Maryland Focuses On Higher Education

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Maryland continues to gain stature as an education state, focusing Monday on getting students even further down the path to success.

Political reporter Pat Warren explains the focus is expanding beyond those four-year college degrees.

Latia Stanley was all ears at Governor Martin O'Malley's inauguration this month.

"I'm a full-time college student," Stanley said.

And she's keeping an eye on how the governor deals with her concerns in a tightly stretched economy.

"He's had a lot of initiatives to improve education, as well as giving grants and loans to student to further college education," she said.

The National College Board shares Stanley's confidence, making Maryland the first stop in a campaign to increase college graduation rates by the year 2025.

"Maryland is the first state to step out and lead the charge," O'Malley said.

The O'Malley administration is taking graduation goals outlined by President Barack Obama in his State of the Union address to heart.

"You don't do that by waking up on Dec. 31 in 2024 and saying, 'Golly, this is the year.'  You do it every year," he said.

Stanley fully expects the governor to move toward meeting any education goals.

"I think he did a fine job the last four years and I think it's great he gets an opportunity to extend the good things he's done for another four," she said.

About 44.5 percent of young adult Marylanders have two- or four-year degrees.