THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: MAJOR CHANGES TO POLITICAL BOUNDARIES.

>> PASSING THIS MAP [INAUDIBLE] AMERICA CAN DO BETTER.

>> OUR APPROACH IS TO ELIMINATE MID-CYCLE DISTRICTING.

>> Jeff: PUSHING BACK AGAINST I.C.E.

>> MY COMMUNITY IS PETRIFIED AND WHEN THEY SEE SOMEBODY COMING UP TO THEM WITH A MASK ON IT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE .

>> OFFICERS TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW OR ACTIONS IS DEALING WITH PROTESTORS AND I USE THAT TERM LOOSELY BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE INSERTING YOURSELF IT'S DIFFERENT THAN STANDING THERE SAYING I DON'T LIKE THIS.

>> Jeff: WHY WE COULD SEE FEWER VIRGINIA TAGS ON MARYLAND ROADS.

>> I HAVE NO PATIENCE FOR PEOPLE WHO FAIL TO FOLLOW OUR LAW.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

THE BIG STORY AROUND "STATE CIRCLE" THIS WEEK IS A NEW MAP THAT IS WHAT THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES GAVE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO TODAY.

THE MAP CHANGES THE STATE'S CONGRESS AT DISTRICTSES IN A WAY THAT WOULD UNSEAT THE LONE REPUBLICAN IN THE DELEGATION.

SENATE LEADERS OPPOSED CHANGE SAY TO GO WOULD NOT SURVIVE A COURT CHALLENGE AND COULD BACKFIRE.

HOUSE DEBATE TODAY WAS ALONG PARTY LINES.

>> I STAND FOR ALL THE UNREPRESENTED VOTERS IN MARYLAND THE UNAFFILIATED VOTERS AND THE MINORITY VOTERS THAT WILL NOT HAVE REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS.

YOU ARE ELIMINATING THE SLICE OF OVER -- VOICE OF OVER A MILLION PEOPLE AND EIGHT00,000 UNAFFILIATED NUMBERS.

THE FORECASTEST GROWING NUMBER BECAUSE THEY ARE TIRED OF THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM.

>> MARYLAND WANTS PEOPLE TO STAND UP TO THIS ADMINISTRATION AS A WHOLE.

WHAT THIS IS DOING IS FORCING THAT ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S REQUIRING EVERYONE TO SPREAD OUT.

IT'S TAKING AWAY NOT MAKING THEIR JOB EASIER BUT HARD ARE AND THEY HAVE TO COME TO THE MIDDLE.

BECAUSE WHAT MARYLAND DOES WANT, THEY DON'T NEED EIGHT AND ZERO.

THEY NEED EIGHT FIGHTERS THAT ARE GOING TO STAND UP TO THIS ADMINISTRATION AND PROTECT THESE PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHAT THIS MAP WAS DRAWN FOR.

>> Jeff: GOVERNOR MOORE PRESSED FOR THE CHANGE AND DID NOT HIDE THAT WHEN LAWMAKERS HEARD TESTIMONY.

HE WAS THE FIRST WITNESS AS SUE COPPIN REPORTS.

>> MAKE NO MISTAKE, WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS DOING RIGHT NOW IS POLITICAL RED LINING.

>> IN HIS PRESENTATION TO MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE RULES AND NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE, GOVERNOR MOORE SAID THE PROPOSED CHANGES SEEK TO ADDRESS THAT.

>> IT IS NOT LOST TO ME I'M THE ONLY BLACK GOVERNOR IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE THIRD ELECTED BLACK GOVERNOR IN THE HISTORY OF THIS NATION.

AND DONALD TRUMP AND J.D.

VANCE AND ALLIES IN THE STATES THAT HE SUGGESTED, ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO SILENCE THE VOICES AND TRYING TO ELIMINATE BLACK LEADERSHIP, ELECTED LEADERSHIP ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.

SO, NO.

I WILL NOT SIT QUIET.

>> THE GOVERNOR TOLD THE COMMITTEE THAT INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC WAS IMPORTANT TO THE REVISIONS RECOMMENDED BY HIS APPOINTED FIVE MEMBER REDISTRICTING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

>> THE RECOMMENDATION WAS SHAPED BY PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS, IT WAS SHAPED BY PUBLIC FEEDBACK.

AND THAT IS HOW OUR DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

TO CREATE MORE COMPETITION AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND NOT LESS.

>> DELEGATES CT WILSON IS THE SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REDRAW THE CONGRESSIONAL LINES.

>> THIS MAP WE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE TAX CUTTING HISTORIC COMMUNITIES AND DEFENDING DEPENDS THIS ADMINISTRATION'S PARTISAN ASSAULT.

WE CHOOSE BETWEEN DISTRICTS THAT DO GOOD WE CAN ENACT A MAP THAT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND COMPLIES WITH CRITERIA AND MAKE SURE VOICES ARE NOT STIFLED OR IGNORED ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.

>> IT WOULD RESHAPE THE STATE'S FIRST AND THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

THE FIRST SEAT IS HELD BY WINDSHIELD WIPER CONGRESSMAN ANDY HARRIS.

OPPONENTS OF THE MAP CLAIM IT COULD MAKE REELECTION MORE CHALLENGING FOR HARRIS, CURRENTLY THE ONLY REPUBLICAN IN MARYLAND'S CAPITOL HILL DELEGATION A CONCERN RAISED DURING THE HEARING.

>> YOU DID NOT TAKE INTO THE EFFECT WHAT THE PRACTICAL IMPACT OF THE VOTES WOULD BE WHETHER A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO WIN WHEN YOU MADE THE MAPS.

NO ONE DISCUSSED THAT AND NO ONE PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION AND NOT A SINGLE MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION DURING THAT PROCESS.

>> MAKE NO MISTAKE IT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED.

>> JASON BUCKLE SAYS HE HOPED LAWMAKERS MIGHT AGREE TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT ADDRESSES THE PROCESS.

>> OUR APPROACH IS TO ELIMINATE MID-CYCLE REDISTRICTING.

OUR APPROACH IS TO MAKE SURE AT THAT TIME THE DISTRICTS ARE COMPACT, THEY ARE CONTINUOUS AREAS AND REFLECT COMMUNITIES OF COMMON INTEREST THOSE ARE THE STANDARDS APPLIED BEFORE AND WE DON'T WANT TO APPLY THEM.

I DON'T MEAN ME, BUT GOVERNOR MOORE AND THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY KNOW THE MAP THAT THEY ARE PROPOSING WOULDN'T MEET THOSE STANDARDS LEGALLY.

>> PASSING THIS MAP IS HOW WE OPERATIONALIZE OUR OATH TO BE FAITHFUL AND BEAR ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

PASSING THIS MAP IS TO REMIND THE EARN TIRE WORLD THAT AMERICA CAN DO BETTER.

THAT WE ARE BETTER.

AND WE WILL BE BETTER.

>> I'M SUE COPPIN FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: BILLS TO RESPOND TO ABUSES BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ADVANCED IN THE SENATE.

ONE WOULD BAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM COVERING THEIR FACES AND ANOTHER WOULD UNDO AGREEMENTS THAT EIGHT MARYLAND COUNTIES HAVE TO TURNOVER SUSPECTED UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANTS.

>> IT WILL SHOW UP AND SHOVE A CAMERA IN-YOUR-FACE AND YELL AT YOU AND SCREAM AT YOU AND TARGET YOU BUT THEY CAN HAVE MASKS AND EVERYTHING ON THEIR FACE.

WHEN OFFICERS TRY TO DO THEIR JOB ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW AND OTHER ACTIONS IS DEALING WITH PROTESTORS AND I USE THAT TERM LOOSELY BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE INSERTING YOURSELF IT'S DIFFERENT THAN STANDING THERE AND SAYING I DON'T LIKE THIS THEY GET TO BE MASKED AND IDENTIFY THEIR IDENTITY.

>> WE HAVE I.C.E.

REPRESENTATIVES SCREAMING AT PEOPLE GOING INTO THE GROCERY STORE.

MY FAMILIES ARE PETRIFIED THEY HAVE BEEN SEPARATED.

WE HAD ONE COUPLE THAT GOT TAKEN BACK TO EL SALVADOR AND LEFT BEHIND WERE THEIR FOUR CHILDREN WITH THE OLDEST ONE IN MIDDLE LEFT TO TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILY.

MY COMMUNITY IS PETRIFIED.

AND WHEN THEY SEE SOMEBODY COMING UP TO THEM WITH A MASK ON, IT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE.

>> Jeff: FINAL PASSAGE IN THE SENATE IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK.

HOW DO YOU GET AROUND HIGH CAR INSURANCE AND REGISTRATION FEES IN MARYLAND?

WELL, YOU CAN REGISTER IN VIRGINIA.

NANCY YAMADA REPORTS, THAT LOOPHOLE MIGHT BE CLOSING.

>> YOU DON'T SEE DELAWARE TAGS OR YOU DON'T SEE PENNSYLVANIA TAGS FLOODING THE STREET.

YOU SEE STATES THAT DO NOT HAVE THAT INSURANCE QUALIFIER TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM.

>> COREY McCRAY SAYS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REPORT FINDS OVER 110,000 MARYLAND RESIDENTS ARE BREAKING THE LAW BY REGISTERING THEIR VEHICLES IN VIRGINIA.

HE SUSPECTS IT'S BECAUSE UNTIL 2024 OUR NEIGHBORING STATE DID NOT REQUIRE DRIVERS TO SHOW PROOF OF INSURANCE WHEN REGISTERING A VEHICLE.

HE SAYS SO MANY OF THOSE DRIVERS CAUSE ACCIDENTS ON MARYLAND ROADWAYS, LEAVING LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS WITH LIMITED RECOURSE TO RECOUP THEIR LOSSES.

>> PEOPLE THAT ARE COLLEGE STUDENTS OR MILITARY THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE OUT OF STATE TAGS SO THEY CAN DO IT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU HAVE A SUBSET OF PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE INSURANCE QUALIFIER IS NOT A MANDATE WHERE IT IS A MANDATE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

AND THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

>> AND THEN THE COST.

IN VIRGINIA MOST DRIVERS PAY ON AVERAGE $30-$45 TO REGISTER THEIR VEHICLE COMPARED TO MARYLAND WHEN IT COSTS $120-191 TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE, SENATOR McCRAY IS SPONSORING A BILL THAT WOULD ESTABLISH A PROCESS TO BRING OUT OF STATE REGISTERED DRIVERS INTO COMPLIANCE.

>> THE BILL MAKES SURE THAT EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY HAS A 60-DAY GRACE PERIOD.

AND YOU GET THAT NOTIFICATION FROM NVA TO SAY I THINK THIS IS A MARYLANDER NOT SOMEONE FROM ANOTHER STATE THAT HAS THE SPECIFIC TAGS ON THEIR CAR.

>> DRIVERS WHO STILL REFUSE TO COMPLY COULD BE FINED $7 A DAY FOR UP TO 60 DAYS.

>> I HAVE NO PATIENCE WITH PEOPLE WHO FAIL TO FOLLOW OUR LAW.

>> SENATOR CHRIS WEST IS SPONSORING ANOTHER BILL AIMED AT GETTING OUT OF STATE DRIVERS TO PAY SPEED CAMERA VIOLATIONS IN MARYLAND.

>> SO WHAT MY BILL SAYS IF YOU GO THROUGH A SPEED CAMERA WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE AND HIT YOU WITH A HIGHER PENALTY THAN WHAT WOULD BE THE CASE.

AND A NOTE SAYS IF YOU PROPERLY REGISTERED IN MARYLAND THE PENALTY WOULD BE LOWER THAT MARYLAND TAGS ARE GOING TO PAY.

>> LAWMAKERS HEARD ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE CAR REGISTRATION BILL, AMONG THE OPPONENTS THE MARYLAND STATE'S ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION.

>> WHEN THERE IS A CHARGE OF UNREGISTERED MOTORCYCLE WE DON'T GET INVOLVED IT IS A NON-JAILABLE OFFENSE AND WE WOULD NOT PROSECUTE THE TRAFFIC VIOLATION.

BUT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO PROSECUTE THE CASE IN THE EVENT THAT TO TRY TO GET THE CAR PROPERLY REGISTERED.

>> AS FOR WHY MARYLAND'S CAR REGISTRATION IS AS MUCH AS SIX TIMES MORE THAN VIRGINIA?

>> YOU ARE TALKING TO A REPUBLICAN.

REPUBLICANS VOTED AGAINST HIGHER REGISTRATION FEES.

>> IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, EMERGENCY ROOMS SOME OF THE THINGS WE THINK WITH WHAT DOES OUR TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND LOOK LIKE THOSE ARE RESOURCES THAT ARE COMING.

>> I'M NANCY YAMADA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: A MAJOR SNOWSTORM AND A WEEK OF FREEZING TEMPERATURES HAVE TURNED UP THE HEAT ON SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SCHOOLS FAILED TO OPEN THIS WEEK FOR MANY STUDENTS.

AS RESIDENTS COMPLAINED OF UNPLOWED ROADS AND CONCERNS GREW AMONG UTILITY CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE SEEN RECORD BILLS THIS WINTER.

ANOTHER RATE INCREASE KICKED IN THIS MONTH.

GOVERNOR MOORE OFFERED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR RENEWABLE POWER AND ALSO PROPOSED STATE FUNDING FOR A $40 BILL CREDIT FOR RATEPAYERS.

[♪♪] OUR NEWSMAKER THIS WEEK IS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, TIMOTHY GUY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE RELEASED NEW DATA ON GRADUATION RATES LOOKING STATE-WIDE, WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> SO OUR GRADUATION RATE FOR THE CLASS OF 2025 THE STUDENTS THAT GRADUATED IN JUNE OR THE SUMMER OF 2025, THAT GROUP OF STUDENTS GRADUATED AT 86.4% DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM 87.6% IN 2024.

>> Jeff: LET'S START THERE.

WHY DO WE THINK THERE WAS A DECLINE?

OR DO THESE THINGS BOUNCE AROUND YEAR TO YEAR?

>> WE'VE SEEN SINCE 2016 GRADUATION RATE GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ABOUT 86% AND 88%.

THE HIGHEST WE HAD IS 87.7% IN 2017.

WE DO SEE FLUCTUATION FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

THE PANDEMIC DEFINITELY CAUSED SOME VARIABILITY IN OUR GRADUATION RATE DATA AND THE GROUP OF STUDENTS IN 2025, WAS THE FIRST GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT HAD FOUR YEARS OF SCHOOLING THAT WAS POST PANDEMIC.

AND SO THEY WERE NOT ON HYBRID INSTRUCTION AND IN CLASSES FOR THAT ENTIRE FOUR YEARS THAT COULD BE A FACTOR WITHIN THE GRADUATION RATE THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW.

>> Jeff: IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE STATE OR THE COUNTIES DID THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS?

LIKE, DID WE ADD THE REGENTS EXAM OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT PEOPLE FROM GETTING A DIPLOMA?

>> SOME SPECIFIC NOT LOCAL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, BUT MSD REQUIREMENTS FLUCTUATED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE PUT A PAUSE ON SOME OF THE SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE STUDENTS WERE MISSING THOSE ASSESSMENTS AND THAT IS BACK IN PLAY AND HAS BEEN FOR A FEW YEARS.

LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES CONTROL THEIR ADDITIONS TO GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS THERE COULD BE REQUIREMENTS THAT LOCALED KICKED BACK IN THAT WE ARE NOT TRACKING BUT THAT WOULD AFFECT THEIR OVERALL ABILITY TO GRADUATE STUDENTS.

>> Jeff: AMONG DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS, WHAT STANDS OUT?

>> SO WE DID MAKE PROGRESS FOR OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR BLACK STUDENTS.

OUR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ALL SAW INCREASES FROM 2024 TO 2025.

OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT DECREASES IN GRADUATION RATE WITH OUR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AND HISPANIC LATINO POPULATION.

IT'S THE BALANCE OF WHERE WE WERE AT WITH THE OFFER ALL GRADUATION RATE BY OUR STUDENT GROUPS.

>> Jeff: SO BETTER FOR BLACK STUDENTS AND A BIT OF A DECLINE FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS.

ANY FORCES THAT MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED THAT?

AND ALSO IS THAT SOMETHING YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK COUNTY BY COUNTY WAS IT CONSISTENT ACROSS THE STATE?

>> DEFINITELY NOT CONSISTENT ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT POPULATIONS IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE.

SOME OF OUR COUNTIES ARE MORE RURAL AND MORE SUBURBAN IT KEY PENDS ON THE DISTRICT WE SEE THE VARIANCES AND THE DISTRICT LEVEL RATE CHANGES UP AND SOME WERE DOWN DEPENDING ON THE POPULATIONS.

WE DID SEE THIS COHORT OF STUDENTS DID SEE A LARGE INCREASE FROM 67349 STUDENTS IN 2024 TO 72,702 STUDENTS IN 2025 AS THE AVAILABLE GRADUATES THE GROUP THAT COULD HAVE GRADUATED AND FROM THAT GROUP WE SAW THE MOST INCREASES IN HISPANIC LATINO STUDENTS COMING INTO THE COHORT OVER THOSE YEARS.

AND SO THAT CAN BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE OVERALL DECLINES IN GRADUATION RATE OR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DISTRIBUTES IN THE OVERALL ANALYSIS.

>> Jeff: AND SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHETHER SOMEBODY IS AN IMMIGRANT IT DOESN'T MATTER TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS WHETHER THEY ARE DOCUMENTED OR UNDOCUMENTED, DOES IT?

>> CORRECT.

WE HAVE EDUCATION IN MARYLAND ANYBODY WITHIN THAT AGE GROUP WE PROVIDE AN EDUCATION AND ENSURE THERE ARE SERVICES MET TO MEET THE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND TO EXIT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PANDEMIC A BIT.

IT IS JUST AMAZING.

THIS GROUP OF KIDS WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT BEING IMPACTED BY LEARN AT HOME.

I GUESS, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WHEN THAT STUFF WAS HAPPENING.

SO WE CAN'T SAY THEY WERE NOT IMPACTED AT ALL BUT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION WAS NOT IMPACTED?

>> DEFINITELY IMPACTS THAT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND AS THEY ENTERED INTO HIGH SCHOOL IT WAS A CONSISTENT EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE ACROSS THOSE FOUR YEARS WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE HYBRID INSTRUCTION OR SCHOOL CLOSURES AND THEY PROCEEDED FORWARD.

AND THAT HAS IMPACTS ON ENROLLMENT AND IMPACTS ON GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS THAT STUDENTS HAD AS THEY REACHED THAT FOUR-YEAR POINT.

AND WE STILL HAVE AS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC STATE PLAN WE ARE TRACKING GRADUATION RATES CLOSELY AND ARE MAKING EFFORTS TO MAKE THOSE INCREASES THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS WE ENGAGE IN THE MARYLAND STRATEGIC PLAN.

>> Jeff: PROBABLY TOO SOON TO CLOSE THE BOOKS ON THE EDUCATIONAL IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT MAYBE WE'RE GETTING SOME DISTANCE FROM IT.

AT THE TIME THERE WERE CLEARLY DEFICIENCIES IN LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATH.

I SEEM TO RECALL THAT LANGUAGE ART PERFORMANCE CAME BACK FASTER THAN MATH.

FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE, HOW DO YOU THINK IT PLAYED OUT OVER THE LONG-TERM?

>> FROM OUR DATA SETS WE HAVE WITH THE MARYLAND COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, WE DIDN'T SEE THE STEEP DECLINES IN LANGUAGE ARTS THAT WE SAW IN MATHEMATICS.

SO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ART STUDENT HELD STEADY IT SAW A DROP BUT NOT A SIGNIFICANT DROP.

SO STUDENTS REBOUNDED OVER THE YEARS TO BE BACK TO THAT POINT AND MATHEMATICS DATA IS LAGGING BEHIND SLIGHTLY.

THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT CAMPS OF WHY THAT MIGHT BE.

BUT THE MATH CURRICULUM IS VERY MUCH DEPENDENT ON PREVIOUS YEARS PERFORMANCE AND MAKING SURE STUDENTS HAVE THE SKILL SET TO MOVE FORWARD.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS HAS SIMILAR SKILL SETS BUT PORE REINFORCEMENT WITHIN STUDENT ACADEMIC READING OCCURRING AT HOME THAT IS EASIER TO KEEP STABLE THAN THE MATHEMATICS PIECE.

>> Jeff: LET ME ASK YOU SOME NUMBERS QUESTIONS FOR A SECOND.

IS CALCULATING THIS AS SIMPLE AS WE COUNT UP HOW MANY 9TH GRADERS WE HAD FOUR YEARS AGO, COUNT OUT HOW MANY DIPLOMAS WE HANDED OUT AND DO THE MATH?

YOU MENTIONED PEOPLE COMING IN HISPANIC STUDENTS AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE MOVING BETWEEN SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

SO HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY DO CALCULATION?

>> SO WE CALL IT AN ADJUSTED COHORT GRADUATION RATE.

WE SET THE COHORT BASED ON STUDENTS ENTERING INTO NINTH GRADE.

SO THE BASE OF THAT COHORT IS THE STUDENTS THAT ARE PRESENT WITHIN SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS AT THAT NINTH GRADE YEAR.

AND THEN WE ADJUST AS THEY GO FROM THE FOUR YEARS OF STUDENTS THAT ARE EXITING, TRANSFERRING, MOVING AROUND TO OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

AND WE TRACK THAT OVER TIME.

AND USE THOSE TRANSACTIONS TO ADD STUDENTS TO THE COHORT AND REMOVE STUDENTS FROM THE COHORT FOR EACH SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE STATE AND EACH SCHOOL.

SO THAT'S HOW WE COME UP WITH THAT ADJUSTED COHORT RATE AND THEN STUDENTS THAT GENUINELY ARE DROPPING OUT OR LEAVING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THEY COUNT AS AND DON'T GO ON TO PURSUE THINGS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL OR OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS OR PLACES, THOSE ARE WHERE WE HAVE OUR DROPOUT RATE CALCULATIONS.

AND THOSE STUDENTS THAT COME OFF AS DROPOUTS AND THEY ARE NONGRADUATES.

AND THEN WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE STAYING PAST THE FOUR YEARS.

THEY STAY FOR FIVE OR SIX YEARS FOR TO GAIN THEIR CREDITS OR TO ACHIEVE SERVICES THEY MAY NEED TO GRADUATE.

SO THAT GROUP OF STUDENTS IS ALSO LIKE NOT SHOWING UP AS A GRADUATE IN AT THAT TIME PERCENTAGE.

OVERALL WE HAVE THAT INFLUX OF STUDENTS COMING IN AND STUDENTS GOING OUT AND WE TRACK THAT TO COME UP WITH WHO THE COHORT IS.

AND THAT NUMBER I GAVE YOU IS THAT THE ADJUSTED COHORT FOR 2025 IS 72,702 STUDENTS.

OUT OF THOSE 72,702, 62,000 GRADUATED AND THAT IS WHERE WE GET OUR PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS GRADUATING.

>> Jeff: I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE HAVING BEEN A CLASSROOM TEACHER AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND NOW AT THE STATE LEVEL, IF YOU KNOWING EVERYTHING YOU KNOW HAD ALL THE RESOURCES YOU NEEDED TO TRY TO MOVE THESE NUMBERS HIGHER FOR EVERYBODY, WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU COULD DO?

>> I THINK IT'S HAVING STUDENTS ENGAGED IN THE ACTUAL PROCESS OF THEIR EDUCATION AND ENSURING THAT THEY SEE THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL AS CONNECTING TO THEIR ACTUAL POST-SECONDARY ACTIVITIES.

SO WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO FOR WORK?

WHERE ARE THEY HEADED?

ENSURING THAT THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY OCCURS AND THAT STUDENTS ARE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LEARNING IS ONE OF THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS TO ENSURE TEAR GRADUATING WITHIN THE TIMELINES THAT WE EXPECT.

>> Jeff: TIMOTHY GUY ASSISTANT STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

SIR, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: NOW, FOR THE POLITICAL ROUNDTABLE WE ARE JOINED BY BRYAN SEARS OF MARYLAND MATTERS.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> GOVERNOR DELIVERED HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL TO THE LEGISLATURE LAST WEEK, SO LEGISLATIVE ANALYSTS NOW HAD TIME TO LOOK THROUGH THE DETAILS.

ANY SURPRISES THERE?

>> YOU KNOW, NOT REALLY A LOT OF SURPRISES, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT, AGAIN, THIS BUDGET RELIES ON SOMEONE TIME FUND TRANSFERS PARTICULARLY FROM A FUND SET ASIDE FOR THE STRATEGIC ENERGY INVESTMENT FUND TAKES A LARGE HIT.

AND THIS BUDGET PARTICULARLY COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY REAL TAXES OR FEE INCREASES WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS PROBABLY PRUDENT IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

>> Jeff: AND BECAUSE IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR, A LOT OF PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO GET KICKED DOWN THE ROAD.

THAT IS JUST HOW IT IS.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PROJECTIONS FOR FUTURE DEFICITS, IT GETS REALLY UGLY REALLY QUICKLY.

IT GOES TO $2 BILLION AND THEN 3 BILLION AND 4 BILLION.

IS THAT WHEN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IS THAT WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT DRIVEN BY THE EDUCATION FUNDING PROGRAM KNOWN AS THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE.

A LOST THOSE BIG TICKET COSTS COME DUE STARTING NEXT YEAR AND ANALYSTS WERE QUICK TO POINT OUT BLUNTLY THAT THE BUDGET THAT IS PROPOSED THIS YEAR DOES VERY LITTLE TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS.

AND IN THE FAR OUT YEARS WHEN THE DEFICITS GROW ABOVE $3 BILLION, MAY MAKE THE PROBLEM A LITTLE WORSE.

>> Jeff: THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS GET TIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS IS THEY PUSH EXPENSES DOWN TO THE COUNTIES.

THEY PROVIDE LESS AID AND THEY BURDEN THE COUNTIES WITH MORE THINGS TO PAY FOR.

IS THERE MUCH OF THAT IN THIS BUDGET?

>> THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN THIS BUDGET.

AND WHILE THE NUMBERS ARE RELATIVELY SMALL, THEY ARE MEANINGFUL FOR COUNTIES, ESPECIALLY SMALLER COUNTIES, ALLEGHENY AND PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY TAKE A HIT IN THE DISPARITY GRANT A STATE FUND THAT THEY SEND TO COUNTIES WHO HAVE BELOW AVERAGE INCOME TAX COLLECTIONS.

THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD DESCRIBE THIS AS A FLAT FUND OR A CUT IN THE EXPECTED INCREASE AND NOT A CUT.

BUT TO A LOT OF THESE COUNTIES, IT IS A CUT FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE PROGRAMS TO FUND.

>> Jeff: THERE ARE ALSO SOME STORM CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON, THE EXTENT OF WHICH IS NOT EXACTLY KNOWN AT THIS POINT.

THE STATE IS IS PHENOMENAING A LOT OF LAWSUITS FOR CASES OF ABUSE, MOSTLY JUVENILES IN STATE CUSTODY.

COULD BE BILLIONS AND THERE ARE OTHER POTENTIAL BIG TICKET THINGS OUT THERE THAT IF IT WERE A PRIVATE BUSINESS YOU WOULD HAVE TO START ACCOUNTING FOR THIS BUDGET DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR ANY OF THAT?

>> IT DOES NOT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE -- WE KNOW THERE ARE 12,000 CLAIMS FILED UNDER THE CHILD VICTIMS ACT AGAINST THE STATE.

IF ALL OF THOSE WERE TO COME IN AT THE MAXIMUM $890,000 PER CLAIM, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ALMOST $11 BILLION.

THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS $27 BILLION.

SO THAT IS A EYE POPPING NUMBER.

A NUMBER THAT WOULD SUBSO MANY EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE BUDGET EXCEPT FOR EDUCATION AND THERE IS NOT A PLAN TO PAY FOR IT.

WHAT THAT NUMBER ACTUALLY TURNS OUT TO BE, YOU KNOW AS THE CASES GO THROUGH AND GET SETTLED THEY PROBABLY SETTLE IT LESS THAN.

BUT WE HAVE SORT OF HAVE A BASE NUMBER BUT NOT REALLY YET A PLAN ON HOW TO PAY FOR IT.

>> Jeff: YOU CAN READ THE REPORTING OF BRYAN SEARS AND HIS TERRIFIC COLLEAGUES FOR FREE AT MARYLAND MATTER.ORG.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL YOU SEE YOU BACK MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

[♪♪]