Issues

Better Maryland Schools believes every child deserves a safe classroom, every parent deserves respect, and every tax dollar deserves accountability.

Budget — Sensible Spending

School spending is climbing faster than enrollment or inflation — yet classroom instruction hasn’t seen the same benefit. (Source: Analysis of FCPS budget books)

• Less than half of staff are classroom teachers.

• For nearly every 4 new students, 1 new staff member was hired.

• Bureaucracy continues to grow, putting pressure on school budgets and staff pay.

We believe school funding should prioritize what matters most: the classroom. That means cutting waste, protecting teachers’ pay, and reducing political interference so schools can focus on students and learning.

Academics — Education Excellence

Parents expect schools to teach the basics well. But too many students are falling behind. (Source: Maryland State Report Card)

• 69% of our students fail to meet algebra proficiency standards

• 40% cannot meet grade-level English benchmarks

• Minority and low-income students continue to face the widest achievement gaps.

Meanwhile, rigid rules that block innovation are often backed by labor organizations that benefit from the current system — even as student performance continues to lag. Maryland’s charter school law consistently ranks among the weakest in the nation by independent education groups.

We believe every child deserves a path to success. That means expanding career and technical training, fixing the broken charter law, and ensuring families have the final say in what works best for kids.

Parental Rights — Families First

No one has a greater stake in a child’s success than their parents. But too often, parents are being sidelined.

• Some policies have raised concerns about fairness and safety in school bathrooms and sports.

• Families have also raised concerns about age-appropriate books and reduced access to established literary works.

• Parents asking for transparency have repeatedly been turned away by lawmakers, who have voted against multiple parent-led transparency proposals.

We believe parents are partners, not obstacles. That means protecting fairness in sports, ensuring privacy, and guaranteeing notification when policies affect children — and giving families more school options.

Governance — Conflict of Interest

In Maryland, powerful political organizations that negotiate teacher contracts also spend heavily to elect the school board members who later approve those contracts. This creates an inherent conflict of interest that would raise serious concerns in any other public institution.

We believe school board elections should be free from special-interest money so decisions are made in the best interests of students, families, and taxpayers — not political organizations.

Our Vision

Maryland schools don’t need more bureaucracy or more politics. They need more results, respect, and responsibility.

With sensible spending, education excellence, and families first, we can give every child in Frederick County the education they deserve.