“$20K Per Student—And They Still Can’t Read?”: John Myrick Calls Maryland’s Education System a Betrayal

By Michael Phillips

Maryland’s education budget is one of the largest in the nation. At nearly $20,000 per student, the state spends more than 37 other states—and yet, 4th and 8th graders are still testing below the national average in math and reading.

For Republican gubernatorial candidate John Myrick, that isn’t just a policy failure. It’s a betrayal.

“A Maryland diploma isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on if the graduate can’t read it,” Myrick said.

And he’s not exaggerating. According to national education data, Maryland’s much-hyped Blueprint plan has produced more bureaucracy than results. While families struggle to afford school supplies and basic tutoring, the state’s education system is busy funding an administrator for every classroom teacher in counties like Prince George’s.

The Myth of the ‘Investment’

Governor Wes Moore has repeatedly framed education spending as “an investment in our future.” Myrick says that’s a cute slogan—but the return on investment is catastrophic.

“If this were a private business, it would’ve gone bankrupt years ago,” he said. “We keep dumping money into a failing model. It’s not ‘investment’—it’s malpractice.”

Myrick wants to shift the conversation from spending more to spending smarter. His plan focuses on:

• Cutting administrative bloat and redirecting funding into classrooms.
• Restoring basic skills as the priority—math, reading, science, history.
• Increasing school choice and letting funding follow the student.
• Empowering parents by restoring their role in school governance.

“If the current system works so well, why are parents pulling their kids out in droves?” Myrick asked. “And why are private school parents paying twice—once in tuition and again in taxes—for schools their kids don’t even attend?”

The Brenda Cham Factor

Myrick’s pick for lieutenant governor, Dr. Brenda J. Cham, isn’t a political insider—she’s a career educator with a Ph.D. in special education leadership and nearly 30 years in Maryland public schools.

“She’s in the classroom. She sees what’s broken every single day,” said Myrick. “Who better to help fix it?”

Cham’s presence on the ticket sends a clear message: Myrick isn’t just campaigning against the system. He’s building a plan to rebuild it from the ground up—with people who know what education is supposed to look like.

Restoring Discipline, Respect, and Results

Another key part of Myrick’s platform: bringing order back to the classroom.

“If one student disrupts the class, 29 others lose out,” he said. “We’ve stripped teachers of the authority to manage their classrooms and we’ve stripped parents of their right to be involved.”

Myrick says current leadership is more interested in political trend-chasing than helping students succeed.

“We’ve got schools more focused on feelings than facts. No wonder no one can do long division anymore.”

He’s proposing reforms to restore local school board control, parental involvement, and—perhaps most controversially—teacher accountability.

“Not every teacher is a saint,” Myrick said. “We need to retain the good ones, and yes, we need to be able to remove the bad ones. Period.”

The Bottom Line

John Myrick’s message is simple: Maryland schools are failing, and more money won’t fix that. What will? Leadership that actually listens—to teachers, to parents, and to common sense.

“This isn’t about party lines,” he said. “It’s about the kids. And right now, they’re being robbed of a future.”

With the state’s largest-ever tax hike now in full swing—and little to show for it in education, roads, or public safety—Myrick is betting that voters are ready for someone who values outcomes over optics.

Because, as he puts it:

“At $20,000 per student, the least we should expect is that they know how to spell ‘governor.’”