Publications/Research

The Abell Foundation's online publication library is a rich resource for leading edge research reports and publications. To reach its goal of being an agent of change and a catalyst for ideas affecting the quality of life in Baltimore and Maryland, The Abell Foundation continually challenges itself to make certain that grants awarded are consistent with that aspiration. Please read the research reports and publications displayed here to gain familiarity with and complete information about our areas of interest.

You may filter publications by subject area, using the pull down menu to the left. Most publications are available as PDF files. When selecting them for download, you will get a Publication Preview page which displays more information about the publication before displaying the PDF file. From the PDF file, you can review and print the document or download the PDF file to your hard drive.

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The Cost of the Death Penalty in Maryland

March 6, 2008 - Maryland death penalty has cost taxpayers more than $186
million.

Baltimore Public Housing - Abell Update

October 31, 2007 - This report is a fuller version of the original report and contains the following additional material: a history of public housing in Baltimore; profiles of two public housing projects being eliminated or downsized; and a more detailed report of the city’s Section 8 program.

Abell Evaluation

June 11, 2007 - The Baltimore KIPP Ujima Village Academy, 2002-2006

A "Jump Start" On College

June 4, 2007 - How Early College Access Programs Can Help High School Students in Baltimore City

Update: Underground Video Gambling

January 23, 2007 - Still in Violation of the Law, and Still Thriving

Is It Time To Rethink Pensions In Maryland?

November 27, 2006 - New study disputes claim that Maryland''s teacher pension plan hampers recruitment and retention of teachers. Full report.

A Critique of the 2006 City of Baltimore Comprehensive Master Plan

September 29, 2006 - This report to identifies and discusses the important public policy issues (including possible legal issues) embodied in the Plan recommendations.

City of Baltimore Comprehensive Master Plan Council Bill

September 28, 2006 - City of Baltimore Legislative File Number 06-0466 (version 0)

Baltimore's "New" Middle Schools

September 22, 2006 - Do KIPP and Crossroads schools offer solutions to the City’s poorly-performing middle schools? Full report.

Update: A Teacher for Every Classroom

June 26, 2006 - New Teachers in the Baltimore City Schools, 1999-2005

Maryland's Electricity Opportunity

June 12, 2006 - How to Fix the Power Breakdown and Pave the Way to Innovation, Efficiency, and Competitive Rates. Full report.

Underground Video Gambling Industry Costing Maryland More Than $15 Million Annually In Uncollected Taxes

January 24, 2006 - Research also shows that in Baltimore City and Baltimore County machine operators are underreporting their income by more than $63,000,000 a year. Full Report.

Special Education in the Baltimore City High Schools: Perspectives, Challenges, Recommendations

December 13, 2005 - What's at stake: the eduction due every student; the taxpayer dollars to support it; the viability of Baltimore City's work force. Full Report.

A Teacher for Every Classroom

October 26, 2005 - Traditional hiring of teachers vs. alternative
routes in Baltimore City Public Schools.

Low-End Rental Housing

September 23, 2005 - The forgotten story in Baltimore's housing boom.

Baltimore’s Center of Controversy

June 21, 2005 - Should a new “Convention Center Hotel” be built adjacent to the Convention Center? If so, who should own it? The city favors itself—is that decision the right one?

Help Wanted: Career & Technology Education in Baltimore City Schools

April 17, 2005 - With an unemployment rate that is nearly double that of the metroplitan region and the state, and the city poised for rapid growth and development in medicine, health care and technology, why has Baltimore City's high school budget for Career and Technical Educations (CTE) been decimated over the last five years?

Actuarial Discrimination

January 23, 2005 - FULL REPORT: City residents pay up to 198% more for car insurance than county residents, by Tom Waldron.

Rejoinder: Abell Report, Commercial Tax Assessments in Baltimore City

December 7, 2004 - Rejoinder by Author.

Response to Abell Report: Commercial Tax Assessments in Baltimore City

December 6, 2004 - Response by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation

Commercial Property Assessments in Baltimore

November 8, 2004 - FULL REPORT. A Costly Problem - A Strategic Opportunity

The Road To Nowhere

September 27, 2004 - FULL REPORT. The Illusion and Broken Promises of Special Education in the Baltimore City and Other Public School Systems by Kalman R. Hettleman

Baltimore City Community College: A Long Way to Go

May 25, 2004 - Abell Foundation study critical of academic progress
at BCCC.

An Evaluation of the Maryland Critical Area Program

December 18, 2003 - FULL REPORT. Effects on Conservation of Resource Lands and Patterns of Development by Saunders C. Hillyer

High Risk or High Time?

July 14, 2003 - A Critical Junction in Implementing Maryland''s High-Stakes High School Assessment as a Graduation Requirement.
History and background; problems and recommendations.

The Invisible Dyslexics: How Public School Systems In Baltimore and Elsewhere Discriminate Against Poor Children

February 1, 2003 - FULL REPORT. The delay in early diagnosis and treatment has disastrous academic consequences for our school children. Remedial action is called for, and the Baltimore City School System should seek the way.

Set Up To Fail?: The First Year Student Experience at BCCC

January 30, 2003 - Findings from interviews with Baltimore City high school graduates attending Baltimore City Community College reveal a transition fraught with obstacles to success.

Attracting New Americans Into Baltimore's Neighborhoods

December 1, 2002 - Immigration Is the Key To Reversing Baltimore's Population Decline

Teacher Certification Reconsidered: Appendix

June 4, 2002 - (Original release: November 1, 2001) Most of the studies included in this table were cited by certification advocates as evidence of certification’s value.

Teacher Certification Reconsidered: Stumbling for Quality

June 4, 2002 - (Original release: November 1, 2001) Maryland’s requirement that individuals must complete a prescribed body of coursework before teaching in a public school is deeply misguided.

Teacher Certification Reconsidered: A Rejoinder

June 4, 2002 - (Original release: November 7, 2001) In a lengthy response to The Abell Foundation’s Teacher Certification Reconsidered, Stumbling for Quality, Linda Darling-Hammond mounts a considerable effort to discredit the report.

Teacher Certification Reconsidered: Executive Summary

June 4, 2002 - (Original release: November 1, 2001) Maryland’s requirement that individuals must complete a prescribed body of coursework before teaching in a public school is deeply misguided.

Baltimore City Community College at the Crossroads

March 1, 2002 - How Remedial Education and Other Impediments to Graduation Are Affecting the Mission of the College

Still Getting It Wrong: The Continuing Failure of Special Education in the Baltimore City Public Schools

February 1, 2002 - Still Getting It Wrong:
The Continuing Failure of Special Education in the Baltimore City Public Schools

Topic: Pretrial Release and Bail System

The Pretrial Release Project

November 1, 2001 - A Study of Maryland's Pretrial Release and Bail System

Blue Cross Conversion: Policy Considerations Arising From A Sale of the Maryland Plan

November 1, 2001 - Blue Cross Conversion: Policy Considerations Arising From A Sale of the Maryland Plan

Assessing the Crack-down on Marijuana in Maryland

May 1, 2001 - There has long been a body of opinion that criminal sanctions are unnecessarily harsh for minor marijuana offenses.

2001 Advanced Placement Report

January 1, 2001 - 2001 Advanced Placement Report for Baltimore City

Psychometric Review of the MSPAP

October 1, 2000 - Psychometric Review of the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP)

Topic: Noncustodial Parents

Improving Child Well-Being

September 1, 2000 - A report focusing on low-income noncustodial parents in Maryland.

Baltimore Area Jobs and Low-Skill Job Seekers: Assessing the Gap

March 1, 1999 - Metropolitan regions—cities and their surrounding areas—are the geographic units that function and compete in the national and global economies. In each region, the city serves as the hub of business, finance, technology, education, and culture.

The Untapped Potential of Baltimore City Public Preschools

January 1, 1999 - The Untapped Potential of Baltimore City Public Preschools.
This study examines the two large-scale public preschool programs in Baltimore City, one operated by Head Start and the other by the Baltimore City public schools.

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