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Will Baltimore City's school facilities and funding ever catch up?

Zshekinah Collier

Today on Midday: a conversation about local schools, in particular, how the physical condition of some Baltimore City Public Schools impacts educational equity.

The state of Maryland has an Interagency Commission on School Construction. The Capital Improvement Program averages about $280 million dollars each year for major new, renewal, or replacement projects as well as for addition projects or capital maintenance.

CBS News reported recently that in Baltimore and across the country school construction money allocation varies markedly between jurisdictions that are poor, affluent, majority Black and majority white.

For today's show, Tom speaks with researchers and education leaders about school conditions and plans to address funding presently and for the future.

Guests include Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement for Johns Hopkins University; Dr. Richard Lofton, Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Education; Alison Perkins-Cohen, Chief of Staff for Baltimore City Public Schools and Mary Filardo, Executive Director of the 21st Century School Fund.

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Dr. Richard Lofton and Allison Perkins-Cohen
Courtesy Photos
Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Dr. Richard Lofton and Alison Perkins-Cohen

Guest not pictured: Mary Filardo, Executive Director of 21st Century School Fund

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Host, Midday (M-F 12:00-1:00)
Teria is a Supervising Producer on Midday.
Sam Bermas-Dawes is a producer for Midday.