Education Advocate

June 10, 2016

TAKE ACTION!
Funding for Afterschool/Community Schools and Public
Schools Falls Short in Mayor's Proposed Budget
Last year, the people of Baltimore City took to the
streets and spoke loudly about the need for more
opportunities and investment in communities
and youth. Mayor Rawlings-Blake responded by
directing $4.2 million towards afterschool and
Community School programs. Remarkably, after
just one year, the Mayor cut this funding in her
proposed budget this year. Further, her proposed
contribution to City Schools falls short by $2.8
million, according to an agreement between the
State and the City.*
The Mayor's budget is a significant step backwards
for city children. Due to budget constraints, City
Schools recently laid off 171 full-time employees many of them at the school level. And the Mayor's
$4.2 million cut will lead to nearly 3,000 lost
afterschool seats. Given last year's unrest and
uprising, it is clear that city students need more
resources and opportunities, not fewer.

Baltimore Education Coalition students from

Hampstead Hill Academy taking action to restore
funding for city schools.

TAKE ACTION at City Council's

Taxpayer's Night!
Tuesday, June 14, 5:30pm at City Hall
The ACLU is working with the Baltimore Education Coalition, CASA de Maryland, Communities
United, and others to urge City Council members to take action to ensure that funding is added
back to the budget for City Schools and Afterschool/Community Schools programming. Join
us! RSVP and MORE DETAILS HERE!

Urge Mayor to Restore $4.2 Million for Afterschool/Community Schools and

$2.8 Million for City Schools!

Call 410.396.3835 or email through the online contact form

Restoring the $4.2 million will allow nearly 3,000 students to keep their afterschool program

171 full-time school system employees were laid off due to budget constraints. The City
must do more for its schools and students.

As required by the state legislature, the City must increase its contribution to City Schools
by $10 million. Currently, the Mayor's budget falls short by $2.8 million.*

* In January 2016, the Governor's budget revealed a $25 million loss to the city school system due to a
decrease in student enrollment and a gain in city wealth. After the ACLU and Baltimore Education
Coalition worked with the state legislature to find a solution for the $25 million loss, Governor Hogan
added $12.7 million to his budget for City Schools. The legislature then added language in the state
budget requiring that the City increase its contribution to City Schools by $10 million to help mitigate the
funding loss. Last year's City allocation to City Schools was $258,212,181 and this year's proposed budget
includes $265,412,081 - $2.8 million short of the $10 million required by the state legislature.

American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland | Education Reform Project

Bebe Verdery, Director
Frank Patinella, Senior Education Advocate
Kimberly Humphrey, Legislative/Education Advocate
Gary Therkildsen, Education Advocate