About Us
World Class Grads—Maryland, Inc. (WCGMD) is a volunteer IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2019 and headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, the seat of state government. We are an independent group of highly skilled and experienced members of the public and private sectors of our state’s economy, who came together to support and promote educational reform. We studied the recommendations of the Kirwan Commission embedded in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation that was enacted in 2021. Upon evaluation we determined to fully support the Blueprint’s plan to transform Maryland’s education systems as the very best opportunity to prepare ALL students for 21st Century careers and satisfying lives.
WCGMD is pro-active. After deep analysis we act as a catalyst for the long-term success of the Kirwan Commission’s “call to action.” We review and analyze data, link with others working with these and related areas and we meet with public officials to promote the successful implementation of the Blueprint and transformation of education in Maryland.
Vision: Every child in Maryland has a bright future.
Mission: We strategically champion and proactively advocate for every child who enters Maryland public schools to succeed in 21st Century careers and fulfilling lives.
Values:
Inclusion and Economic Equity: We envision that ALL Maryland graduates are flourishing and contributing for a lifetime in a society that supports inclusion and economic equity.
Informed Advocacy: We are an independent resource. We strongly support the full implementation of the “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.” We advocate for the Blueprint and track progress toward reaching its goals.
Based on Research: We research and promote best practices from top performing school districts across the state, country and world, while helping to inspire public debate and influence public policy.
Broad Public Support: We partner with other like-minded advocates and county/state agencies, to build and maintain strong public support for the full implementation of the Blueprint law and the realization of true education reform.
Our volunteers care deeply about the vitality of our children’s future. We need citizens who have the knowledge, skills and attitudes to obtain gainful employment (jobs/careers) and to lead lives that are satisfying to them and their families. We believe that the recommendations of the Kirwan Commission are the foundation for reaching these lofty goals. Therefore, we fully endorse the Blueprint for Maryland legislation and are committed to detailed oversight to ensure the Kirwan recommendations are fully implemented. We welcome others to join us in this work.
Officers:
President – Thornell Jones
Vice President – Richard Van Dyke
Secretary – Heather Millar
Treasurer – Richard Van Dyke
Director - Chuck Hurley
Committee Leads:
Early Childhood, 0 to 5 years - Carlesa Finney
School Culture & Community Support – Karen Murphy Keddell
Workforce Development - Richard Van Dyke
Advocacy - Cheryl McLeod, Chuck Hurley
History
For most of the 20th century the United States was the world leader in education, and Maryland was considered to have one of the best systems. Unfortunately, in recent decades, we have fallen far behind the leading education systems in the world. Maryland's youth will be competing in the global workplace with students who are far better prepared and at earlier ages. This has created an urgent need to act!
Therefore the Maryland General Assembly launched a four-year comprehensive study to address these critical issues chaired by renowned education leader, Dr. William E. Kirwan. One of their key findings is that less than a third of Maryland students are currently prepared to compete on an even footing with those of the leading systems. The result was the enactment of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, with major systemic and structural changes and dedicated funding in key areas. Fully implemented, it will redesign the current array of education programs into a transformational system based on proven results that works for all students. This will not happen overnight. It will require at least ten years of public support and participation to ensure that the major initial investments produce the results that are essential. After years of implementing the necessary reforms, Maryland will receive significant returns on its investment which will result in Maryland being a highly desirable state in which to live and work.
Our Work
WCGMD utilizes a systems approach to help all parts of the educational enterprise understand how they impact the Blueprint’s stated goal to have all students college and career ready by the end of high school. Ongoing studies of many aspects of the Blueprint are necessary to ensure the program is on track. We have determined in our years of research and analysis to focus our work on developing strategies from pre-birth to employment to meet this goal.
Understanding the policies and issues related to the Blueprint enables us to address problems and to inform our collaborative efforts with like-minded individuals and groups, the general public, legislators and implementors. Clink on these links to connect with our collaborators. Strong Schools Maryland, Blueprint Coalition, Maryland Alliance for Racial Equity in Education, Maryland Family Network, Maryland State Department of Education, Accountability and Implementation Board
Information and Presentations
Widespread knowledge about the Blueprint’s direction, needs, and actions to improve results, are important for all to know. WCGMD provides information to those who have an interest in and/or are implementing the Blueprint. Our purpose is to ensure that correct and accurate knowledge is available so all citizens and organizations can play a positive role in improving education in Maryland, enabling the state to compete on the world stage.
On our website and periodically through webinars and in-person presentations, WCGMD informs the public of areas we all need to be concerned about and areas that have had remarkable success that we all should celebrate.