The 2023 Maryland General Assembly Session ended with good news for education in Maryland and for the Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP). As part of the 445th Session of the Maryland General Assembly, BCP’s Hampstead Hill Academy (HHA) was awarded $250,000 from the state budget to be used for the school’s planned expansion and renovation of its campus in Southeast Baltimore.
The state funding is important progress toward the HHA goal of $15 million for a 20,000 square foot addition for the way-over-capacity school. HHA is partnering with EwingCole and Whiting-Turner to design and build an addition that will provide six oversized classrooms, a new, full-size gymnasium, a rooftop playground, lactation room for staff, and a more secure front entrance/office area. Renovations to the existing building include converting the small, current gym into a dedicated performing arts center.
A few highlights from the recent Maryland legislative session:
- Wes Moore (D) was inaugurated as the first Black Governor in Maryland
- Brooke Lierman (D) is the first female Comptroller
- Anthony Brown is the first Black Attorney General
- At the start of the session, an additional $1B was committed to Maryland public schools and transportation projects.
Several items on Governor Moore’s ten-piece legislative agenda focus on improving the state’s education, expanding opportunities for students and young people, and addressing issues that affect many of the BCP families who live in underserved communities. All his bills were enacted, including:
- Establishing the Maryland Corps Program for youth to serve Maryland and gain valuable skills and experience
- Expanding the Maryland earned income tax credit
- Creating the Community Investment Venture Fund to develop greater access to financial
institutions for low to moderate income households
- Accelerating the rate of the minimum wage increase under Maryland law (see above
section for greater detail)
- Assessing broadband expansion to underserved areas
- Creating criteria for recruiting and retaining teachers
During the 2023 session, BCP worked with Rifkin Weiner Livingston, LLC, Attorneys at Law, to advocate for BCP, HHA’s expansion funding needs, and public education in Maryland.
