Announcing the State Capitals Campaign

On January 31, at the Maryland State House, the College Board Advocacy & Policy Center, in collaboration with the National Conference of State Legislatures, announced the College Completion Agenda: State Capitals Campaign. The State Capitals Campaign is a year-long, multi-state campaign to galvanize and mobilize the nation to significantly increase the proportion of Americans who hold a postsecondary degree by 2025. Hosted by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and College Board President Gaston Caperton, the inaugural event of the State Capitals Campaign serves as a call to action to improve college completion rates and return the United States to its place as the global leader in educational attainment.

Each stop of the campaign will bring together policymakers, educators and business leaders with the common goal of improving college success, especially for low-income and minority students, in the face of budget constraints, rising costs, and expanding enrollment. The campaign will celebrate successful and innovative policies and programs within each state that align with the 10 recommendations in the College Completion Agenda Progress Report and State Policy Guide.

Nationally recognized as a leader for excellence in education and college completion, with a strong P-20 approach, Maryland was selected as the first stop in the nationwide tour. Participants representing every sector of education joined together in support of increasing the proportion of young people who hold a post-secondary degree to 55 percent by 2025. Participants engaged in a conversation about lessons learned from a state that has successfully addressed, in innovative ways, some of the biggest challenges facing our education system.

The event program included distinguished speakers and a dynamic panel discussion.

Speakers included:

• Governor Martin O’Malley
• Gaston Caperton, President, The College Board
• William "Brit" Kirwan, Chancellor, University System of Maryland
• Nancy Grasmick, Maryland State Superintendent of Schools
• Julie Davis Bell, Education Program Director, National Conference of State Legislatures
• Freeman Hrabowski, III, President, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Edward J. Kasemeyer, Maryland State Senator
• John Bohanan, Jr., Maryland State Delegate
• Charlene M. Dukes, President, Prince George’s Community College
• David Wilson, President, Morgan State University

The State Capitals Campaign will include a series of high profile events in 2011 – roundtables, town hall meetings and summits – that bring together policymakers, educators, community and business leaders, media, students and concerned citizens all with the common goal of improving college completion rates by 2025. Some of the upcoming state capital visits will include Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, and Virginia. We hope you will join us on our journey to help state policymakers and educators achieve the goal of 55 percent by 2025.

Download a copy of the College Completion Agenda: State Capitals Campaign fact sheet.

Learn more about Maryland's achievements in school, college and career readiness.

Read the College Completion Agenda Progress Report and State Policy Guide, developed in collaboration with the  National Conference of State Legislatures.