Across Maryland, residents are facing rising taxes, tighter local budgets, and growing concerns about how education dollars are spent. One of the biggest drivers of this conversation is the Maryland Blueprint for Education—a sweeping overhaul of our state’s public school funding and policy priorities.
Billed as a transformative investment in our schools, the Blueprint has already led to over $1.6 billion in new taxes, with more likely on the way. Supporters describe it as a bold vision for the future. But for many Marylanders, the question is more basic: are we getting value for the money?
Concerns are mounting that much of this funding is not making it into classrooms or improving student outcomes, but instead fueling administrative growth and costly mandates that local governments struggle to sustain. Local leaders warn that this unfunded burden may crowd out essential services like public safety and infrastructure.
In 2017, Maryland spent $7.7 billion on K-12 education. By 2024, spending had surged to $11.4 billion, a 48% increase. Much of this money has gone to administrators, not classrooms. The Baltimore City Public Schools illustrates this trend. Since 2022, student enrollment has dropped by nearly 2,000. Despite this decline, the number of teachers remained stable at 5,100. Meanwhile, administration-related positions have jumped 18%, from 755 to 891. According to WBFF FOX5 Baltimore, these new jobs are well paid. Director-level positions have risen from 95 to 126, averaging $130,359 per year. Coordinator positions have more than doubled from 27 to 58, averaging $121,131 per year.
According to a 2024 Pew Research study, the vast majority of teachers (82%) say that the overall state of public K-12 education has gotten worse in the last five years. Only 5% say it’s gotten better, and 11% say it has gotten neither better nor worse. Sixty percent blame the current political climate and fifty-seven blame the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as the major reason. Changes in the availability of funding and resources ranks third at 46%.
Among those who have been teaching for at least a year, about eight-in-ten teachers say the lasting impact of the pandemic on students’ behavior, academic performance and emotional well-being has been very or somewhat negative. This includes about a third or more saying that the lasting impact has been very negative in each area.
And while teachers unions are overwhelming in their support Democrats, about a third (35%) of teachers identify with or lean toward the GOP.
These issues shouldn’t divide us along partisan lines. Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, or independent, it’s reasonable to ask: Are we spending education dollars effectively? Are teachers aware of their rights and choices? Are we empowering educators or tying their hands with bureaucracy?
Maryland’s education future matters to everyone. Let’s commit to respectful, informed dialogue—and to advocating for a system that prioritizes students, supports teachers, and spends taxpayer dollars wisely.
ENDNOTES
Maryland Blueprint for Education (a.k.a. “Kirwan Plan”):
Passed in 2021, the Blueprint is a multi-year education funding plan projected to cost $32 billion over 10 years, with over $1.6 billion in new taxes already approved to fund its first phases. Future funding gaps are expected to trigger additional tax increases.
Source: Maryland General Assembly Fiscal and Policy Notes, 2021.
Union Political Activity and Teacher Dues:
Maryland teachers’ unions, including the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA), spend significant portions of member dues on political lobbying, campaign donations, and policy advocacy, not solely on workplace representation.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, LM-2 Union Financial Disclosures.
Teacher Rights to Leave the Union:
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 Janus v. AFSCME decision, public employees—including Maryland teachers—cannot be forced to join or financially support a union. Teachers can opt out anytime without losing benefits or job protections.
Source: National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.
Lower-Cost Professional Liability Insurance for Teachers:
The Association of American Educators (AAE) offers professional liability insurance at about one-third the cost of union-provided coverage, often providing double the protection. Over a 30-year career, teachers can save $14,000 or more by choosing independent coverage.
Source: Association of American Educators, 2025 Rate Comparisons.
Direct Line News is a Maryland-based free-access publication committed to the Republican reform tradition.
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