The Kirwan Plan aims to improve Maryland's education system, making it more equitable and effective, preparing students for success in a competitive global economy.
Blueprint for Maryland Education, the Kirwan Plan
Grades 9-12
After being put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic and a governor’s veto, the Blueprint for Maryland Education, also known as the Kirwan Plan, the Maryland State Legislature voted to pass this bill in 2021. Implementation began in 2022. The plan is a major change in education policy for the state that includes an investment of billions of dollars.
In this lesson, students will explore the costs and benefits of the Kirwan Plan and how it will impact various stakeholders.
Teacher's Guide and Related Standards
Students will be able to describe the need for citizens to work together to advance and support issues affecting multiple stakeholders and to evaluate public policies.
- Why is it important to weigh costs and benefits when setting public policies?
- How do individuals and groups influence public opinions and public policy?
State Circle Clip
- Who are the stakeholders affected by the Kirwan Plan?
- What are the five policy areas, or pillars, that the Kirwan Plan will impact?
- What is the importance of public education?
Vocabulary
Supplemental Enrichment Activities
What is the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future?
Direct students to read this web page to learn more about the five pillars of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Then, have students get into groups to discuss the relative merits of each pillar and rank them from most to least important. Discuss group evaluations as a class.
Blueprint Funding: Formula and Accountability
Direct students to work in groups to review and evaluate the allocation for funding under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future outlined on this web page, noting any questions that students have. Next, discuss student evaluations and questions as a class. (Note: Inform students that hovering over the blue boxes below the heading, Understanding the Weighted Funding Formula, will display examples of each.)
Blueprint for Maryland’s Future: Implementation Timeline
Direct students to work in groups to review the Blueprint’s timeline, then research and investigate the implementation plan for their school district. As a class, discuss how students can keep apprised of how the implementation of the plan continues to be rolled out and how they might get involved to help ensure plan accountability.
Career Connections