Baltimore County to Cut Gifted and Talented Program, Likely in Name of Equity

This month, there is a battle in Baltimore County School District. It should be another reason to pay attention to what your local school boards have been up to. They are currently working on the district’s budget for fiscal year 2024 and parents have noticed some significant cuts The gifted and talented student program. While the budget proposal would not eliminate the program completely, it would remove three of the four teaching posts currently assigned to it. Parents pointed out that students who are accepted into the program increase their chances of getting in at top universities. One teacher simply isn’t enough to manage all the students. Others wonder why the program is being cut. (Baltimore Sun)

At a public hearing for Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Darryl L. Williams’ proposed budget, two of the seven speakers who came forth for comment voiced worry about the possible cuts in staffing for gifted and talented students.

Williams’ proposed fiscal year 2024 budget Details are being cut from three full-time resource instructors at the Office of Advanced Academics. They serve gifted and talented students. This would leave only one resource teacher, one coordinator, and one administrative assistant.

The school system’s budget for FY2023 allotted funds for four resource teachers, one coordinator and one administrative assistant, Baltimore County Schools spokesperson Gboyinde Onijala said.

So what’s really going on here? The budget proposal was made by the Public Schools Superintendent. He said that the budget would bring about a significant improvement in student achievement. “savings” For the school system. His report also mentions a 2020 study It is said that Hispanic and Black students are equally successful. “underrepresented” In the program.

It’s not as if the Baltimore County Public Schools have seen their budget decrease significantly. Baltimore County saw its budget increase only once, which is a difference from many urban school districts. a net decrease of 49 students From 2021 to 2022. Their tax revenue should be almost flat, which would not require such a drastic cut to the program’s success.

This is yet another example in the war on merit. What does it matter? “equity” Many of the cities we live in today have a vague desire to see a system that focuses on equality of outcomes rather than equality of opportunities. If some students, particularly those coming from politically favored demographic groups, aren’t doing as well as others, you might expect the schools to work harder to bring everyone up to peak performance. Instead, they seem to want to drag the best performers down to an. “equal” Niveau of mediocrity

Fortunately, some parents were aware of this fact before the budget was approved and are trying to get it changed. Perhaps they will be able to force the district to at least keep the gifted and talented students program at its current levels, even if they can’t afford to expand it. But if not, some of these parents may need to do what we’ve seen happening in other school districts around the country. Parents and neighbors concerned about their children’s education have started running for school board positions and pushing for change. “progressive” Members who value woke policies more than quality education.

After they have finished adjusting the budget, parents might want to take a look at what curriculum is being used and which books are being given to their children. It’s possible that something has slipped through the system.