Judge Hears Case Over Maryland Funding of Historically Black Schools: Attorneys arguing that Maryland's history of racially-segregated higher education is ongoing used decades-old state reports to try to make their point as a federal trial began Tuesday.
The Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education alleges that practices carried over from the days of segregation at the state's higher education commission put historically Black schools at a competitive disadvantage. The coalition said there is unnecessary duplication of specialized programs offered at historically Black schools, as well as funding disparities.
Maryland has appointed blue ribbon commission after blue ribbon commission to get its historically Black colleges and universities “out of the hole Maryland's policies have put them in,” attorney Michael Jones said in his opening statements.
