Maryland state school board considering vouchers, charters for failing schools

The state school board is considering bold measures — offering vouchers, creating new charter programs and establishing a statewide school district — to improve consistently low-performing schools.

The ideas — none of which has been formally proposed — would be radical departures from current practices. They're being discussed in broad terms by board members as they work to rewrite the regulations that will govern how Maryland's students and schools are judged beginning next school year.

It is not clear whether any of the ideas will gain the support of the full board or the public. State school board President Andrew Smarick, who has spent much of his career on education policy, says he supports change.

"Maryland has been very traditional in its approach to failing schools," he said. "I am on the side of pushing our policymakers to be bolder on this issue because of the thousands of young lives at stake."

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/bs-md-grading-schools-20161218-story.html