Research

Better Maryland Schools believes school policy should reflect reliable research, not opinion. For parents, citizens, and journalists who want to dig into the evidence, we’ve provided citations below. These sources include peer reviewed journals, books that cite established research, and news articles that provide context. Whenever possible, we prioritize original data and peer-reviewed research.

Reading

Structured literacy (often called scientifically based reading instruction) helps everyone. Balanced literacy and whole language do not produce as many competent readers.

• national reading panel report -- evidence supporting all five components of reading instruction

• Whole language high jinks -- Comprehensive comparison of methods

• How words cast their spell -- Spelling is not about memorization, it's about understanding english's 4 layers

• from speech to print -- The book every teacher needs to learn what most were never taught

• language at the speed of sight — How We Read, Why So Many Can't, and What Can Be Done About It

• The roots of phonics — the classic book that explains how english works

• reading in the brain — the new science of how we read

• Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties -- highly technical resource, includes curriculum evaluations

Math

The highest achieving nations in math focus on a smaller number of topics, taught to mastery.

• singapore math -- how it helps kids learn

• National council on teacher quality — report on teachers' math preparation

• teaching and knowing elementary mathematics — the classic, groundbreaking book

• the number sense — how the mind creates math

• traditional math — an effective strategy that teachers feel guilty using

Instruction

Traditional methods produce better results than so-called “student centered” methods, especially for lower income children.

• the academic achievement challenge: what really works in the classroom -- From the harvard professor who helped create sesame street

• the schools we need and why we don't have them -- from the university of virginia professor who started core knowledge

• myths and misconceptions about teaching:  what really happens in the classroom -- an education professor dispells beliefs most educators believe

• when can you trust the experts? — a cognitive scientist explains how the brain really works

• direct instruction — one of the largest studies ever conducted found direct instruction produces the best results

Academic Results

America does not perform well on the world stage. Maryland compares poorly to other states. (These are fair comparisons where all children are tested, not just the smartest or richest children.)

• timms results -- math & science international comparison

• pisa results -- math, science & reading international comparison

• NAEP Results -- Math & reading, Maryland is below average

• SAT results — maryland is below average (1003 compared to u.s. average of 1024).  Frederick got 1012, also below average.

• MATH — 69% of frederick county’s students fail algebra, with disappointing results in math in all grades

• Science — less than half of frederick county’s students are proficient

• English — even poor reading instruction results in about 60% passing ratE (See Page 11).  Our scores barely exceed that baseline.

Class Sizes

Lowering class sizes across the board does not appear to raise achievement. But there are exceptions.

• Brookings report -- minimal effects at a high cost 

• campbell study — found negative impact on math, small impact overall

School Choice

Charter schools tend to raise achievement.

• stanford credo studies -- comprehensive longitudinal reviews (considered the gold standard)  

• fordham foundation — charters tend to improve the regular public schools

• National Alliance ranking (Last) & EdReform ranking (bottom 5) — maryland’s charter law consistently ranks among the worst nationally

• charter schools and their enemies — who opposes them, and why

Gender Dysphoria

Most, but not all, students experiencing gender dysphoria will grow comfortable with their biological sex after completing puberty. Mainstream research urges psychological and family support, and caution for minors considering gender transitions.

• RECENT STUDY -- having gender concerns can be a part of student devleopment, but most kids grow comfortable with their biological sex

• Historical trends — dr. James cantor FACT checks over 40 years of evidence, which shows most minors do not identify as transgender as adults

• dr. erica anderson (who is transgender) and dr. Steven Levin — Expert witness testimony accepted by courts

• cass review — four year study finds “remarkably weak” evidence for minors having gender transitions

• reconsidering the "dutch protocol" — written by the same scientists who originally supported gender transitions for minors, who now express doubts

Unions

Unions are involved in politics to a greater degree than many realize—including issues outside of education—and they mostly donate to one party.

• union plans to smear opponents -- see the their plans & playbook here

• hoover institution (stanford) -- Unions win 70% of board of education elections

• The 74 Million — unions largely donate to one party

• Professional liability insurance — teachers can get twice the coverage for half the cost from non-union providers

• americans for fair treatment — the supreme court ruled that teachers are not required to join a union 

• NEa’s controversial resolutions — many are political and unrelated to education

Disciplinary Practices

Whether practices such as “restorative discipline” are effective is a matter of debate. These practices encouraged but not mandated by Maryland law.

• our policy recommendations -- this includes a discussion of the legal history and research evidence

• rand study reconsidered -- have the postive results of restorative practices been reported fairly?

• are restorative practice ethical? — these scholars think they are not

• Bad therapy — an examination of whether the modern emphasis on therapy has backfired for todays’ students

Spending

Across-the-board spending increases show weak/mixed relationships with achievement; targeted spending changes and finance reforms show more consistent positive long-run effects—especially for low-income students.

• spending vs. achievement chart -- more money is not associated with higher achievement

• NCES review — suggests that allocations (rather than total amount) may matter more

• graphs of 25 Years of FCPS budgets -- our analysis

• Official FCPS Budget books

  • 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

  • 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

  • 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026. 2027

• FCPS’ official graphic showing staff costs growing 3.8 times faster than enrollment (In 2027 Budget announcement)