Despite High Funding, Baltimore City Schools Struggle with Alarmingly Low Math Scores: Who Will Take Action?

by Chris Papst, Fox45 News, Mon, October 2nd 2023, 9:30 PM CDT

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Baltimore City Public Schools has a $1.7 Billion budget. Per student, that’s one of the highest in the nation among large school systems. But a recent Project Baltimore investigation found math scores across the district are alarmingly low.

This is not a new problem. The city school system has been struggling for years. The question remains who will take action to fix it?

At 13 Baltimore City high schools, zero students who took the state test last spring scored proficient in math. Nearly 75 percent of the students at those schools scored in the lowest of four levels meaning they weren’t close to scoring proficient.

And that’s not all, even at the five best performing high schools, where a combined 809 students took the state math test, just 11 percent scored proficient.

But last week, when Project Baltimore tried to get answers for the parents and students in those schools, the school system blocked our cameras from being in a public space, and the city school board refused to talk.

At 13 Baltimore City high schools, zero students who took the state test last spring scored proficient in math (WBFF)

After our cameras were blocked from recording outside the monthly school board meeting, Project Baltimore was told no one from Baltimore City Schools would be speaking with us.

If City school leaders won’t tell Fox45 News how they plan to improve student outcomes, who will?

Some of the key players who could take action include government entities that either fund or oversee City Schools. Let’s start with the lawmakers in Annapolis.

The Baltimore City school system has a $1.7 billion budget, and about 70 percent of that comes from the state.

Senate President Bill Ferguson represents Baltimore City. Two of those 13 high schools with poor math scores, New Era Academy and Patterson High School, are located in his district.

Project Baltimore, last week, sent Ferguson an email asking what he would tell the parents at those two schools and what urgent steps he’s taking to improve student outcomes. Project Baltimore did not hear back, but two weeks ago when we asked Ferguson who should be held accountable, he stood by the City Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises.

“One singular person is never the solution or the single problem,” Ferguson told Project Baltimore. “Obviously, we have to have unbelievable urgency. It’s not acceptable where we are. But that doesn’t mean that the entire system is broken.”

Instead of a change in leadership, state lawmakers have focused on funding to fix the city school system.

The city school system has been struggling for years. The question remains who will take action to fix it? (WBFF)

Over the next eight years, Maryland will invest $30 billion additional tax dollars into public education as part of The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, also known as the Kirwan Plan.

Gov. Wes Moore is a strong supporter of Kirwan. Earlier this year, he cut funding to a scholarship program that provides low-income families opportunities to send their child to private schools instead of struggling schools. He defended the decision by saying public dollars should be going into public schools.

So, will more money make a difference?

About 20 percent of Baltimore City School’s $1.7 billion budget comes from the city. Mayor Brandon Scott has been a strong supporter of Dr. Santelises. He’s celebrated her leadership in spite of massive scandals Project Baltimore has exposed including an investigation in 2021 into grade changing and inflated enrollment at Augusta Fells.

In light of the recent math scores, Project Baltimore sent an email to Mayor Scott and every member of the City Council asking if they still support Dr. Santelises and whether the results warrant a special hearing to question the school system.

Not one elected official responded. Not one. But Project Baltimore did speak with Councilman Robert Stokes at a recent City School Board meeting. We asked him who he holds accountable for 13 city high schools with zero students who tested proficient in math.

“I think it’s not just the school system,” explained Stokes. “You’ve got to find a way of helping parents involved in it.”

Stokes said he favors adjusting the math curriculum to make it more understandable to parents and students.

“A lot of times these math scores, the parents don’t understand when they bring the homework home. The parents don’t understand how to do the math,” Stokes told Project Baltimore.

As an elected official, Stokes wants to help strengthen Parent Teacher Associations, or PTAs.

In light of the recent math scores, Project Baltimore sent an email to Mayor Scott and every member of the City Council asking if they still support Dr. Santelises (WBFF)

But after generations of poor student outcomes, some have argued for more drastic solutions including state intervention.

While the State and City give Baltimore City Schools most of its funding, the system is overseen by the Maryland State Board of Education.

“The achievement levels, particularly coming out of the pandemic statewide and in Baltimore, are unacceptable,” State Board Vice President Joshua Michael recently told Project Baltimore.

At the Sept. 26 state school board meeting, Fox45 News asked the board president and vice president what responsibility they have to improve the quality of education in Baltimore City.

At the Sept. 26 state school board meeting, Fox45 News asked the board president and vice president what responsibility they have to improve the quality of education in Baltimore City (WBFF)

“We’re deeply committed to seeing those numbers increase,” Michael told Project Baltimore.

Traditionally, the school board has maintained that it doesn’t have the authority to directly intervene. But Maryland Board of Education President Clarence Crawford told Project Baltimore within 30 to 60 days the state will announce a new partnership with local school systems to improve student outcomes. Though he said, right now, he can’t give specifics.

“Believe me, it’s not lost on us. It is not lost on us, Crawford told Project Baltimore. “And we know we’re going to have to do some things differently.”

This article was originally published on October 2, 2023 by Fox 45 News.