), 3 credits of Social Studies, and two credits of the same Foreign Language – “has resulted in significant increases in rigorous course completion, particularly among low-income and minority students.”
In Baltimore County, for example, the number of low-income students taking and completing Physics has jumped 39%, while Algebra II has seen a 23% increase since the introduction of Maryland Scholars.
Similarly, Harford County has experienced marked increases in the number of low-income students taking and completing Algebra II (50%), Chemistry (74%), a fourth science course (433%), and Foreign Language (96%).
Maryland is also one of the first states to develop a number of innovations to support Maryland Scholars. These include:
- www.BeWhatIWantToBe.com, a career exploration website developed for and by teens;
- Speakers Bureau through which more than 2,500 volunteers from Maryland’s business community speak to eighth and ninth graders statewide about the critical connection between what they’re learning in school and life in the real world; and
- Parents Count, a series of monthly messages and a website designed to arm parents with effective strategies for helping their children to succeed in school.
“We wanted the Assistant Secretary to come away knowing that the U.S. Department of Education’s investment in Maryland is paying off, and that our efforts here could be replicated elsewhere around the country,” notes Streckfus.
Assistant Secretary Justesen, U.S. Department of Education staff members, and Terese Rainwater of WICHE (Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education)-that coordinates the Scholars Program nationally- attended several classroom presentations at which MBRT’s business volunteers spoke to ninth graders at Digital Harbor about the importance of taking and completing rigorous coursework.
Maryland Scholars is part of MBRT’s Achievement Counts program, a nationally recognized campaign that focuses on demonstrating to students, parents, and educators the critical connection between achievement in school and success in the workplace and in life.
For more information, visit www.mbrt.org
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March 2007
Baltimore County Website Created For – And By – Teens Helps
Students Prepare For Life After High School
BALTIMORE, MD (3/15/07) — Thanks to the vision of Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith and the innovations of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, students in Baltimore County can connect the dots between what they’re learning today and their future careers through a new website, launched today before an audience of high school newspaper editors, reporters, and videographers at Dundalk High School.
BeWhatIWantToBe.com/baltimorecounty is the first of its kind – a localized web tool that offers Baltimore County students rock-solid information about all kinds of careers and how to prepare for them. The site features career profiles of workers at dozens of Baltimore County employers, student activities and links to careers and higher education resources available in the County, facts about internship and scholarship opportunities available in the County, and action steps students can take to get on track for specific careers.
The section is part of BeWhatIWantToBe.com, a website developed by the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT), a non-profit coalition of more than 100 leading employers committed to improving student achievement in the state. Created for – and by – teens, BeWhatIWantToBe.com enables students to explore a wide range of career options and to understand what they need to do in school now in order to prepare for their career choices.
The success of the broader career website spurred Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith and MBRT to explore the feasibility of “localizing” a portion of the site in order to showcase the resources and range of career options available in Baltimore County.
“The website shows students that Baltimore County wants to keep and attract young talent and has a wide range of exciting career opportunities available, provided that students possess the prerequisite knowledge and skills,” Smith says. “Graduates will have opportunity, and Baltimore County can continue to have a home-grown, high-quality, world-class workforce, but only if today’s students work hard and apply themselves now.”
“BeWhatIWantToBe.com allows students to see for themselves what successful young workers do, why they chose their professions, the rewards and challenges of their lines of work, and how they prepared in school to succeed following graduation,” notes Baltimore County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joe Hairston. “In short, it frames school performance so students can see the connection between what they’re learning in school today and what it takes to be successful professionally and personally.”
The partnership includes trusted adults from other organizations who will promote student use of the Baltimore County section of BeWhatIWantToBe.com: Police Athletic League; Baltimore County Public Library; Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks; the Baltimore County Workforce Investment Board; Baltimore County Office of Economic Development; Baltimore County Executive’s Education Advisory Board; and the county chambers of commerce.
MBRT originally created BeWhatIWantToBe.com as one part of its nationally recognized Achievement Counts program, a comprehensive campaign that mobilizes parents, teachers, and business volunteers to motivate students to achieve academic success.
The website continues the conversation begun with high school students through Achievement Counts’ Speakers Bureau, a highly effective initiative through which business volunteers enter the classroom to discuss with students how hard work in school pays off in life.
“The teen website illustrates exciting careers, demonstrates the kind of knowledge and skills each career requires, profiles young workers in a variety of professions, offers facts about salaries, job outlook, and major industry employers, and provides information about education pathways to these careers, internships, and scholarships,” explains MBRT Executive Director June Streckfus.
The site also contains interactive challenges for students where virtual jobs are featured, points are accumulated for completing certain activities, and rewards (such as iPods and gift cards) are earned by student participants.
Industries currently profiled on BeWhatIWantToBe.com include finance, health, teaching, aerospace, IT, telecommunications, homeland security, building, manufacturing, and energy.
“This innovative site gives Baltimore County students a meaningful shot at a better life,” says Maryland School Superintendent Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick. “Just as important, it sends students a strong message that working hard and completing rigorous coursework will pay huge dividends, regardless of whether students go on to college or directly into the workplace after graduation.”
Achievement Counts funders include: Baltimore County Government, Bank of America, Building Congress & Exchange Foundation, Community College of Baltimore County, CitiFinancial, CitiGroup Foundation, Constellation Energy Group, Corporate Office Properties Trust, Dollar General Foundation, France-Merrick Foundation, IBM Corporation, Legg Mason, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Macht Philanthropic Fund – The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore M&T Bank, Maryland Construction Trade Association, Maryland Higher Education Commission, McCormick & Company, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Northrop Grumman, Pepco, Provident Bank, Space Telescope Science Institute, T. Rowe Price Associates Foundation, TIME Center, U.S. Department of Education (MSDE / University System of Maryland), Verizon, Villa Julie College, Wachovia Bank.
For more information about BeWhatIWantToBe.com, visit the site www.MBRT.org or call MBRT at 410-727-0448.
March 2007
2006 – Year in Review
In 2006, MBRT’s impact on student achievement and workforce preparedness has broadened statewide and is affecting more than 80,000 students each year.
Because of MBRT’s efforts, in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education and local school systems, more students understand the importance of academic achievement and the relevance of workplace expectations, and more students are completing the basics earlier and taking rigorous courses. As an honest broker, trusted convener, credible partner, and reputable leader with an unparalleled delivery system to students and innovative online tools to support its efforts, MBRT has become a linchpin in statewide – and national – efforts to ensure that today’s students are well prepared for challenging careers that will strengthen Maryland’s intellectual and economic competitiveness in the years ahead.
September 8, 2005
Maryland Schools Will Participate in American Diploma Project and Maryland Scholars
Baltimore, MD — Maryland schools will participate in two new programs designed to make certain high school graduates are prepared to enter college or the workplace, it was announced today during the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT).
see full release >
September 7, 2005
Maryland Scholars Will Be Offered Statewide
Program Encouraging Rigorous Coursework Has Contributed to Remarkable Results Among Low-Income, Minority Students
Baltimore, MD — A program with a proven track record for increasing the number of high school students who take – and complete – rigorous coursework will be offered to school districts throughout Maryland, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) announced today at its 2005 Annual Meeting.
see full release >
June 13, 2005
MBRT Wins PRSA’s “Silver Anvil Award”
New York, NY — The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT), with its public relations firm, Stanton Communications, Inc., has won Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) prestigious Silver Anvil Award for its “Achievement Counts” program.
Known as the “Academy Awards” of the public relations profession, the Silver Anvil is awarded to organizations that have successfully addressed a contemporary issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. The national award recognizes outstanding strategic public relations planning and implementation.
see full release >
June 13, 2005
MORE HARFORD COUNTY STUDENTS ARE MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF RIGOROUS COURSES
Bel Air , MD — Data released today by the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) indicate that more high school students in Harford County are taking – and completing – high-level math and science courses which ultimately will better position them to enter and complete college or qualify for higher paying jobs.
The statistics compiled by MBRT – a non-profit coalition of leading employers that have made a long-term commitment to improve student achievement in Maryland – show that from 2003 to 2004:
- 191 more Harford County freshmen had completed Algebra I by ninth grade (an eleven percent increase);
- 73 more high school students completed Chemistry (a five percent increase) and;
- 457 more seniors completed a fourth science credit (a 48 percent increase).
see full release >
May 19, 2005
“Challenges to American Competitiveness in Math and Science”
Testimony by
June E. Streckfus, Executive Director
Maryland Business Roundtable for Education
to the
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Education and the Workforce
Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness
The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) is a statewide, nonprofit coalition of leading employers that has made long-term commitment to support education reform and improve student achievement in Maryland.
Since 1992, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education has played a major role in transforming education. Led by an outstanding Board of top corporate CEO’s, MBRT provides a consistent, strong voice: pushing for achievement of high standards; demanding a system of education that prepares all students for the rigor of college and the workplace; building strong, effective partnerships with all those who have a stake in educational excellence and a quality workforce; and challenging and motivating students to perform at high levels.
In Maryland, the bar has been raised on what students are expected to know when they graduate …
see full testimony>
May 13, 2005
MORE FREDERICK COUNTY STUDENTS MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF RIGOROUS COURSES
Frederick, MD — More Frederick County high school students are taking and completing high-level math and science courses that will enable them to enter and complete college or to qualify for good paying jobs with decent benefits, according to data released today by the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT).
Statistics compiled by MBRT – a non-profit coalition of leading employers that have made a long-term commitment to improve student achievement in Maryland – indicate that in the span of one year, from 2003 to 2004:
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- 336 more Frederick County freshmen had completed Algebra I by ninth grade (a 15% increase);
- 218 more high school students completed Algebra II (a 10% increase); and
- 488 more seniors completed a fourth science credit (a 60% increase).
When looking at the disaggregated data, the rate of increase in Frederick County high schools among low-income and minority students is significant:
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- 55% more students living in poverty completed Algebra I by ninth grade;
- 57% more African American students completed Chemistry; and
- 80% more Hispanic students completed a fourth science credit.
see full release >
March 22, 2005
Technology Use in Public Schools Not Being Maximized
Tech’s Power Lies in Way It Is Used to Accelerate Student Learning, Report Finds
BALTIMORE, MD — Although Maryland’s public schools continue to boast a strong technology infrastructure, the technology is not being used for higher-level, analytical or problem-solving activities, according to the results of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education’s (MBRT) eighth annual survey of technology in public schools, released today to the Maryland State Board of Education.
According to the new MBRT survey, only 13% of public schools statewide report their students are using technology to display data on a daily or almost daily basis. Only 9% of schools report that students use technology to “manipulate, analyze, or interpret information” daily or almost daily.
“The primary objective of the state’s enormous investment in technology is improved student learning, but that can only be achieved if students are making effective use of those technology tools daily,” says MBRT Executive Director June Streckfus.
“The data from this report clearly indicate that this is not happening,” Streckfus asserts. “It is imperative that schools better prepare our students, and technology tools can and should be key contributors to academic success. But the benefits will not materialize if the technology is not used effectively and frequently in the classroom.”
see full release >
September 2004
New Parents Count Site Offers Sound Advice To Help Kids Succeed In School
The beginning of a new school year also marks a new start for Parents Count, the one-stop resource where busy parents can quickly and easily get good information, helpful tips, and sound advice to help their children succeed academically.
Part of the nationally acclaimed Achievement Counts campaign created by the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT), Parents Count utilizes a newly designed, interactive website (www.mbrt.org/parents) to arm parents with practical, easy-to-use, and readily available strategies for helping their children to achieve in school. MBRT has also established a statewide network for issuing the messages through emails, newsletters, and fact sheets to parents at their place of work and through school systems.
“Research shows that no single message affects a child more than one delivered by his or her parent,” says MBRT Executive Director June Streckfus. “That’s why we believe it is so important for parents to be effectively involved in their children’s education and to understand – and act upon – the issues that will make a critical difference in their child’s ability to meet high standards and make wise choices as they transition from elementary to middle to high school and onto college and the workplace.”
see full release >
September 9, 2004
MBRT Expands Achievement Counts Program In Response To State’s High School Requirements
BALTIMORE, MD — To support the state’s efforts to strengthen high school graduation requirements in 2009, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) announced plans today to intensify its nationally recognized Achievement Counts campaign, expanding its speakers program to reach more than 75,000 middle and high school students this fall, while launching a teen website to help students explore careers and better understand what it takes to get a good job.
“Achievement Counts represents a comprehensive response by Maryland’s business community to ensure that high school graduates are prepared to succeed in college, in the workplace, and in life,” MBRT Executive Director June Streckfus told an audience of 300 area business executives, educators, and elected officials, including Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele, during MBRT’s Annual Meeting, held today in Baltimore.
see full release >
August 24, 2004
State’s Tech Investment In Schools Is Paying Off
Problems Persist, Though, in High Poverty Areas
BALTIMORE, MD — As students prepare for a new school year, a report released today (Where do we stand in 2004?) by the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) indicates that the substantial investment in technology for Maryland’s public schools made by the state and local districts, the federal government, and the private sector over the past eight years is paying off.
According to MBRT’s seventh annual survey of technology in Maryland public schools, access to technology is at an all-time high. Overall, Maryland has reached its goal of one high/mid capacity computer for every five students, while 93% of all classrooms statewide are connected to the Internet.
The state also has made clear gains in how technology is being used by students, teachers, and administrators. For example, 42% of schools now report that students use technology to “plan, draft, proofread, revise, and publish written text every day or almost every day,” versus 34% in the previous survey. Similarly, 49% of all schools report that students gather information and data from the Internet, online services, and reference software, versus 36% in the last survey.
“Maryland continues to make significant progress in maintaining its commitment to provide all public school students with access to technology, and regular opportunities to participate in meaningful and challenging activities that make use of technology,” says MBRT Executive Director June Streckfus.
see full release >
October 2003
AWS PRESIDENT NAMED NATIONAL FRIEND OF EDUCATION FOR 2003
BALTIMORE, MD — Robert S. Marshall, President of AWS, Inc., is the recipient of the 2003 National Friend of Education Award, presented annually by the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE).
Marshall, who chairs the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education’s (MBRT) Committee on Technology in Education, was honored by NASBE for his pioneering work in developing an on-line system for tracking technology inventory in Maryland’s public schools.
“Bob Marshall has revolutionized Maryland’s ability not only to collect data on what technology is in our schools, but also to analyze and report how that technology is being used, how it is impacting learning, and where it is not being utilized effectively,” says MBRT Executive Director June Streckfus.
MBRT’s Committee on Technology in Education is responsible for the development, implementation, and monitoring of the Maryland Plan for Technology in Education. The Plan was approved by the State Board of Education in December 1998.
“Bob has made a significant, lasting impact on our public education system and on the lives of students in Maryland,” says Brenda Welburn, NASBE Executive Director. “He has played a key role in helping the state narrow the digital divide among students. In addition, through his work with AWS, he has broadened the application of technology in schools across the nation.”
AWS, which Marshall co-founded, is a pioneer in developing engaging educational tools for schools and colleges. The company’s core offering, WeatherNet Classroom, is a unique, Web-based weather teaching tool that uses live weather data to enhance student achievement.
Previous winners of NASBE’s Friend of Education Award include Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, Intel Corporation Vice President Keith L. Thomson, and Paula Harper Bethea, Chair Emeritus of the United Way of America’s Board of Governors.
The Friend of Education Award will be presented to Mr. Marshall Saturday evening, October 18, at the President’s Dinner as part of NASBE’s 2003 Annual Conference. The conference is being held at the Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore.
The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education is a coalition of more than 100 major Maryland employers committed to improving student achievement in the state.
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Maryland Plan for Technology in Education 2002-2005
Since 1995, significant progress has been made in establishing a strong technology infrastructure in our schools and providing access to that technology. Steady progress has also been made with regard to the knowledge and skill levels of our teachers in using the basic technology. However, only limited progress has been made toward the effective and seamless integration of technology across the instructional program. Little progress has been made in what research has shown to be the most effective use for improved student learning – namely the application of technology and digital content to engage students and foster higher level critical thinking and problem solving skills. In addition, new technology and applications to support learning and improve administrative functions are developing at a rapid rate. It is in this light that Committee on Technology in Education has developed this revised three-year plan for 2002-2005.
To view this report, go to http://www.msde.state.md.us/technology/md_tech_plan.html. To view the Press Release, click here.
ACHIEVEMENT COUNTS:
In an effort to motivate students to perform at higher levels, MBRT is reaching out to 9th grade students to let them know that business values their performance in high school and that employers will be asking to see their transcripts as part of the hiring process. A speakers bureau was established to make interactive classroom presentations in Maryland high schools. (View the Speakers Bureau page)
We’re kicking off the MBRT’s new monthly series of web and workplace messages for parents. Every month between September and June , MBRT will release a letter to employees, package of articles, fact sheets and e-mail messages giving helpful information and pointers on a specific topic of great interest to parents of school-aged children. The idea is to better enable parents to help their children do their best in school. (View the Parents Count page)
ANNUAL MEETINGS:
Press Release
Press Releases
TECHNOLOGY:
- Effective Practices for Using Technology in Maryland Schools
The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education is pleased to provide this online report highlighting effective uses of technology in Maryland Schools. The report was compiled by MBRT’s Committee on Technology in Education (COTE) which is comprised of leading experts and representatives from business, higher education and state and local public education. COTE would like to thank the teachers and administrators across Maryland that put time and effort into documenting their use of technology. Through efforts like this we hope to expand the effective use of technology with a goal of improving student achievement in all Maryland Schools.
To view this report, click here.
- Measuring Up: Maryland’s Progress in Using Technology in Schools
Results of the 1999 Teacher Technology Survey – a comprehensive questionnaire through which teachers provide information about the use of technology in their schools.
To view this report, click here.
(To view this document, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader here
WORKFORCE NEEDS SURVEY:
- 2001 Maryland Workforce Educational Needs Assessment Survey
Press Releases
Full Report
- 1999 Workforce Needs Survey Release
During the summer of 1999, we conducted the second Workforce Skills Survey among Maryland employers to help identify skills gaps, plan for future workforce needs, and gauge employer satisfaction with recent high school graduates. Results were released on October 21, 1999. For more information, please visit: Workforce Needs Survey 1999
www.theSTEMnet.com . 
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