How should we grade Maryland school facilities?

The state set an annual goal of $450 million for school construction, but that won't come close to eliminating the backlog and local systems can only do so much, writes Kalman Hettleman, who says it's time for the state to step up to the challenge.

By: Kalman Hettleman

Outlets: Maryland Matters

Published: May 26, 2026

Words: 850

Last Updated: 1 month, 1 week ago

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It is well-known that most students in public schools in Maryland do poorly in reading and math. But less well-known is the poor condition of schools, even though over the past five years, state funding has exceeded $3 billion.

Last year the Comptroller of Maryland, in a remarkably forthright report, stated, “81% of schools are functionally unreliable or need repairs.”

The Interagency Commission on School Construction, known as IAC, the state agency which …

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