[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.74″ background_image=”http:\/\/k12transparency.isolon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Piggbank-FrontFacing.jpg” transparent_background=”off” global_module=”121″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Maryland’s K12 Public School Compensation Transparency ” text_orientation=”center” header_fullscreen=”on” header_scroll_down=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”|on|||” title_font_size=”52px” subhead_font=”|on|||” subhead_font_size=”34px” background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” background_layout=”light” max_width_tablet=”50px” global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”50.5px|0px|48px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”–J.H. Snider” job_title=”October 12, 2021″ portrait_url=”http:\/\/k12transparency.isolon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/11-09-21-JHSnider-SafraCenterPhoto-HighResolution.jpeg.jpg” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”120px” portrait_height=”120″ admin_label=”Testimonial–website purpose” _builder_version=”4.16″ body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”16px” background_color=”rgba(210,163,157,0.26)” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” z_index_tablet=”500″ author_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” author_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” author_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” position_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” position_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” position_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” company_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” company_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” company_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” body_link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” body_link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” body_link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” body_ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” body_ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” body_ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” body_ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” body_ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” body_ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” body_quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” body_quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” body_quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” border_width_all=”4px” border_color_all=”#000000″ border_radii_portrait=”on||||” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_horizontal_image_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_image_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_image_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_image_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” use_border_color=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The modern world has attained its leaps in productivity because of the division of labor. The person who delegates a task to a specialist is the principal, and the specialist is the agent. In principal-agent theory, the principal must be able to easily monitor the performance of its agent. Otherwise, the agent has an incentive to engage in opportunistic behavior, which results in agency loss.<\/p>\n
In a democracy, citizens are the principal and government workers the agent. Accordingly, it is vital that citizens can at least monitor the pay, if not the performance, of its government workers. It is hard to find a politician who doesn\u2019t agree with this principle in theory. The problem has been in the practice, where at least in Maryland public officials have either turned a blind eye or actually encouraged either the nonreporting or misleading reporting of the pay of government workers, including K-12 employees.<\/p>\n
This website highlights some practical difficulties accessing K12 public school compensation data in Maryland, especially via the Public Information Act. It was born out of my disgust at the shenanigans some public school officials play when the public seeks to access controversial compensation information, and the cowardice and hypocrisy of Maryland lawmakers in turning a blind eye to this problem.<\/p>\n
The politics of addressing this problem in Maryland are admittedly awful. But the problem will presumably eventually be solved because it is a fundamental tenet of democracy that the people should know both how and what their government agents are paid.<\/p>\n
I am a former public school board member with a Ph.D. in American Government and an MBA.\u00a0 This website compiles some of my research for a variety of publications.<\/p>\n
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Snider, J.H., <\/span>Pittman falls short on transparency pledge<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Capital<\/em>, January 13, 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n Snider, J.H., “Create a Watchdog Branch of Government,” in Fixing American Politics: Solutions for the Media Age<\/a>, Routledge, November 30, 2021.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Maryland Needs a New Open Government Paradigm<\/a>,\u00a0Maryland Matters<\/em>, October 29, 2021.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., The General Assembly\u2019s Make-Believe \u2018Open Government\u2019 Legislation<\/a>,\u00a0Maryland Matters<\/em>, February 26, 2021.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H.,\u00a0When Schools Are Hostile to Online Course Choice,<\/a>\u00a0Maryland Matters<\/em>, January 24, 2021.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H.,\u00a0Anne Arundel schools block students from taking the best outsourced online courses<\/a>,\u00a0Capital<\/em>, January 3, 2021.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Make Covid-Era K-12 Local Education More Like Daycare: Small-scale \u201cnurture centers\u201d can support remote learning for children of parents who aren\u2019t available to homeschool<\/a>, Education Next<\/em>, July 20, 2020.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., The illegal cover-up of Maryland\u2019s anti-choice distance-learning policies<\/a>,\u00a0Washington Examiner<\/em>, June 17, 2020.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Story of the Day<\/a>, Choice Media TV<\/em>, April 25, 2020.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Teachers\u2019 unions share responsibility for mediocre distance education<\/a>, The Capital<\/em>, April 5, 2020.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Government Transparency<\/a>,\u00a0Capital<\/em>, March 2, 2020. Note: this is a l<\/a>etter-to-the-editor, not article.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Testimony before the Maryland Senate\u2019s Education Committee on Blueprint for Maryland’s Future<\/a>, February 17, 2020.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Having a parent who excels at local public-school politics shouldn\u2019t be a precondition for a child to get a good teacher<\/a>, The Hechinger Report<\/em>, December 30, 2019. (Provides insight into why parents don’t fight for K12 compensation transparency.)<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Teacher Salaries<\/a>, Capital<\/em>, December 14, 2019. Note: this is a letter-to-the-editor<\/a>, not article.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., The growing and hidden pay gap between junior and senior teachers is a disgrace<\/a>, Washington Post, July 19, 2019, p. C4<\/a>.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Should Anne Arundel raise local taxes to fund increased senior teacher pay?<\/a>, Washington Post, June 13, 2019. For the original article links, see here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H.,\u00a0Schools must improve spending transparency<\/a>, Capital<\/em>, January 3, 2019. Note: this is a letter-to-the-editor<\/a>, not article.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H.,\u00a0Prince George’s County pension-spiking is ripping off Maryland taxpayers<\/a>, Washington Examiner<\/em>, September 17, 2018.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H.,\u00a0Seek equal pay for equal work? Don\u2019t become a K-12 teacher<\/a>, Hechinger Report<\/em>, June 29, 2017.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., America\u2019s $1 million per year K12 public school teachers<\/a>, Washington Examiner<\/em>,April 27, 2017. \u00a0This op-ed calls for the use of accrual accounting in the reporting of K12 compensation at an individual level.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H.,\u00a0Maryland should be truthful in reporting teacher pay<\/a>,\u00a0Washington Post,\u00a0<\/em>February 17, 2017. \u00a0This op-ed calls for machine-readable,\u00a0online disclosure of K12 salary data, including the methodology by which it is reported.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H.,\u00a0Is the AACPS School Board Embarrassed by the Incoming Superintendent\u2019s Compensation?<\/a>,\u00a0Watchdog Wire<\/em>, June 3, 2014.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H.,\u00a0It\u2019s the Public\u2019s Data: Democratizing School Board Records<\/a>, Education Week<\/em>, June 14, 2010.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Maryland\u2019s fake open government<\/a>, Washington Post<\/em>, April 18, 2010.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Democratize School Budget Data<\/a>, Education Week,<\/em> May 20, 2009. These ideas are being implemented XBRL US’s State & Local Government Disclosure Modernization Working Group<\/a>.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., \u201cPublic School Systems Should Post Compensation Data Online<\/a>,\u201d Washington Examiner<\/em>, March 18, 2009.<\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Need Teachers? Show Them the Money<\/a>, Washington Post<\/em>, February 8, 2009<\/p>\n Snider, J.H.,\u00a0America\u2019s Million-Dollar Superintendents:\u00a0Should public schools\u2019 financial statements look more like public companies\u2019?<\/a>, Education Week<\/em>, December 11, 2006.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Comment:<\/em> Remarkably, some countries and U.S. states provide more genuine public transparency on private employee compensation than Maryland does on taxpayer funded governmeng employee compensation.<\/p>\n Baker, Michael, et al.,\u00a0Can Transparency Laws Fix the Gender Wage Gap?<\/a>, Harvard Business Review, Feb. 26, 2020.<\/p>\n Bevanger, Lars, Norway: The country where no salaries are secret<\/a>, BBC News, July 22, 2017.<\/p>\n Burkus, David,\u00a0Why Keeping Salaries a Secret May Hurt Your Company<\/a>, Harvard Business Review, March 10, 2016. Nov. 6, 2019 interview<\/a> with Burkus. Sept. 30, 2016 critique of Burkus’s argument.<\/p>\n Cutter, Chip,\u00a0<\/span>New York City Companies Prepare to Put Pay Ranges on Job Listings<\/a>, Wall Street Journal, April 17, 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n Cutter, Chip,\u00a0<\/span>You\u2019ll Soon Get to See Pay on NYC Job Postings<\/a>, Wall Street Journal, Jan. 28, 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n Carmichael, Sarah Green, Am I Underpaid? Too Often, Younger Workers Don’t Know<\/a>, Bloomberg, Feb. 10, 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n Economist, Knowing what your colleagues earn: The pros and cons of greater pay transparency<\/a>, The Economist, Jan. 25, 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n Hardy, Adam, ‘Moment of Reckoning:’ New Laws Are Forcing Employers to Share Salary Details With Applicants<\/a>, Money, Nov. 18, 2021.<\/p>\n Kingson<\/a>, Jennifer A., Momentum builds for salary transparency<\/a>, Axios, Jan. 28, 2022.<\/p>\n Pacheco, Inti, Not Sure How Much You Should Be Paid? Colorado Could Offer Some Clues<\/a>, Wall Street Journal, Dec. 1, 2021.<\/p>\n Weber, Lauren, Microsoft to Disclose Pay Ranges for All U.S. Job Postings: Software giant\u2019s move comes after home state adopts pay transparency law<\/a>, Wall Street Journal, June 9, 2022<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n READER POLL: Do you believe state and local government officials are committed to transparency when it comes to spending taxpayer money?<\/a>, Capital, March 8, 2026.<\/p>\n Woodall, Candy, Spotlight on Maryland to lawmakers: You are public servants. If there\u2019s nothing to hide, answer the questions<\/a>, Capital, March 8, 2026.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog include_categories=”13,15,14,12,22″ disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Blog Articles” _builder_version=”4.16″ disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”] [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text My Research” _builder_version=”4.16″ z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Included in the various menu items at the top of this web page are some of the more recent published sources that served as the basis of my research. Included below on this page is some of my more recent Maryland Public Information Act correspondence seeking compensation data from the Maryland State Department of Education, Prince George’s County Public Schools, and Anne Arundel County Public Schools.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text Correspondence” _builder_version=”4.16″ z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/k12transparency.isolon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/MSDE-Logo.jpg” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image MSDE” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”] Highlights:<\/strong> MSDE refuses to provide statewide salary data, claiming that that information is exempt under Maryland’s licensing law and that I will have to request the information county-by-county via the Public Information Act. MSDE board members are sympathetic to the public’s difficulty accessing meaningful salary data from MSDE but don’t believe it’s politically realistic to try to solve the problem.\u00a0MSDE blows off Maryland’s\u00a0new Public Information Act Ombudsman, recognizing she has no power. To follow the correspondence, it may be easiest to start at the earliest date (the bottom post below) and then move up to later dates.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog include_categories=”20,19″ show_more=”on” show_pagination=”off” admin_label=”Blog Correspondence MSDE” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_level=”h3″ header_font_size=”16″ body_font_size=”12″ body_line_height=”1.3em” meta_font_size=”12″ meta_line_height=”1em” pagination_font_size=”12″ background_color=”#ededed” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px” border_radii_fullwidth=”on|0px|0px|0px|0px” border_style_all_fullwidth=”inset” border_width_bottom_fullwidth=”1px” border_color_bottom_fullwidth=”rgba(51,51,51,0.11)” border_color_left_fullwidth=”rgba(51,51,51,0.13)” box_shadow_style=”preset6″ box_shadow_position=”outer” use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] Highlights:<\/strong> PGCPS claims that the PGCPS Board of Education did not estimate outgoing Superintendent Kevin Maxwell’s deferred compensation as part of its severance agreement with him.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog include_categories=”18″ show_more=”on” show_pagination=”off” admin_label=”Blog Correspondence PGCPS” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_level=”h3″ header_font_size=”16″ body_font_size=”12″ body_line_height=”1.3em” meta_font_size=”12″ meta_line_height=”1em” pagination_font_size=”12″ background_color=”#ededed” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px” border_radii_fullwidth=”on|0px|0px|0px|0px” border_style_all_fullwidth=”inset” border_width_bottom_fullwidth=”1px” border_color_bottom_fullwidth=”rgba(51,51,51,0.11)” border_color_left_fullwidth=”rgba(51,51,51,0.13)” box_shadow_style=”preset6″ box_shadow_position=”outer” use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] Highlights:<\/strong>\u00a0In response to a series of Public Information Act requests for comprehensive compensation related information at the individual level, AACPS arbitrarily and without explanation excludes certain categories of remuneration known as pay codes.\u00a0 Copied below is only the latest of a series of more than a half dozen PIA requests over more than a decade.\u00a0 Other sets of correspondence will be posted as time permits.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog include_categories=”17″ show_more=”on” show_pagination=”off” admin_label=”Blog Correspondence AACPS” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_level=”h3″ header_font_size=”16″ body_font_size=”12″ body_line_height=”1.3em” meta_font_size=”12″ meta_line_height=”1em” pagination_font_size=”12″ background_color=”#ededed” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px” border_radii_fullwidth=”on|0px|0px|0px|0px” border_style_all_fullwidth=”inset” border_width_bottom_fullwidth=”1px” border_color_bottom_fullwidth=”rgba(51,51,51,0.11)” border_color_left_fullwidth=”rgba(51,51,51,0.13)” box_shadow_style=”preset6″ box_shadow_position=”outer” use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] Highlights:<\/strong> AACPS’s Public Information Officer doesn’t include his compensation and job description information in response to a Public Information Act request.\u00a0 The PIO Officer is arguably the second most powerful staff member in AACPS after the superintendent.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/k12transparency.isolon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/MarylandStateRetirementAndPensionSystem.jpg” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image MSDE” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”] Highlights: <\/strong>The Maryland State Retirement Agency refuses to provide information on an extraordinary salary increase immediately prior to retirement that would significantly boost an employee’s pension. More generally, the Retirement Agency has consistently refused to provide deferred compensation data necessary to calculate an employee’s total compensation package.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog include_categories=”21″ show_thumbnail=”off” show_categories=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_level=”h3″ header_font=”||||||||” header_font_size=”14px” global_colors_info=”{}”] BACKGROUND<\/strong><\/p>\n Over 20-25 years there has been a surge in policies in government and other offices banning employees from communicating with journalists unless the journalists go through the public information office. It is powerful, unethical censorship that had become a cultural norm. Employees usually don\u2019t tell reporters anything outside of the official message when they can never speak without reporting to the authorities.<\/p>\n However, beyond that, the additional obstructions made possible by that PIO control point are often massive and growing steadily worse. There are extensive delays or the agency does not allow any contact at all. The PIOs often send written answers that are not responsive to the questions without even acknowledging that the reporter asked to speak to someone. If an interview is allowed, the PIOs often listen in and tell the staff member what not to discuss.<\/p>\n This required application process for each five-minute contact through the tight bottleneck of a public information office chokes off communication among thousands of people who should<\/u> talk to each other fluidly for the sake of public understanding. It\u2019s as sabotaging as putting permanent roadblocks on the Washington Beltway.<\/p>\n But we also know that the restrictions are a tool that people in authority deliberately use to control the story, according to their own thoughts and motivations….<\/p>\n Surveys<\/strong><\/p>\n Over the last four years SPJ has sponsored seven surveys of various types of reporters and public information officers. The findings show these restrictions have become pervasive in many areas in state and local government, businesses, nonprofits and other entities. The surveys reveal chilling assumptions by officials that this enforced silence is appropriate. They also show a lack of concern about the consequences to all of us.<\/p>\n Education Reporters<\/strong><\/p>\n Seventy-two percent of education reporters said PIOs or administration officials monitor interviews, either in-person or over the phone at least some of the time: this in an era when various institutions have been found to cover up child abuse and other malfeasance.<\/p>\n One reporter said, \u201cUsually, I am told that the person won’t be useful to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Almost a third of education reporters said they had been prohibited by the PIO from interviewing school, department or institution employees.<\/p>\n –Kathryn Foxhall, Email to Open Government Community, May 1, 2017<\/p>\n Foxhall, Kathryn, The Ethics of Looking Away<\/a>, Society of Professional Journalists Ethics Committee Blog, April 27, 2017<\/p>\nPublic Policy Regarding <\/strong>
Private Sector Pay Disclosure<\/strong><\/h3>\nOther<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n[\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text My Research” _builder_version=”4.16″ z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nJ.H. Snider Research<\/strong><\/h3>\n
J.H. Snider Correspondence<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text MSDE” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nCorrespondence with the Maryland State Department of Education<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n[\/et_pb_blog][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/k12transparency.isolon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/PGCPS-600-X-315.jpg” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image MSDE” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]
\n[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text PGCPS” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nCorrespondence with Prince George’s County Public Schools<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n[\/et_pb_blog][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/k12transparency.isolon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/AACPS-1280×640.gif” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image MSDE” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]
\n[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text AACPS Employee Compensation FY2018″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nCorrespondence with Anne Arundel County Public Schools<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n[\/et_pb_blog][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text AACPS Mosier Compensation” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nCorrespondence with Anne Arundel County Public Schools<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”80%” max_width=”1080px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nCorrespondence with Maryland State Retirement and Pension Information<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\n[\/et_pb_login][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Text Kathryn Foxhall” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n