Frequently Asked Questions
In 3 sentences, what does Strong Schools Maryland do?
Strong Schools Maryland is the leading statewide, independent organization advocating for world-class schools for all Maryland students. We recruit Marylanders from around the state who care about our public schools and want to get involved in making them better. We provide resources, support, and guidance to team leaders to help advocate for change in their own communities and at a state level while also playing a leading role in helping shape the education agenda for each legislative session.
How can I get involved with Strong Schools Maryland?
There are many different ways to get involved with Strong Schools Maryland. You can read about the different ways to get involved here.
The fastet way to stay up to date is by
signing up for our email list.
We are also recruiting team and action leaders. If you are interested in learning more about what it means to be a team or action leader, please email Joe@strongschoolsmaryland.org to set up a time to have a one on one conversation.
How is Strong Schools Maryland funded?
Strong Schools Maryland is a fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) organization. As a non profit, we rely on fundraising to meet our annual organizational budget. Our fiscal sponsor is the Fund for Educational Excellence. While fiscally sponsored, we operate with our own staff and advisory council.
We have been fortuante to receive the support of many Maryland based foundations and private individuals committed to creating world-class schools for every student.
In addition, we are fortunate to have a base of dedicated supporters who have donated through our online portal, contributing as little as $3.00 at a time. We are grateful for every supporter and every donor who believes in our mission. If you would like to make a donation, you can donate online
here or mail a check to the following address:
Fund for Educational Excellence
c/o Strong Schools Maryland
800 N Charles St
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21201
You check should be made out to the Fund for Educational Excellence with "Strong Schools Maryland" in the notes line.
How can I get in contact with Strong Schools Maryland?
If you want to reach out to a specific individual, you can learn more about our senior leadership team here.
For general inquires, please email
hello@strongschoolsmaryland.org.
Why should I support the Blueprint for Maryland's Future matter?
There are a lot of reasons to support the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. Some reasons include:
The Blueprint will help our economy rebound and stay strong by preparing our students for the jobs of the future. The Blueprint will allow our communities to recruit businesses and attract entrepreneurs as our economy rebuilds and adapts to technological advancement.
No matter what neighborhood you raise your family in, it should have a strong public school. But right now in too many places in Maryland, students don’t have the same access to a great education. The Blueprint will bring us closer to true educational equity—a goal we need to meet now more than ever.
Due to the pandemic and closure of schools, students are losing ground and existing inequities are only growing larger. More than ever, we need the new investments and programs from the Blueprint to help all of our students be successful in the short- and long-term.
Even though teachers go above and beyond for their students no matter the circumstances, the average teacher makes 85 cents on the dollar compared to similar fields. Through increased salaries and staffing, the Blueprint will better support our educators who dedicate their lives to children.
Can Maryland afford the Blueprint for Maryland's future?
Yes! Legislators wisely built a pause button into the Blueprint to slow implementation so the economy can recover before funding ramps up further. We know that the long-term path to building a strong economy and faster recovery runs through increased investment in our schools and students. We need to make sure that all of our students, no matter their zip code, are successful and well-positioned to rebuild and expand our economy.
You can read more about the economic impact of implementing the Blueprint
here.
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