Shirley Povich

Historical marker location:

10600 Westlake Drive, North Bethesda, Maryland

( Marker can be reached from Westlake Drive, 0.8 miles south of Tuckerman Lane, on the right when traveling south.)

Maryland was the first state to pass a law requiring free public education: In 1827, Maryland became the first state to pass a law requiring free public education for all children. The law was initially aimed at poor children, but eventually expanded to include all children regardless of their economic status.