Focusing first on the classroom means more than just new training programs. It also includes lower class sizes, improved curriculum and new efforts in reading, writing and mathematics. This is a rare opportunity. But parents, teachers, principals, community leaders and business executives made one thing very clear last year. They are united in their desire to ensure that all of our schools have the ability to raise student performance and close the gap by race and ethnicity.
Time is of the essence.
Enrollment is growing in every area of the county, with a demographic makeup that makes ours the most diverse school system in Maryland and among the most varied in the nation. The impact of poverty is greater now than ever before. One-third of our students have received meal assistance in school. Nearly half of all English language learners in the state are enrolled in our schools. Yet we believe the opportunities for their success have never been greater.