On January 7th, Council Member Laurie-Anne Sayles took to Twitter to share a recent interaction she had with MCEA. It appears this was an informative legislative session where groups such as MCEA could provide the necessary propaganda to begin influencing future legislation. And when it comes to MCEA, it was definitely propaganda.
In her post she shared a handout that was provided.
Let’s take a closer look at the disinformation (details that are purposefully wrong to provide wrong conclusions) and misinformation (details that are overlooked or glossed over to provide wrong conclusions).
The first item is in comparing the cost per student for 2022-23 to 2009-2010.
What this handout fails to include is the MCPS budget over those years, as well as the allocation of resources between those 2 years.
In 2009 the MCPS budget was $2.1 billion. The budget for 2022-23 $2.78 billion This represents an increase of $680 million, or an increase of 32%. Over 12 years this represents an average increase of 2.66% a year. Inflation averaged 2.28% over this same period. So how has the cost spent per student declined in real term value (as this chart suggests)? Where did the money go? Has the calculation changed for how $ per student changed? How is it calculated today? Has enrollment increased? If so, by how much? These are important facts to know.
Next we arrive at a 1 year cost of living stat. And while no one can argue that the cost of living has skyrocketed; it has, especially as a result of the draconian COVID policies that MCEA enthusiastically supported, it would be helpful if they foot noted a source. Additionally, there is the claim that teacher salaries have decreased ~16% during this same period (when adjusting for inflation). Here is the current salary schedule for MCPS teachers and other professionals. How was this decrease calculated? And how does it compare across other professions? If you look at other occupations across the state of MD, in 2022 teachers earn 13.1% more than other occupations. Additionally, MD teachers earn 72% more than the average teacher salary across the nation.
Lastly, the handout makes the claim that Montgomery County is the richest county in the state. If it was 1995, maybe. But no longer. That title goes to Howard County. It also claims Maryland is the richest state in the country, it isn’t (Maryland is ranked 11th). That title belongs to our neighbor Virginia.
While arguing for better teacher pay and benefits is certainly an argument worth pursuing, it should be done ethically and with data and facts. Shame on MCEA (publishers of this handout) for the disinformation and misinformation. And I hope Laurie and other public officials start asking the right questions to fill in the gaps.
