The Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, also known as the Kirwan Commission, was formed in 2016 to make “recommendations for legislative and policy initiatives to increase the availability of innovative educational opportunities, and make adequate and equitable the funding for State public education” in Maryland.
MASBHC saw an opening to champion additional resources for School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) and school health with the establishment of the Commission, and mounted a successful advocacy campaign in the 2019 legislative session. This campaign resulted in an appropriation of approximately $50 million in funding over two years for SBHCs and school health for schools with a high concentration of poverty.
MASBHC continues to advocate for the sound implementation of the Kirwan Commission’s recommendations to benefit Maryland’s students, particularly in terms of positive impact to SBHCs and school health. Check this page for updates as we move into the 2020 legislative session and beyond!
To find comprehensive resources on all facets of the Commission’s work, visit the Maryland Association of Boards of Education’s website: Priority Issue: The Kirwan Commission & the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
News and Resources
- 11/12/2019: MASBHC Comments, Kirwan Commission Public Hearing (.pdf format)
- 10/4/2019: MASBHC Comments to the Kirwan Commission on SBHC Funding Priorities (.pdf format)
- 8/12/2019: MASBHC participated in a webinar outlining the numerous recommendations for school health services and school-based health centers made by the Kirwan Commission. Slides from the webinar are now available (.pptx format)
- 4/16/2019: MASBHC Scores Most Significant Legislative Advancement for School-Based Health Care in Decades