Educators urge lawmakers to reject cuts

During the first day of hearings on Gov. Martin O?Malley?s plan to fix a projected budget shortfall, Maryland schools advocates urged lawmakers to reject cutbacks on promised education funding.

After initially proposing a freeze on education funding under the Thornton reform act, O?Malley is now offering to guarantee each state jurisdiction at least a 1 percent increase in school aid next year. Educators also encouraged legislators in a joint hearing to fully fund the Thornton provision that allows school aid to increase with inflation.