Special Reports - Wasted Dollars Wasted Lives

City’s test scores remain flat despite Thornton school funds How well elementary and middle school students in Baltimore City public schools have benefited from Thornton funding over the past four years remains to be seen. The Thornton plan — passed by the General Assembly in 2002 and phased in the next year — was designed to push a standards-based approach for financing education and ensuring student achievement, particularly among low-achieving students. Read More
County mum on Thornton spending Baltimore County Public Schools officials have yet to comment on reports that the Thornton funds — intended to enhance student performance — were steered into other expenses such as teacher salaries. From fiscal 2002 to 2008, the county received an additional $220.6 million in Thornton funding for the same time frame, according to a state legislative report. Read More

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Demographic shifts may cut success of Md., Va. schools

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Maryland wins greater flexibility under No Child Left Behind

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Report: Area math, reading scores spike

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State wealth hurt by students failing to graduate

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Latest Examiner Comments on This Series

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RE: "Editorial: $3.5 billion down the hole" (6:56 PM MST)

Examiner Reader said, "How can school officials convince the public that more funds are needed when it appears that there is little to show for the 3.5 billion already allocated to them? They will try and convince us that progress has been made and that somehow local, state and federal government are to blame for any fai ..." (More)

RE: "Editorial: $3.5 billion down the hole" (9:53 AM MST)

A Howard County Resident And Taxpayer said, "It starts with the parents of the child. Unless the parents instill from the moment of the child's birth a thirst for learning that child is doomed to be a mediocre student. In this day and age no couple should become parents unless they want to take full responsibility and parenting is a full ti ..." (More)

RE: "Editorial: $3.5 billion down the hole" (4:29 AM MST)

William Cooke said, "I agree with you completely. I am sick of seeing my money spent on horrible schools. ..." (More)

RE: "Editorial: $3.5 billion down the hole" (7:57 PM MST)

Examiner Reader said, "Society needs to step up to the plate and be accountable, blame game only goes so far. The tools l and structure will be there, smaller class size, I am saying please and see what I get. ..." (More)

RE: "Thornton calls for update of school funding program" (5:23 PM MST)

Examiner reader said, "the thornton plan is a waste of money. immediately arrest and deport every illegal alien. no exceptions. ..." (More)

RE: "Editorial: $3.5 billion down the hole" (5:26 AM MST)

Bruce A said, "You can move them into better school districts and pump billions of dollars into the education system but the results are the same. How much more of "doctoring" the results can be allowed before the outcome sticks out like a sore thumb. Get to the root cause of the problem, the parents and the local ..." (More)

RE: "Editorial: $3.5 billion down the hole" (12:21 AM MST)

rentamob said, "maybe invest some of these billions into these kids, technical and mechanical skills that may come natural to some of them. with all of the institutions of higher learning in this area , is there know shame in these kinds of reports on the educational trends right out side their doors. learned and ..." (More)

RE: "Advocates: $500M in Thornton funds misspent" (3:39 PM MST)

Examiner Reader said, "When will we get an independent audit of the state's spending. Voters should demand accountability instead of electing people who are in the pockets of the crooks. ..." (More)

RE: "Budget fails to measure spending results" (3:27 PM MST)

EXAMINER READER said, "an easy way to cut state spending is to lower these massive salaries paid to these department heads, and quit creating positions for friends of the Govenor!! if someone can expalin to me how a State employee can make ends meet on 30-35K a year but the top can't at 200K, plus get cars expense account ..." (More)

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