Source: Baltimore Curriculum Project

Senator-elect Bill Ferguson visited three BCP schools this week: City Springs School, Hampstead Hill Academy, and Wolfe Street Academy.

At City Springs Senator-elect Ferguson met with parents, who shared their views on public education and their desire for a new sports field next to the school.

Posted by David Nitkin
weblogs.baltimoresun.com

Two Baltimore city councilmen have endorsed challenger Bill Ferguson, a 27-year-old aide to city schools CEO Andres Alonso who hopes to unseat veteran lawmaker Sen. George W. Della Jr. in a hotly contested Baltimore legislative race.

Councilmen Say: It's Time For New Leadership, Renewed Focus On Schools

WHY: Councilmen Cole and Reisinger are taking the unprecedented step of endorsing a challenger over Sen. George Della (D-46), who has served in various elected offices since the mid-1970s.

Senate 46th District: "...Bill Ferguson has worked hard to make headway by focusing on education as an issue. He talks a good game, and he has a well-thought out platform that offers some concrete ideas and plans rather than ear-pleasing campaign boilerplate. Della is an estimable figure, in both Baltimore and Annapolis, but this time around we say a vote for Ferguson is a vote for next-generation Baltimore politics in the most literal sense.

Endorsement: Ferguson

State to receive 250 million dollars for schools.

By Liz Bowie, The Baltimore Sun

Maryland was one of nine states and the District of Columbia declared a winner Tuesday in the $4.3 billion education competition designed to reshape teaching in schools across the country.

The $250 million the state will receive by Sept. 30 will help to fund what state leaders call a new wave of education reforms.

Baltimore City Paper

Bill Ferguson, the 27-year-old Democratic candidate for the 46th District’s state Senate seat, knows he’s in for a fight. He knew that once he decided to run and started going around the district and introducing himself door to door. “At the beginning of conversations, people always said, “You’re going up against an institution—you know that, right?’” Ferguson says. “And, yes, I definitely understand. My eyes are wide open.”

Baltimore, MD - Earlier today the MD State Council of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced their endorsement of Bill Ferguson, candidate for State Senate in Maryland's 46th legislative district.

SEIU is the fastest-growing union in North America, focusing on uniting workers in the key service sectors of healthcare, public services and property services to improve the lives and services that their 2.2 million members provide.

We have terrific news! Because of our grassroots efforts knocking doors and organizing support across the 46th District, The Baltimore Sun has just called our race "the most dynamic legislative race" in Baltimore! This is a major validation of the work that we have put in to this campaign so far!

Check out the article here.

Nine weeks ago, I began this journey in the 46th District. At the time, I knew the campaign would be extremely difficult. Challenging a 27-year incumbent would be no easy task. I knew our City was primed and ready for a new generation of leaders to step up and challenge the status quo, but I heard over and over that the risks may be too large to overcome. Nine weeks ago, many stakeholders worried that the power of incumbency was too immense to overcome to change the trajectory of our City.

(Annapolis, MD, July 26th, 2010) Today, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (LCV) released its second round of endorsed candidates for Maryland Senate and the House of Delegates in the 2010 state elections. These seven Senate and 49 House endorsed candidates have all demonstrated leadership on environmental issues and a commitment to an open-door policy when it comes to working with us to protect the environment.

About Democrats for Education Reform (DFER)
DFER's mission is to encourage a more productive dialogue within the Democratic Party on the need to fundamentally reform American public education. Each month, we identify one candidate who is standing up for meaningful reform and innovation, and we help demonstrate the broad base of support for his or her efforts.

Bill Ferguson: DFER Reformer of the Month August

It looks as though Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, who placed herself at the center of the D.C. mayor's race this month by linking her tenure to that of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, is acquiring a taste for the campaign trail. Next week, she's headed to Baltimore, where she'll appear on behalf of Democratic state Senate candidate Bill Ferguson, a fellow Teach for America alumnus.

Join us on Tuesday, July 20 for An Evening with Michelle Rhee to engage in a discussion with the nationally renowned education reform advocate and former Baltimore City teacher about the challenges and opportunities for Baltimore City Public Schools.

Please support me by attending this event and contributing to the important discussion about education reform in Baltimore.

You can register for An Evening with Michelle Rhee here.

On Tuesday, July 6, I officially filed to run for State Senate in Maryland's 46th District. I am running because I believe the 46th District is ready for new energy and progressive leadership.  As a teacher, I witnessed the struggles my students faced on a daily basis and I felt compelled to serve them in a capacity where I could impact change at a broader level.  Too many residents in the 46th District are under-served and underrepresented by our current leadership. The status quo is unacceptable.

It looks like the 46th district machine is about to be challenged by a youthful insurgent. I have been informed that Bill Ferguson (who actually lives in the city unlike someone...) will run against George Della in the 46th District State Senate Democratic primary.