Maryland schools were ranked the best in the country for the fifth year in a row, according to Education Week’s highly-regarded Quality Counts report.
The rankings are based on an extensive list of factors including education policy, funding, standards, assessments, teacher accountability and safety. Overall, the country received a C+—up from a C last year—while Maryland earned a B+, the only such grade awarded.
Massachusetts came in second with a B, followed by New York and then Virginia. These top states had the same rankings last year.
On the other end of the list, the District of Columbia ranked 45, earning a C-. South Dakota was at the very bottom.
Earlier in the week, Michelle Rhee’s advocacy organization, Students First, released a study of its own that assessed states based on their education policies, not the outcome of those policies. In this assessment, Louisiana topped the list followed by Florida. Maryland earned a D+, which ranked it at 17. Virginia ranked 38 and D.C. outperformed the two states with a C+ and a fourth place ranking.
IN OTHER NEWS:
* Perhaps soon-to-be-gubernatorial opponents Bolling and McAuliffe have a “cordial conversation.”
* The New York Times on D.C.’s economic boom
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
* D.C. Council proposes changes to how police line-ups are conducted
* Union wants to make all Maryland teachers pay union fees
* Gov. O’Malley to make an announcement on affordable housing today
* Washington Examiner editorial: The unintended consequences of the cigarette tax hike
* Virginia makes its case to house new FBI headquarter
