About Us
Founded in 1992, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) is a coalition of more than 100 leading employers that have made a long-term commitment to support education reform and improve student achievement in Maryland.The MBRT is a not-for-profit organization [501(c)(3)], based in Baltimore, Maryland.
MBRT works to achieve meaningful, measurable and systemic improvement in schools and student achievement. We believe the keys to this improvement are high standards, rigorous assessments, and strong accountability. We identify the most compelling educational issues that need to be addressed, and target our involvement where we can be most effective. Our objectives are ambitious, but we are convinced that their achievement will result in a brighter future for Maryland -- its business, its citizens, and its children.
More than 2,000 volunteers work with MBRT on efforts to ensure that Maryland students are well prepared to succeed in the 21st century.
MBRT supports - and works to preserve and improve - key elements of school reform through leadership changes in the legislature, the executive office, and State Board of Education.
MBRT successfully pushed for more rigorous high school standards and assessments that are be linked to receipt of a high school diploma.
MBRT launched Achievement Counts -- an innovative and highly-acclaimed campaign that demonstrates the important connection between achievement in school and success in the workplace. Elements include:
- Since 1999, a Speakers Bureau consisting of 2,000 business people has made presentations to 138,000 9th grade students in 140 high schools in 14 school districts.
- The Maryland Scholars program has been established to ensure that more students are well prepared to succeed in life and in college by encouraging students to take and master rigorous high school coursework -- particularly in math and science. MBRT provides speakers to help motivate and guide students as they are preparing to select courses for their high school program and incentives to encourage students to stay the course throughout high school.
- A Parents Count webpage was initiated to provide parents with monthly information on how they can help their child succeed in school. Every month, hundreds of businesses and organizations promote the webpage to employees and members.
- MBRT has developed Be What I Want To Be.com, an interactive teen website to sustain the Achievement Counts conversation with teens, reach students of many ages, and move students from interest in careers to action. Teen Web bolsters student motivation by highlighting exciting careers, demonstrating what a student will need to accomplish in school to qualify for a great job, and providing examples of outstanding student and employee work ... all in an engaging, multi-media format.
- MBRT - in partnership with other stakeholders - conducted three Workforce Skills Surveys (1997, 1999, and 2001) to gauge employer needs and satisfaction with high school and college graduates. The survey results help guide business, public policy, and instructional decisions.
MBRT developed and continues to monitor the Maryland Plan for Technology in Education, which has significantly increased student and teacher access to technology and promotes effective use of technology. MBRT's Committee on Technology in Education created one of the nation's first on-line school-by-school technology inventory systems that tracks access and use of technology in schools and provides data that reveals the digital divide and technology's impact on learning.
Vision
All children in Maryland receive a quality education and are given the opportunity to achieve at higher levels.
Mission
To support reform of systems and processes affecting student success in elementary and secondary schools, the MBRT undertakes a long-term commitment to the achievement of Maryland's public school reform initiative.
How to reach the MBRT
We welcome all comments and inquiries at the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT). Please reach us via our website www.MBRT.org