Ask the Governor: Examining Education

[*] >> Jeff: WELCOME TO AN "ASK THE GOVERNOR" SPECIAL.

I'M JEFF SALKIN.

WE ARE IN THE MPT STUDIOS WHERE WE'RE JOINED BY A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE AND WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY A LIVE AND LIVELIER GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND GOVERNOR WES MOORE.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> IT IS MY PLEASURE THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL AND WE WILL FOCUS ON EDUCATION.

HOW ARE WE DOING AS A STATE WHEN IT COMES TO K-TWELVE EDUCATION?

>> OUR SCHOOLS ARE STRONG BUT I'M NOT SATISFIED.

THEY ARE STRONG BECAUSE WE HAVE THE STRONGEST EDUCATORS IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE THE STRONGEST PARENTS IN THE COUNTRY.

WE'VE GOT THE STRONGEST STUDENTS IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING AND CAN PROVIDE A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS.

BECAUSE OUR ECONOMY IS GOING TO RELY ON IT.

OUR FUTURE IS GOING TO RELY ON IT IT MEANS WE MUST PUT THE RIGHT KIND OF ATTENTION AND FOCUS TO GET THE RESULTS WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

>> Jeff: TO SETUP SOME OF THE ISSUES IN EDUCATION, MPT'S NANCY AMATTA FILED THIS REPORT.

>> MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE REPORTS ABOUT THE LACK OF SPECIAL ED SUPPORT.

ONE OF MY KIDS IS IN SPECIAL NEEDS AND WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET FOR THEM RIGHT NOW.

>> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT LIMITING ACCESS TO BOOKS, BANNING BOOKS IN SOME PLACES.

AND REALLY JUST RESTRICTING KNOWLEDGE ON ANYTHING RELATED TO MINORITIES.

>> THEY STARTED THE SCHOOL YEAR BRINGS EXCITEMENT AND WORRY FOR PARENTS IN GERMANTOWN FOR SUPERINTENDENTS LIKE THE SUPERINTENDENT FROM HOWARD COUNTY SCHOOLS.

>> I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD.

THIS IS OUR YEAR TO SHINE.

I'M PUTTING LOTS OF FOCUS ON ATTENDANCE CREATING A CULTURE OF SHOWING UP.

>> THE SCHOOL YEAR BRINGS OPTIMISM AND A LIST OF GOALS.

>> EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO READING.

WE HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CAN READ AND EARLY INTERVENTIONS MATTER.

CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRE-K TO GET THE KIDDOS IN HERE EARLY TO BEGIN THE PROCESS.

HOW DO WE RESPOND WHEN STUDENTS ARE FAILING.

RESPONDING WITH URGENCY AND INTERVENTIONS THAT ALLOW THEM TO GET TO THE LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY.

>> AS FOR THE STATE TEACHERS' UNION.

>> WE DO SEE BURN-OUT AMONG OUR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS.

THEY ARE ASKED TO DO SO MUCH.

>> MARYLAND STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT SHARYL BOATS SAYS HIRING MORE SUPPORT STAFF AND RAISING TEACHER PAY WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARD RETAINING AND HIRING QUALITY TEACHERS.

AND SHE SAYS INCREASINGLY TEACHERS ARE APPEALING TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PRIORITIZE MENTAL HEALTH.

>> STUDENTS ARE FACED WITH TRAUMA AS WE COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH COUNSELORS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS WITHIN THE DAY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND DEESCALATE ISSUES THAT WE SEE THAT START TO BUBBLE UP.

>> THE DOCTOR AGREES.

>> MY WIFE SUFFERED GREATLY FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

AND TOOK HER OWN LIFE A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> HE SAYS HIS TRAGEDY LED TO A PERSONAL CRUSADE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND LEAD WITH EMPATHY AND COMPASSION.

>> I SEE MY STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.

I SEE MY STAFF MEMBERS STRUGGLING EMOTIONALLY.

IF WE ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF ALL OF THE WELLNESS FOR MY STUDENTS, AND FOR MY TEACHERS AND MY STAFF, HOW CAN QUALITY INSTRUCTION OCCUR?

>> BOATS SAY TEACHERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CURRICULUM AND THE VITRIOL DIRECTED TOWARDS SCHOOL BOARDS.

>> WE HAVE TAKEN THIS POLITICAL HYSTERIA AND WEAPONIZED IT AGAINST OUR SCHOOLS AND THAT DOES IMPACT OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR TEACHERS AND WHETHER PEOPLE WANT TO GET INTO THE PROFESSION.

>> I'M NANCY AMATTA.

>> Jeff: THANK YOU.

WE WILL HAVE QUESTIONS FROM OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE AND WE TALKED TO 0 VIEWERS AROUND THE STATE OF MARYLAND HERE IS A LOOK.

>> HI I'M KAZAN DA DRA.

I AM FROM MARYLAND.

GOVERNOR MORE I HAVE A KINDERGARTENER STARTING HERE IN CLARKSBURG ELEMENTARY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND CAN YOU TELL US MORE ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT SAFETY IN SCHOOLS?

>> Jeff: GOVERNOR THE ISSUE IS SAFETY DRIVEN HOME BY EVENTS IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

>> AND FIRST, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER HIS FAMILY IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY WHO IS NOW DEALING WITH THE HORRIFIC, HORRIFIC AND UNACCEPTABLE RESULTS OF THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE.

THAT WE'RE SEEING IN FAR TOO MANY COMMUNITIES.

AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AS WELL.

BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING THAT WEIGHS HEAVIER ON MY MIND AS A STATE'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT SHOULD WEIGH HEAVIER THAN MAKING SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE.

AND OUR FAMILIES SHOULD FEEL SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OWN WORKPLACE.

CHILDREN SHOULD FEEL SAFE IN THE PLACE THEY ARE BEING EDUCATED.

AND IT'S THE REASON WHY THAT WE HAVE TAKEN SUCH AN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH ON THIS.

AND I AM UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TAKEN AN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH.

WE'VE INSURED MARYLAND HAS SOME OF THE TOUGHEST GUN VIOLENCE LAWS IN THE COUNTRY AND PUT IN AN ADDITIONAL HISTORIC $35 MILLION TOWARDS BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH TOWARDS OUR STUDENTS TO MAKING SURE THEY ARE GETTING THE BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS AND THAT GOES TO BOTH OUR STUDENTS AND ALSO OUR EDUCATORS WHO ARE INSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.

IT'S THE REASON THAT WE'VE BEEN AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE'RE GETTING AND KEEPING THESE ILLEGAL GUNS OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND STREETS AND HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE WHO ARE BRINGING THEM INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

IF YOU LOOK AT BALTIMORE CITY ALONE 65% OF THE FIREARMS THAT HAVE BEEN CAPTURED ARE NOT FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

THEY ARE TRAFFICKED IN.

AND SO WE HAVE TO CREATE ENVIRONMENTS INSIDE OF OUR SCHOOLS WHERE OUR EDUCATORS FEEL SAFE TO DO THEIR WORK.

WHERE OUR CHILDREN FEEL SAFE TO BE EDUCATED.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MEASUREMENT OF SAFETY, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU HAVE FOR CURRICULUM.

IT'S NOT GOING TO MATTER.

YOU GOT TO START WITH GETTING THAT RIGHT.

AND IT'S THE REASON WHY WE HAVE BEEN AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS IT AND WE ARE GOING TO KEEP ON BEING AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS MAKING SURE WE CAN GET IT RIGHT.

I TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, JEFF, I REFUSE TO BE A GOVERNOR WHO IS GOING TO SPEND MY TERM ATTENDING FUNERALS AND GIVING THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND NOT PASSING LEGISLATION AND NOT DOING ANYTHING WITH YOUR BUDGET TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE ME AND NOT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE MOMENT?

>> Jeff: LET'S TAKE A QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE.

TELL US YOUR NAME AND QUESTION.

>> .

>> TORREY, A SENIOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MAJOR, AND MY QUESTION IS WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO LESSEN EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY.

>> GREAT QUESTION.

FIRST LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU FOR RAISING YOUR HANDS TO SERVE.

BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A GENERATIONAL IMPACT IN THE WORK YOU ARE DOING AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR IT.

AND I THINK WHEN WE STARTED OFF THIS ENTIRE JOURNEY TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IT STARTED WITH A BASIS AND A PROMISE TO LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND.

THAT'S NOT JUST A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN.

AND IT IS AHE NOT JUST NOW OUR NEW STATE MOTTO IT IS LITERALLY A GOVERNING PHILOSOPHY THAT WE LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND.

SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CREATING THE RIGHT SYSTEMS AND INVESTING PROPERLY, IT MEANS MAKING SURE AND WHEN WE MADE HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM WHERE WE INVESTED OVER $87 BILLION GOING TOWARDS PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WHEN $88 BILLION TOWARDS THE STATE OF MARYLAND WE MADE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS 900 MILLION GOING TOWARD THE BLUEPRINT WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE NOT SOME STUDENTS GET THE EDUCATION AT SUPPORTS BUT ALL.

AND THAT MEANS WORKING WITH THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVES WORKING WITH OUR PRINCIPALS OUR SUPERINTENDENTS, WORKING WITH PARENTS.

BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS GOT TO BE ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IN OUR STATE NO MATTER WHAT ZIP CODE YOU CALL HOME THEY WILL GET THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED.

AND WE HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT SPENDING A LITTLE EXTRA TIME ON THOSE JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY IGNORED.

WE CANNOT BE AFRAID TO SAY THE DISPARITIES WE HAVE IN MARYLAND WITH EVERY SINGLE FACET THAT FOR MANY OF THEM THEY ARE GENERATIONAL.

AND THEY ARE LONGSTANDING.

SO IN THIS TIME IN OUR ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT IGNORING THE DISPARITIES BUT ACTUALLY LEANING IN AND SPENDING EXTRA TIME WITH EXTRA RESOURCESTORS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY IGNORED AND HISTORICALLY LEFT BEHIND.

>> Jeff: THE LATEST TEST SCORES MAKE CLEAR THAT SOME KIDS ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER FACTORS.

THE ENGLISH SCORES WERE UP A LITTLE BIT AND MATH SCORES WERE TERRIBLE LIKE 75% OF KIDS ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN MATH.

AND THE PANDEMIC HURT IN ALL SORTS OF WAYS DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS AND THE KIDS THEMSELVES.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO WE WERE IN THIS STUDIO DOING THE GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE AND I ASKED THE CANDIDATES HAVE WE DONE ENOUGH TO HELP KIDS RECOVER FROM PANDEMIC LEARNING LOSS?

AND THE ANSWER WAS NO.

I WONDER, I FEAR THAT A YEAR LATER THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION MAY STILL BE NO.

>> AND THE ANSWER IS STILL NO.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE IMPACTS THAT HAPPENED WITHIN COVID THEY WERE DEVASTATING.

THEY WERE DEVASTATING ON FAMILIES.

THEY WERE DEVASTATING ON CHILDREN.

THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL LEARNING AND EXCLUSIVE DIGITAL LEARNING WAS DEVASTATING ON SO MANY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES PARTICULARLY WHEN WE STILL HAVE A STATE GOING BACK TO TORY'S QUESTION WE HAVE A STATE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A STATE THAT HAS FULL INTERNET OR BROADBAND ACCESS.

HOW CAN YOU HAVE EDUCATIONAL PARITY WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE BASIC MECHANISMS TO MAKE THAT REAL.

AND NOW IS A REAL PART AND REASON WHY I CHOSE TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES, AND HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE WHICH I AM NOT JUST FULLY IN FAVOR OF WE ARE NOT GOING TO RETREAT FROM.

THE REALITY IS WHEN THE BLUEPRINT WAS BEING CREATED THE WORD WE DID NOT KNOW AT THE TIME THAT WORD WAS COVID.

THERE HAVE BEEN VERY REAL IMPATS THAT WE HAE TO BE ABLE TO WRESTLE WITH AND MAKING SURE THE RESULTS WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER THAT THEY ARE TARGETED, THAT WE'RE USING FEDERAL RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO CATCH STUDENTS UP WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND AND MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITIES FEEL THAT FULL LEVEL OF SUPPORT NECESSARY TO CATCH US UP.

>> Jeff: WE SEE OTHER STATES BEING MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE.

I HAVE NOT SEEN A TOTAL ACCOUNTING AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE WITH STATE AID AND FEDERAL AID BEEN DOING SOME THINGS TO HELP STUDENTS CATCH UP.

YOU SEE OTHER STATES THAT ARE HOLDING BACK AND IT IS A CONTROVERSIAL HOLDING BACK A LOT OF KIDS EXTENDING THE SCHOOL DAY, EXTENDING THE SCHOOL YEAR.

DO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING THAT DRAMATIC?

>> WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THE WORLD THEY ARE GOING TO INHERIT.

AND WE NEED TO BE CREATIVE AND DATA DRIVEN.

AND SO IT MEANS WORKING IN COORDINATION AND WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WITH OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH OUR PARTNERS WITH OUR EDUCATORS, WITH OUR PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT'S WORKING.

AND MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THAT.

BEFORE I RAN FOR GOVERNOR, I NEVER RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

I DON'T COME FROM A POLITICAL FAMILY.

I DON'T COME FROM A POLITICAL LINEAGE I DECIDED I WAS RUNNING ONE OF THE LARGEST POVERTY FIGHTING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY AND I WANT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

AND I DIDN'T RUN FOR GOVERNOR SO I COULD JUST PICK UP WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE DOING.

I RAN FOR GOVERNOR BECAUSE I SAID THERE IS A WAY AND THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE WE CAN THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THE WAY WE'RE DOING THIS WORK.

AND ABOUT HOW WE CAN MOVE AGGRESSIVELY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY FAMILY IS TOUCHED AND NOT JUST SOME.

PART OF WHAT I DID BEFORE I RAN FOR GOVERNOR, I'VE BEEN IN THE WOKE FOR I ALONG TIME, IS FIND BEST PRACTICES, IDENTIFY THEM AND SCALE THOSE.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE MINDSET AND THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH THE PARTNERSHIPS WE'RE PULLING TOGETHER.

FIND WHAT WORKS.

USE DATA AROUND THAT.

AND SCALE IT.

BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH EVERYONE OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO.

>> Jeff: BACK TO ANOTHER VIEWER QUESTIONS FROM AROUND THE STATE.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> HI.

GOVERNOR MOORE I'M CONCERNED THAT WE AS PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OPT-OUT OF CERTAIN CURRICULUM SUCH AS LGBTQ CURRICULUM.

WE'RE ABLE TO OPT-OUT OF REPRODUCTIVE COURSES FOR KIDS AND INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS.

COULD YOU TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> Jeff: GOVERNOR?

>> THANK YOU, MAUREEN AND THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

I'M THE PARENT OF A 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND A NINE-YEAR-OLD SON.

AND I'M VERY INVOLVED IN THEIR EDUCATION AS IS MY WIFE AND THEIR MOM.

WE KNOW THAT WE MOVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEIR EDUCATORS.

BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE THE SAME GOAL.

AND THAT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE PREPARED FOR THE WORLD THAT THEY ARE GOING TO INHERIT.

I KNOW THAT LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ARE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS AND PTA'S AND LOCAL ELECTED LEADERS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE CURRICULUM IN JURISDICTIONS THAT IS AGE APPROPRIATE, AND THAT ONE THAT THEY BELIEVE IS BEST ENHANCING THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

BUT THE GUIDANCE THAT I WOULD GIVE TO OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, NOT JUST AS THE GOVERNOR, BUT THE GUIDANCE I WOULD GIVE AS A FATHER, IS IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN FEEL SAFE.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN FEEL SUPPORTED.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN CAN SEE THEMSELVES.

AND TO KNOW THAT WHEN THEY SEE THEMSELVES IN THAT WORK, THAT IS BEING DONE IN A WAY THAT IS NOT JUST SUPPORTING THEM BUT IT'S UPLIFTING THEM.

AND SO I KNOW THAT LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF TURNING WHAT WORKS IN THEIR JURISDICTIONS.

BUT THE GUIDANCE THAT I WOULD JUST GIVE IS JUST AS YOU ARE DOING THAT, DOING IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS, MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN CAN FEEL SUPPORTED AND SEEN IN THAT PROCESS.

>> Jeff: YOU KNOW THERE'S A LAWSUIT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY A GROUP OF MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN PARENTS WHO WENT TO FEDERAL COURT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO OPT-OUT OF LESSONS IN EARLY ELEMENTARY GRADES TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY.

QUESTION FOR YOU IS: IS THERE AN AGE WHERE IT'S THAT CURRICULUM IS NOT APPROPRIATE?

IS THERE A POINT WHEN YOUR KIDS WERE FIVE OR SIX, WHERE YOU FEEL IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO EARLY TO INTRODUCE THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ARE DOING THIS IN PARTNERSHIP AND IN CONSULTATION WITH PARENTS AND STUDENTS AND INSURING THAT THE TIME RESULT THAT THEY COME UP TO IS ONE THERE IS A MEASURE OF TRANSPARENCY, ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AGREEMENT ON THIS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S NOT UP TO AND NOT LEGALLY RIGHT FOR THE STATE TO DICTATE WHAT THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ARE GOING TO DO.

BUT I THINK WHATEVER DECISION THEY COME TO IT HAS TO BE DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARENTS AND HAS TO BE DONE IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITIES.

>> Jeff: LET'S GO BACK TO THE AUDIENCE FOR A QUESTION.

TELL US YOUR NAME AND YOUR QUESTION.

>> HI, MY QUESTION IS WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE IMPACT OF AI DIRECTLY IN THE CLASSROOM AND WHERE DO YOU THINK MOST OF THE INNOVATION COMES FROM WITHIN K-12 AND ED TECH PROVIDERS.

>> THANK YOU.

I TELL YOU, YOU MUST HAVE BEEN IN OUR HOUSEHOLD THIS WEEKEND THIS IS A HOT DEBATE IN OUR HOUSE.

WHERE SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I'M ASKING A QUESTION OF OUR KIDS AND DID CHATURVEDI GIVE YOU THAT -- CHAT GBT GIVE YOU THAT ANSWER?

IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S REAL.

I'M INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT I THINK IS THE HOPE OF AI.

AND WHAT I THINK AI CAN BRING NOT JUST WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION BUT OUR WORKFORCE AND IT COMES TO PRODUCTIVITY AND BECOMES A QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND WHAT IT CAN MEAN FOR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES.

THERE IS A WHOLE LOT TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AI CAN ACTUALLY BRING.

AND I THINK MARYLAND CAN UNIQUELY LEAD ON THIS ISSUE.

BECAUSE OF THE RESOURCES, BECAUSE OF THE ASSETS WE HAVE HERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND THERE IS NO REASON WHY MARYLAND CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT BE THE LEADER OF AI.

ONE OF THE REASONS I'M EXCITED WE ARE NOW ONE OF THE FIRST STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS A SENIOR ADVISER FOR RESPONSIBLE AI IN MY DEPARTMENT.

IN OUR GOVERNMENT.

WE JUST HIRED THEM AND BROUGHT HIM ONBOARD.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE HOPE.

I ALSO KNOW THIS IS A VERY POWERFUL TECHNOLOGY.

AND A FAST EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE NOT ON OUR HEELS ON THIS.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE NOT CAUGHT BY SURPRISE ON THIS.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE HAVE MEASUREMENTS OF CONTROL AS TO WHAT HAPPENS AND HOW IT'S EVOLVING.

I'M INCREDIBLELY EXCITED WHAT IT CAN MEAN FOR OUR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES AND OUR SOCIETY.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET AHEAD OF IT.

AND NOT BE CAUGHT FLATFOOTED ON IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: AT THE SAME TIME THEY WERE FOCUSED ON THIS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STUFF THAT IS GOING TO AUTOMATE MY JOB I KNOW IT'S COMING.

YOU WERE DOING.

>> YOU WILL NEVER BEEN AUTOMATED.

>> Jeff: I WILL BE ASKING YOU QUESTIONS IN MY AFTER LIFE.

BUT I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE.

SO I MEAN THAT IS ONE SIDE OF THE EQUATION.

THE LATEST, GREATEST FANCIEST SPEEDIEST COMPUTERS.

ON THE OTHER HAND YOU WERE AT WESTERN TECH IN BALTIMORE COUNTY TODAY A LOT MORE PRACTICAL TODAY HANDS ON STUFF.

HOW DO THEY COMBINE?

>> I LOVE MY VISIT TO WESTERN TECH EARLIER BECAUSE AND I SAID IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLS IN OUR STATE.

AND PEOPLE SAY THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE MANY OF THE STUDENT ALSO NOT GO ON TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

AND I SAID WELL HERE'S THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST FOUR YEAR INSTITUTIONS IN AMERICA.

HERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND THAT IS SOMETHING I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF.

I ALSO KNOW THIS... WE ARE GOING TO END THIS MYTH THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR CHILDREN MUST ATTEND ONE OF THEM IN ORDER TO BE ECONOMICALLY SUCCESSFUL.

IT'S NOT TRUE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BUILD UPON THAT.

I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET DYLAN EARLIER TODAY.

AND DYLAN SAID I KNEW BY MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT I WASN'T GOING TO COLLEGE.

I KNEW BY MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT COLLEGE WAS NOT FOR ME.

AND DYLAN RIGHT NOW HE'S ON THE ELECTRICIAN TRACK AT WESTERN.

DYLAN IS GOING TO BE SET TO MAKE CLOSE TO SIX FIGURES AS SOON AS HE GRADUATES.

DYLAN'S GOOD.

[LAUGHTER] >> Jeff: NO QUESTION.

>> NO QUESTION AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE SPEAKING TO ANOTHER YOUNG MAN WHO IS WORKING AS A PLUMBER.

AND I TOLD HIM ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT THE WORK YOU ARE DOING IS YOUR JOB IS NEVER GOING TO BE AUTOMATED.

IF A PIPE BUSTS IN HERE RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO APP I CAN PUSH TO FIX THAT.

I AM AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OUTSOURCED I CAN'T CALL ANOTHER COUNTRY.

I NEED YOU TO COME DO THIS.

SO I'M INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS WE HAVE MADE.

WE HAVE MADE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN OUR FIRST MONTHS IN CAREER, TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

AND THERE IS A REASON FOR IT.

IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CREATE PATHWAYS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS NO MATTER WHERE THEY START AND NO MATTER WHERE THEIR HOPEFUL END IS.

EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC SUCCESS SO BEING ABLE TO INVEST IN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND TRADE PROGRAMS AND JOB RESKILLING AND RETRAINING PROGRAMS THAT IS GOING TO BE A HALLMARK OF THE WAY THAT OUR ADMINISTRATION MOVES.

>> Jeff: LET'S TAKE ANOTHER QUESTION FROM THE FLOOR.

TELL US YOUR NAME AND YOUR QUESTION.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON I'M Dr. WONG.

SUPPORTING TEACHER DIVERSITY WAS CAREER PATHWAYS ARE CRITICAL TO INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE.

COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY WITH THE FIVE EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS INAUGURATED CREDENTIALS AS MODEL CAREER LETTERS TO SUPPORT TEACHERS IN RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS MARYLAND.

GOVERNOR, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO SCALE EDUCATIONAL INNOVATIONS UNDER THE BLUEPRINT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Dr. WONG THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE AT COPPIN AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT FOR ALL OF US TO BE EXCITED ABOUT.

AND THE REASON WHY THAT IN OUR ADMINISTRATION THIS IS GOING TO BE THE TIME THAT WE ARE GOING TO ENACT IT AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO RETREAT FROM IT.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS SO EXCITING ABOUT IT IS HOW EXACTLY WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE ABILITY TO NOT JUST RECRUIT NEW EDUCATORS INTO THE FIELD, BUT ALSO RETAIN.

MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING TOP EDUCATORS INSIDE OF OUR CLASSROOMS, CREATING THOSE CAREER PATHWAYS TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GAIN EVERY SINGLE CAREER ADVANCING OPPORTUNITY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY ADVANCING OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE AND THE BLUEPRINT HELPS TO CREATE PATHWAYS TOWARDS THAT.

WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE INVESTMENTS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE EVEN IN OUR EARLIEST TIME OUR EARLIEST DAYS THE FACT WE'VE PUT $900 MILLION TOWARDS THE BLUEPRINT AND MAKING SURE THAT IT CAN BE PROPERLY ENACTED.

THE FACT THAT ONE OF THE FIRST BILLS THAT WE AUTHORED THAT WE INTRODUCED AND I PROUDLY SIGNED WAS THE EDUCATOR SHORTAGE ACT AND IT FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE WE CAN GET TOP QUALITY EDUCATORS INTO THE CLASSROOM, KEEP THEM IN THE CLASSROOM AND PUT A FOCUS ON NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED AND HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED.

WE WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS THE STATE THAT SERVES AND FOR OUR EDUCATORS WHO CHOOSE TO RAISE THEIR HAND IN THIS PROFESSION THAT THIS IS A PLACE WE CANNOT JUST PROVIDE A JOB, BUT A FULFILLING CAREER FOR HOW THEY ARE THINK BEING THEIR WORK AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO GOING FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.

>> THANK YOU, Dr. WONG.

>> Jeff: THE CONTRACT IS COMING UP FOR THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

IT IS A HIGH PRESSURE JOB AND THE INCUMBENT HAS HAD BAD PRESS AND ALSO HAS SUPPORTERS.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HIM REAPPOINTED?

>> WELL, I KNOW THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS BEEN ON THE JOB NOW FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.

HE CAME IN UNDER MY PREDECESSOR.

AND I KNOW THAT MSDE IS AN INDEPENDENT BODY AND THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE THEIR DECISION ON THE CONTRACT EXTENSION AND I KNOW IT SHOULD BE COMING UP SOON.

HERE'S THE THING THAT I DO KNOW.

THERE ARE A COUPLE GUIDELINES THAT I'M GIVING AS THE GOVERNOR.

THE FIRST IS WE NEED TO HAVE A 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT GETS BACK TO THE BASICS.

THAT FOCUSES ON THINGS LIKE READING, AND MATHEMATICS.

I WANT US TO BE THE TOP IN THE NATION IN READING AND MATHEMATICS.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THE BASICS RIGHT.

THE SECOND COMPONENT I BELIEVE DEEPLY IN THE TENANTS AND THE PROMISE OF THE BLUEPRINT.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT THAT IS ABLE TO ENACT THOSE THINGS.

WHEN I SAY THE TENANTS OF THE BLUEPRINT, IT INCLUDES CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION, AND INCLUDES STARTING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, BECAUSE 80% OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT WILL HAPPEN IN A CHILD BY THE TIME THE CHILD IS FIVE YEARS OLD.

WHY WE HAVE KIDS STARTING SCHOOL AT FIVE MAKES NO SENSE AND THE THIRD PIECE IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT THAT MOVES WITH ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, HIGH RESULTS, AND PARTNERSHIP.

SO I'M LESS INTERESTED IN GETTING TO THE PIECE ABOUT PERSONALITY I'M FOCUSED ON PERFORMANCE.

MSDE IS GOING TO MAKE THE DECISION ON THE EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT.

MY GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR AS TO WHAT I EXPECT AND HOPE FOR.

>> Jeff: INTERESTING SITUATION WE HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE STATE HOUSE WE HAVE APPOINTEES OF THE OLD GOVERNOR IN IMPORTANT POSITIONS.

THIS BOARD IS MAYBE A COUPLE OF WES MOORE APPOINTEES ON IT.

YOU HAVE THE BULLYPULPIT AND IF I HEARD YOU RIGHT I DID NOT HEAR A RINGING ENDORSEMENT FOR RENEWING THE CONTRACT?

>> I THINK THE BOARD HAS HEARD ME LOUD AND CLEAR AS TO WHAT I EXPECT AND WHAT I WANT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT.

AND I THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO I HAVE APPOINTED AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THE CURRENT BOARD THE MAJORITY OF THE CURRENT BOARD ARE MADE OF PEOPLE APPOINTED BY MY PREDECESSOR.

THE CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT IS SOMEONE WHO WAS APPOINTED DURING THE TIME OF MY PREDECESSOR.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO I HAVE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD WHICH IS NOT THE MAJORITY, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT.

AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE GUIDANCE THAT HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT, READING, MATHEMATICS.

THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY THAT WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUSTAINABLY AND RESPONSIBLY IMPLEMENTING THE TENANTS OF THE BLUEPRINT.

AND THAT I EXPECT US TO MOVE IN ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND PARTNERSHIP.

THEY UNDERSTAND MY GUIDANCE.

AND I'M -- I KNOW THAT THE FINAL DECISION AND I WILL WORK WITH ANYBODY.

I WILL WORK WITH ANYBODY WHO IS ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR CHILDREN ARE GETTING EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED TO NOT JUST SURVIVE BUT TO THRIVE.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THAT WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT.

>> Jeff: OUR VIEWERS HAVE HEARD THE WORD BLUEPRINT NOW MULTIPLE TIMES IN THIS BROADCAST.

BUT WHAT IS A IN A BLUEPRINT FOR OUR SUE COPPIN HAS THIS REPORT.

>> IT IS A SATURDAY IN AUGUST.

AND HERE AT BALTIMORE'S PRATT LIBRARY.

>> IS EVERYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE BLUEPRINT.

DID EVERYONE RECEIVE A COPY?

>> IT IS ANOTHER STOP FOR STRONG SCHOOLS MARYLAND ON THE SUMMER TOUR SEEKING INPUT ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT.

JAMAL TURNER SAYS THE STATE-WIDE TOUR TURNED UP A NUMBER OF CONCERNS.

>> FOLKS NOT FEELING AS IF STUDENT VOICES ARE AS INCORPORATED WITHIN THE CONVERSATION AS THEY SHOULD BE.

ALSO THE CONCERN WITH STAFFING FOR US INSURING THAT WE HAVE THE EDUCATORS AVAILABLE TO FACILITATE THE INSTRUCTION THAT IS NEEDED FOR OUR KIDS TO GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND ONCE THAT ARE DIVERSE AND ARE INCENTIVIZED TO STAY AS WELL.

>> THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED THE BLUEPRINT IN 2020.

GOVERNOR HOGAN VETO TO DO SAYING HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST.

THE LEGISLATURE OVERRODE THAT VETO SETTING IN MOTION IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 10-YEAR MULTIBILLION DOLLAR PUBLIC EDUCATION REFORM PLAN.

THE BLUEPRINT IS BROKEN DOWN INTO PILLARS.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

HIGH QUALITY AND DIVERSE TEACHERS AND LEADERS.

COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.

IMPROVING RESOURCES TO INSURE STUDENT SUCCESS AND GOVERNANCE.

PROVISIONS IN THE BLUEPRINT INCLUDE EXPANDING ALL DAY PRE-K. PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL ED STUDENTS.

EXPANDING FAMILY SUPPORT CENTERS, INCREASING PAY FOR TEACHERS.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE SHARING IN THE COST OF THE BLUEPRINT AND SENATE MINORITY LEADER SAYS THAT'S PROVING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

>> WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF COUNTIES ON THE EASTERN SHORE THAT HAVE A HIGH WEALTH INDEX SPECIFICALLY KENT COUNTY ONE OF THE ONES I REPRESENT AND THEY ARE SAYING WE CANNOT AFFORD WHAT THE BLUEPRINT WOULD COST.

THEY HAVE DECLINING ENROLLMENT, DECLINING POPULATION IN THE COUNTY.

AND THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO DO IT.

>> HERSHY SAYS HE EXPECTS LAWMAKERS TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE PROGRAM.

>> WHAT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO GET TO IS A BLUEPRINT LIGHT WHERE KERWIN LIGHT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SEE NOT AS MUCH AS WHAT WAS PASSED THROUGH LEGISLATION BUT ALLOW THE COUNTIES TO COME BACK AND PICK BITS AND PIECES OF THIS AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN IMPLEMENT.

>> AND THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE STATE'S FISCAL FUTURE AS WELL AS HOW INFLATION WILL IMPACT THE BLUEPRINT.

>> THE PER PUPIL FUNDING IN THE BLUEPRINT LAW ARE SPECIFIED BY THE DOLLAR FOR EACH YEAR.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT UNCERTAINTY ABOUT FUTURE INFLATION.

WE RECOMMEND AS A SOLUTION TO THAT, MODIFYING THE BLUEPRINT TO SPECIFY THAT THE PER PUPIL FUNDING AMOUNTS NEED TO BE ADJUSTED BOTH FOR THEIR ACTUAL REAL PURCHASING POWER IN OTHER WORDS IMPLEMENTING THE POLICY GOALS OF THE BLUEPRINT AND ALSO EACH YEAR ADJUSTING FOR THAT YEAR'S INFLATION.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE FOR THE BLUEPRINT... TO INSURE ALL STUDENTS GRADUATE READY TO TACKLE COLLEGE OR ENTER THE WORKFORCE.

THE JOURNEY IS NOW UNDERWAY.

I'M SUE COPPIN.

>> Jeff: SUE, THANK YOU.

GOVERNOR, YOU WEREN'T IN OFFICE YET WHEN THE BLUEPRINT WAS NEGOTIATED, VOTED ON ADOPTED, VETO WAS OVERRIDDEN.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN THERE THAT YOU WOULD TWEAK?

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE A 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR OUR CHILDREN.

FULL STOP.

AND BECAUSE IF WE ARE NOT WILLING TO INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, THEN WE ARE NOT WILLING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE OUR STATE COMPETE.

BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT OUR STATE RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW ECONOMICALLY OUR STATE IS NOT COMPETING.

WE ARE CURRENTLY RANKED 47TH IN ECONOMIC MOMENTUM.

MARYLAND'S ECONOMY IS THE SAME SIZE AS IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO.

MARYLAND'S ECONOMY HAS GROWN BY .2%.

THE AVERAGE STATE IN THE COUNTRY THEIR'S HAS GROWN BY 7.5.

WE'RE FALLING BEHIND.

WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR KIDS AND INVESTING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WHEN PEOPLE SAY WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

WHAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IS NOT HAVE A 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION SYSTEM.

>> AND YOU'VE SAID NO TAX INCREASES AND THE BILL FOR KERWIN IS MILLIONS A YEAR.

>> THERE'S TWO THINGS.

ONE IS WE DO BIG THINGS.

WE'VE BEEN BOLD.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE BOLD.

AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

I BELIEVE IN THE BLUEPRINT.

I BELIEVE IN THE TENANTNESS AND I KNOW THE REALITY IS THAT I AM COMING OFF OF A MY PREDECESSOR DID NOT.

DID NOT FUND IT.

DID NOT BELIEVE IN IT.

DID NOT PUSH FORWARD.

WE WILL IN OUR TIME AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE AND I WILL WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEGISLATURE YOU ARE RIGHT THIS IS PASSED BEFORE I BECAME THE GOVERNOR BUT WE ARE GOING TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO INSURE THAT THE BLUEPRINT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED SUSTAINABLY AND RESPONSIBLY.

FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLY, FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLY AND OTHERWISE.

BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO RETREAT FROM THE FACT THAT OUR CHILDREN DESERVE THIS 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION SYSTEM.

BECAUSE FOR PEOPLE THAT SAY THEY DON'T, MY QUESTION IS WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHO ARE YOU GOING TO TELL THEY SHOULD NOT GET THAT?

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT GOING TO RETREAT FROM IT BUT WE ARE GOING TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS DONE SUSTAINABLY AND RESPONSIBLY.

>> Jeff: BACK TO OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE.

SIR TELL US YOUR NAME AND YOUR QUESTION.

>> PHIL, HELLO GOVERNOR.

AS A PARENT, I AND EDUCATOR I AGREE WITH THE NOTION THAT WELL-BEING COMES FIRST.

WE CAN'T LOOK AT THE CURRICULUM WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE PERSON FIRST.

AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA SO WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE WAYS IN WHICH STUDENTS ARE ASSESSED AND TEACHERS ARE ASKED TO TEACH OFTEN CREATE THE WELL-BEING ISSUES IN SCHOOLS.

SO I'M WONDERING WHAT RESOURCES OR PLANS OR SUPPORTS WE ARE LOOKING AT AS A STATE THAT LOOKS THE THAT CYCLE OF ASSESSMENT THAT IS CONNECTED TO ANXIETY AND OTHER WELL-BEING ISSUES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS?

>> BLESS YOU THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, TOO.

I WATCH WHAT IT MEANS FOR MYSELF AS A PARENT.

THAT THE PRESSURES HAD THAT OUR KIDS THAT THEY ARE FACING THEY ARE REAL AND THEY ARE MOUNTING.

SOME OF THE PRESSURES AND SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I KNOW THAT I'M HAVING WITH MY KIDS AT 12 AND NINE I'M LIKE MAN IT'S TOUGHER TO BE A KID NOW THAN WHEN I WAS COMING UP.

THESE ARE REAL AND THE LEVEL OF ANXIETY AND THE STRESSORS THAT THEY ARE FEELING AND YOU TURN AND AROUND US AS PARENTS THAT ARE FEELING ARE ALSO REAL BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO FIND SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE MY DAY INSTANTANEOUSLY TELL ME SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH MY CHILDREN.

EVERYTHING CHANGES.

SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AND THE REASON WE HAVE MOVED SO AGGRESSIVELY IN OUR FIRST NINE MONTHS ON THIS ISSUE, AND THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM INVESTING 35 MILLION DOLLAR GOING TOWARDS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORTS AND SUPPORTS BOTH FOR OUR CHILDREN AND ALSO FOR OUR EDUCATORS.

HISTORIC FUNDING INTO EVERYTHING FROM AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPPORTS IS BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE A HOLISTIC LOOK AND THE WAY WE'RE LOOKING AT MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS FOR OUR EDUCATORS AND HELPING THE HELPERS AND FOR OUR CHILDREN.

BUT THAT ALSO MEANS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE ABOUT YOU WILL NEVER SEE THAT WITH US AND 0 OUR ADMINISTRATION THAT WE ARE GOING TO DICTATE TO THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS OR TO THE PARENTS OR TO THE AFTER SCHOOL PROVIDERS HOW THEY DO THEIR WORK.

EVERYTHING WE DO IT HAS TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP AND THAT IS NOT JUST GOING TO BE A NORTH STAR FOR THE WAY WE DO OUR WORK IT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: LET'S GO BACK TO OUR VIDEO QUESTIONS WITH MPT VIEWERS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> MY QUESTION IS WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING TO INCREASE ACCESS IN EDUCATION FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS?

>> Jeff: UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS AROUND THE STATE?

>> YEAH.

IT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND IF I HEARD THE ACCENT WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE HE IS FROM THE CARRIBBEAN.

I SAY BLESS UP FOR THOSE IN THE CARRIBBEAN.

YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF OUR STATE IS THAT WE HAVE A BEAUTIFULLY DIVERSE STATE.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE STATES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

AND IT'S ONE OF OUR GREATEST ASSETS AND ONE OF OUR GREATEST TREASURES.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE WAY THAT WE CAN AND FUNCTIONALLY SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE COMING FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT FAMILY LINEAGES, THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE, I REMEMBER THE QUESTION EARLIER ABOUT OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

MAKING SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT CAN FEEL FELT SEEN, HEARD AND SUPPORTED.

NOT JUST FROM A BUDGETARY PERSPECTIVE BUT IN TERMS OF THE SYSTEMS THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE.

IT'S PART OF THE REASON THAT WE HAVE DONE THINGS LIKE IF YOU LOOK AT FOR EXAMPLE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WHERE WE'VE MADE HISTORIC $65 MILLION ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

LOOKING WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS AND WHAT IS HAPPENING FOR SO MANY STUDENTS WHO HAPPEN TO ATTEND SCHOOLS HBCUS WHERE WE'VE MADE INVESTMENTS A RECORD OVER $400 MILLION INVESTMENT IN OUR HBCU'S THAT ARE ALSO NOT JUST SUPPORTING THE STUDENTS WHO ARE ATTENDING THERE BUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THESE COMMUNITIES CALL HOME.

AND SO IT REALLY IS AND THE FABRIC AND THE WAY OUR ADMINISTRATION WORKS, IT'S MAKING SURE THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS NO MATTER WHAT ZIP CODE THAT YOU CALL HOME, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR FAMILY LINEAGE OR YOUR BACKGROUND IS, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR PATHWAY IN EDUCATION IS, NO MATTER WHETHER IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE A SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILY OR NOT, THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE SEEN, SUPPORTED AND HEARD IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR BUDGETARY WORK AND THE WAY WE'RE LOOKING AT LEGISLATIVE FOCUS.

>> Jeff: I HAVE NOT ASKED ABOUT YOUR SERVICE YEAR PROGRAM.

THIS WAS TOP OF THE AGENDA WHEN YOU TOOK OFFICE.

IT'S HAPPENED.

IT'S ENROLLING PEOPLE.

WHERE DO WE STAND?

WHO SHOULD GET INVOLVED?

>> EVERYBODY.

WE'RE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE CAN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS RIGHT HERE.

AND WE GOT IT AND PEOPLE SAID IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO GET DONE.

YES AND WE GOT IT DONE IN OUR FIRST THREE MONTHS.

MARYLAND IS NOW THE FIRST STATE?

THIS COUNTRY TO OFFER A SERVICE YEAR OPTION TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.

IT'S NOW THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE THE SERVICE YEAR OPTION COUPLED WITH MARYLAND CORPS WHERE WE'RE GIVING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES MORE SEASONED IN THEIR CAREER BUT GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOW SERVE AND HAVE A YEAR OF SERVICE TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL.

AND IT IS A REALBY BIG DEAL BOTH BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN LEARNING GIVING PEOPLE A PLATFORM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES THEIR HEART BEAT A LITTLE BIT FASTER AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO DO IT.

I BELIEVE IN GIVING PEOPLE AN EARNED FINANCIAL CUSHION AND EARNED BENEFIT FOR THE WORK THEY DO.

AND WE BELIEVE DEEPLY THAT IN THIS TIME OF POLITICAL DIVISIVENESS AND VITRIOL THAT SERVICE WILL SAVE US.

WE HAVE TO BE A STATE THAT GETS TO KNOW EACH OTHER AGAIN.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SIGN UP, TO JOIN.

WE'VE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN FROM BOTH MARYLAND CORPS AND THE SERVICE YEAR OPTION.

WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE STARTING SOON.

THE FIRST CLASS BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT JUST GOING TO HAPPEN FOR ONE YEAR.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP CHANGE AND SHAPE THE TRAJECTORY FOR OUR STATE AND MARYLAND IS THE FIRST STATE TO GET THIS DONE, IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST.

>> Jeff: BACK TO THE STUDIO AUDIENCE.

SIR YOUR NAME AND YOUR QUESTION.

>> .

>> YES.

Dr. REWIZ.

GOVERNOR THANK YOU 4 YOUR COMMITTMENT COMMITMENT TO INCREASING ACCESS FOR MORE MARYLANDERS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.

IT'S BEEN SAID THAT YOU CAN'T BE WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE.

AND WE'RE SITTING HERE TODAY IN BALTIMORE COUNTY WHERE IN 2010 THE HISPANIC POPULATION IN THAT CENSUS FROM THAT TIME THE HISPANIC POPULATION GREW 88% IN A DECADE, TO 2020 DOUBLED.

ON THE EVE OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DATA FROM FOLKS LIKE THE EDUCATION TRUST, THEY POINTED OUT THAT MARYLAND HAS HALF OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE A SINGLE LATINO TEACHER.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVING MIRRORS WINDOWS AND SLIDING GLASS DOORS AS IT'S BEEN SAID TO BENEFIT FROM THE ROLE MODEL EFFECT AND POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR HAVING TEACHERS THAT UNDERSTAND THEIR BACKGROUND AND REFLECT THEIR BACKGROUND, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR YOU TO BE A BOLD NATIONAL LEADER AND RESOLVING BARRIERS TO TRAINING AND CREDENTIALING FOR EDUCATORS FROM BACKGROUNDS LIKE MINE AND LIKE YOURS?

>> THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

YOUR CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP.

I THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH ME.

WHERE YOU KNOW, I SAY I'M PROBABLY THE MOST IMPROBABLE GOVERNOR IN THIS COUNTRY.

BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING ABOUT MY LIFE OR TRAJECTORY THAT LED TO THAT BECOMING THE CONCLUSION.

WHERE I WAS A KID WHO WAS RAISED BY AN IMMIGRANT SINGLE MOTHER WHO IS HERE TODAY.

WHO DID NOT GET HER FIRST JOB AFTER MY DAD DIED IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I WAS THREE YEARS OLD.

SHE DIDN'T GET HER FIRST JOB THAT GAVE HER BENEFITS AFTER HE DIED UNTIL I WAS 14 YEARS OLD.

AND BY THE WAY THIS IS A WOMAN WHO WENT ON TO EARN A MASTER DEGREE.

WHEN WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT INEQUITABLE PAY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN OR PEOPLE OF COLOR THIS IS NOT AN ACADEMIC EXERCISE.

I SAW THIS GROWING UP.

THAT I AM A PERSON WHO HAD HANDCUFFS ON MY WRISTS BY THE TIME THAT I WAS 11.

THAT I WAS A PERSON WHO JOINED THE MILITARY WHEN I WAS 17.

I STARTED MY COLLEGIATE CAREER OFF AT A TWO YEAR COLLEGE AND PEOPLE SAY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE FACTORS THAT DOESN'T LEAD UP TO BECOMING A GOVERNOR.

AND I SAID BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU MISS.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE WILLING TO SEE ME.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE WILLING TO SUPPORT ME.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE WILLING TO INVEST IN ME WHO BELIEVED IN ME BEFORE I WAS READY TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF AND WHAT I WAS ALSO SURROUNDED BY WAS PEOPLE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME.

WHO SAW HOPE AND SAW A PROMISE IN ME.

THAT I WASN'T PREPARED YET TO SEE IN MYSELF.

IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE ARE ABLE TO INVEST IN RECRUITING AND RETAINING TALENTED EDUCATORS OF COLOR INSIDE OF OUR CLASSROOMS AND NOT JUST BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

IT BENEFITS EVERYBODY.

TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN LOOK UP AND SEE EDUCATORS WHO LOOK LIKE THE BEAUTIFUL STATE AND WHO LOOK LIKE THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, THAT WE ARE ASKING THEM TO PREPARE TO INHERIT.

IT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE MAKING HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

OUR HBCU'S.

OUR INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE TRAINING OUR EDUCATORS WHO ARE THEN GOING TO FILL THESE RANKS.

IT'S THE REASON THAT WE'RE ASKING AND WE'RE PUTTING MONEY AND MADE INVESTMENTS IN THINGS LIKE GOING OUT AND FINDING AND TARGETING NONTRADITIONAL PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO ENTER INTO THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT IF YOU CAN HAVE A BEAUTIFULLY PREPARED AND DIVERSE EDUCATOR CORPS YOU ARE ALSO GOING TO HELP TO DRIVE A MORE PREPARED STUDENT BODY FOR THE WORLD WE ARE ASKING FOR THEM TO INHERIT.

THE REASON WE'VE MADE IT A PRIORITY AND WE WILL CONTINUE MAKING IT A PRIORITY.

>> Jeff: THANK YOU.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT ASKING YOUR MOM PUTTING YOUR MOM ON THE SPOT TO TELL US EXACTLY HOW WES DID IN SAY, FIFTH GRADE.

BUT I WON'T DO THAT.

>> WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT.

>> Jeff: WELL, YOU KNOW IT IS AN INTERESTING STORY.

BECAUSE YOUR ACADEMIC CAREER ENDED AS A RODE SCHOLAR.

YOU WENT A LONG WAY.

YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT A SWITCH BEING FLIPPED.

WAS THERE A MOMENT, A TEACHER, WAS THERE A MOTHER WHO ONE DAY GOT TO YOU AND GOT YOU TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND APPLY YOURSELF?

>> YOU KNOW IT'S -- FIRST I HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY BLESSED BY THE MOM THAT I HAVE.

I ALWAYS SAY THE GREATEST GIFT THAT GOD EVERY GAVE ME WAS THE ONE THAT I DIDN'T ASK FOR WAS THE DAY THAT HE ASKED JOY MOORE TO GIVE BIRTH TO ME.

I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR A GREATER GIFT.

AND I ALSO KNOW, THOUGH, THAT THERE WAS NEVER A CINGULAR THING LIKE A MOMENT THAT IT ALL MAKES SENSE.

I THINK MY LIFE HAS BEEN A COLLECTION OF TWO STEPS FORWARD AND ONE STEP BACK AND SOMETIMES ONE STEP FORWARD AND TWO STEPS BACK.

BUT THE THING I KNOW AT SOME POINT IT WASN'T THE FACT THAT I WAS PHYSICALLY MOVED AROUND OR PHYSICALLY TRANSPORTED.

IT WASN'T US GOING FROM MARYLAND TO NEW YORK AND ME GETTING SENT TO MILITARY SCHOOL IN PENNSYLVANIA.

WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WASN'T THE FACT I WAS PHYSICALLY TRANSPORTED.

WHAT HAPPENED I FOUND MYSELF SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE.

STARTING WITH MY MOM AND MY GRANDPARENTS.

BUT LEADING TO THIS AMAZING STRING OF ROLE MODELS AND EDUCATORS AND MINISTERS AND COACHES.

AND PEOPLE WHO JUST TAUGHT ME THE WORLD WAS BIGGER THAN WHAT WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND THE WORLD NEEDED ME.

AND ONCE THEY GAVE ME THAT SENSE OF HOPE THAT SENSE OF CONFIDENCE, ONCE I GOT A CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND MY OWN HISTORY, I NOW KNOW THAT THERE IS NEVER A ROOM THAT I WALK INTO THAT I DON'T BELONG IN.

AND NO ROOM THAT I WALK INTO AND THIS IS A MESSAGE I WANT TO GIVE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE YOU ARE NEVER WALKING INTO A ROOM BECAUSE OF SOMEONE'S BENEVOLENCE OR BECAUSE OF SOMEONE'S KINDNESS OR BECAUSE OF A SOCIAL EXPERIMENT.

EVERY ROOM YOU ARE IN YOU ARE IN THAT ROOM BECAUSE THAT ROOM WOULD BE INCOMPLETE IF YOU WEREN'T THERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY GAVE ME.

THAT WAS THEIR GIFT TO ME.

AND THAT WAS THEN THE GIFT THAT THEN GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOW NO LONGER NEED THEIR HELP TO HOLD MY DREAMS UP BECAUSE MY SHOULDERS BECAME BROAD ENOUGH THAT I CAN HOLD THEM UP ON MY OWN.

>> Jeff: ABSOLUTELY.

I DON'T WANT TO IMPLY THAT YOU WERE A BAD STUDENT IN HIGH SCHOOL.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO IMPLY IT IT WAS TRUE.

>> Jeff: WELL, SAY YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY -- >> MISDIRECTED.

>> Jeff: SAY YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS A CLASS OF KIDS WHO WERE IN SUMMER SCHOOL OR YOU KNOW THEY ARE ON THE EDGE SOMEHOW.

AND A GUY IN A SUIT WALKS IN.

WHAT COULD YOU SAY TO THEM I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR STORY IS A LOT ABOUT EXPERIENCES AND PEOPLE.

ARE THERE WORDS THAT THE YOU COULD GIVE THEM THAT WOULD LIFT THEM UP AND THAT WOULD FOCUS THEM, THAT WOULD TURN IT ON?

I ASK BECAUSE I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE HAS A CORE SCHOLARS PROGRAM, AND THEY REACH INTO WEST BALTIMORE THEY BRING IN KIDS WITH POTENTIAL AND THEY OPEN THEIR EYES TO EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING IN MEDICINE THERE.

AND YOU SEE A SPARK.

BUT ARE THERE WORDS?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THIS CLASS OF WES MOORE?

>> IT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

AND I'M A BIG FAN OF THE CORPS SCHOLARS PROGRAM.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY OF THE PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION WHICH ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR SOCIAL FABRIC.

BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE GROUND DOING THE WORK AND AS A REMARKABLE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND I LIKE TO SAY IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THE CHALLENGE ARE THE ONES CLOSEST TO THE SOLUTIONS.

THEY JUST NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE.

BUT I TELL YOU THE THING I WOULD SAY TO ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ON THIS, IS CAREFUL ON WHO YOU ARE GIVING THE TITLE FRIEND TO.

BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY HAS EARNED IT.

CAREFUL WHO YOU ARE SPENDING YOUR TIME WITH.

BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WHO YOU ARE SPENDING YOUR TIME WITH IS GOING TO START MODELING YOUR ACTIONS.

THAT YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE SOCIETY.

YOU HAVE A STATE, YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR, WHO DOESN'T JUST BELIEVE IN YOU, WE NEED YOU.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT AS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE CHOOSING TO SPEND YOUR TIME WITH, THE PEOPLE YOU ARE CHOOSING TO ALIGN YOURSELF WITH, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART, BECAUSE THE DEFINITION OF A FRIEND IS SOMEONE WHO WANTS NOTHING BUT THE BEST FOR YOU IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

IF SOMEONE DOESN'T DO THAT, CAREFUL ABOUT GIVING THEM THE TITLE FRIEND.

>> Jeff: BACK TO OUR TERRIFIC STUDIO AUDIENCE.

SIR YOUR NAME AND QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU.

I AM [INAUDIBLE] I'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.

AND MY WIFE AND I AND TRIFECTA TODAY NOT ONLY MOST DYNAMIC GOVERNOR, THE MOST ESTEEMED OF MPT AND THE SUBJECT EDUCATION.

HAVING GIVEN THAT I WILL BE BRIEF.

WE HAVE BEEN IN BALTIMORE 45, 46 YEARS.

WHEN I TRAVEL FROM DOWNTOWN UNIVERSITY MARYLAND OR HOPKINS, OUR HEART MELTS, BURNS AND THEN MELTS TO SEE THE KIDS INNER-CITY KIDS PLAYING IN ESPECIALLY SATURDAY, SUNDAY, SCHOOLS ARE THERE ON WEEKDAYS.

AND WE HAVE THE BEST FORUM HERE.

GOVERNMENT OF MARYLAND AND THE MPT ONE OF THE BEST PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SO WE HAVE SOME THOUGHTS BECAUSE AGE 4-10 ARE THE MOST MALLEABLE AND IMPRESSIBLE EARS BOTH ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENT AND ON THE PART OF MPT OR OURSELVES.

DO THAT.

SOME PILOT PROGRAMS SHOULD BE KEPT.

BECAUSE WHAT DO THE KIDS WANT?

THEY WANT FIRST BE HAPPY LIKE CANDY OR SOMETHING.

BUT NOT THE SWEET CANE.

SWEET CANDY IS THE EDUCATION.

WE HAVE SO MANY OTHER PROGRAMS WE CAN TV IS THE BEST THEY WANT TV.

>> Jeff: I WILL ASK YOU TO CONCLUDE.

>> EDUCATION HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE PILOT PROGRAMS AT LEAST TWO, THREE SCHOOLS, I DON'T WANT BIG BUDGET AND THEN SEE THE RESULT.

AND THESE ARE LONGITUDINAL RESULT WHAT ARE THEIR SCORES THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE.

AND SECOND AND WE CAN GET TOGETHER SOMETIME -- >> Jeff: SIR, LET THE GOVERNOR ANSWER THE FIRST PART.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: TIME IS SHORT SO THANK YOU.

>> I LOVE THE QUESTION.

AND WHAT I LOVE MORE IS YOUR SERVICETH AND YOUR EXCITEMENT.

AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE SEEN.

AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND I TELL YOU, THIS IS VERY PERSONAL FOR ME.

BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I'VE DEVOTED MY LIFE TO.

BEFORE I RAN FOR GOVERNOR, I RAN ONE OF THE LARGEST POVERTY FIGHTING ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY.

I RAN A PLATFORM WHERE WE WERE HELPING FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS GO TO AND THROUGH COLLEGE.

FOCUSED ON BALTIMORE CITY ROOTED IN BALTIMORE CITY.

WHERE I SAY, I LOVE EVERY JURISDICTION IN OUR STATE AND WE'VE SPENT TIME IN EVERY JURISDICTION IN OUR STATE.

BUT I'M ALSO CLEAR WHEN WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR BALTIMORE AND WE'RE GOING TO INVEST IN BALTIMORE, I TELL PEOPLE AND PEOPLE SAY OF COURSE YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE A BALTIMORIAN NO WE'RE DOING IT ALSO BECAUSE I'M GOOD AT MATH.

IT IS OUR STATE'S LARGEST CITY.

IT'S OUR PROMISE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE CORE ENGINES OF OUR GROWTH AND FOR THIS TO BE MARYLAND'S DECADE IT'S GOT TO BE BALTIMORE'S TIME.

AND THE PROMISE WE HAVE IN OUR CHILDREN THERE, THE PROMISE TO BE ABLE TO LEAD US IS SO STRONG AND SO BRIGHT.

SO PART OF THE REASON THAT WE HAVE MADE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN EVERYTHING FROM TRANSPORTATION, BEING ABLE TO PUT THE RED LINE BACK ON TRACK.

MY PREDECESSOR DID NOT BELIEVE IT AND HE RETURNED A BILLION DOLLARS AND GAVE IT BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU CANNOT HAVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE PHYSICAL MOBILITY.

THE REASON THAT WE MADE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM, THE REASON THAT WE'VE MADE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN BEING ABLE TO FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SERVANTS EVERYONE FROM OUR EDUCATORS TO FIREFIGHTERS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE INVESTING IN THE HOPE AND IN THE PROMISE OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN ORDER FOR MARYLAND FOR THIS TO BE MARYLAND'S DECADE IT'S GOT TO BE A TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO PROPERLY AND THOROUGHLY INVEST IN MARYLAND'S LARGEST CITY.

>> Jeff: WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION FROM OUR VIEWERS AROUND THE STATE THIS FROM OCEAN CITY.

>> MY QUESTION FOR GOVERNOR WES MOORE IS HOW IS HE GOING TO CHANGE THE MATH AND ENGLISH CURRICULUMS FOR WORCESTER COUNTY STUDENTS LESS THAN 50% ARE TESTING AT THE PROFICIENT LEVEL.

>> Jeff: THE QUESTION IS ABOUT CHANGING CONTRADICT LINEUP AND I WILL PEN TO THAT DO WE CHANGE THE CURRICULUM TOO OFTEN?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION, MATT.

GREAT, GREAT ADDENDUM AND MATT BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT, TOO, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN WORCESTER THOUGH I WANT TO BE CLEAR WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JURISDICTIONS, THERE'S THREE JURISDICTIONS WHERE YOU HAVE CLOSE TO 100% OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH.

WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW TWO ARE ON THE EASTERN SHORE.

YOU CAN'T HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT CHILD POVERTY WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS NOT A SINGLE JURISDICTION IT'S ACROSS THE STATE AND IT'S THE REASON WHY WE HAVE MADE THE MOST FULL ON AND BIPARTISAN ASSAULT ON CHILD POVERTY IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY AND WE'RE NOT DONE.

BUT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE READING AND MATHEMATICS SCORES THIS GETS BACK TO GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS.

AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES STARTING EARLIER.

WE CANNOT HAVE OUR STUDENTS KNOWING THAT THE FIRST REAL INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEEDS THEY HAVE FROM READING AND MATH IS WHEN THEY HIT THEIR KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM.

IT'S TOO LATE.

SO IT MEANS PUTTING TOGETHER RESOURCES AND INVESTING IN THESE TYPES OF ASSETS TO ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO START EARLIER ALLOW IT TO BE A HOLISTIC PROCESS WITH FAMILIES, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS THAT CAN BRING THE FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AS WELL.

>> Jeff: OUR TIME IS SHORT BUT WE WANT TO THANK YOU, GOVERNOR MOORE FOR JOINING US AT MPT AND WE INVITE THE VIEWERS TO JOIN US FOR "STATE CIRCLE" WHEN WE WILL HAVE MORE ON EDUCATIONAL ISSUES.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

GOVERNOR THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU ALL.

[APPLAUSE] [*]