Maryland's public schools pulled a three-peat as the nation's best in Education Week's annual rankings, and naturally, everyone's taking credit. (Didn't The Washington Examiner sponsor that thing that one time at that place? We sure did!)

Loretta Johnson, executive vice president of the American Federation of Teams, congratulated Maryland's "laserlike focus on doing what works — proven strategies and promising innovations. The state has embraced a philosophy of trust, shared responsibility, and shared decision-making between administrators and teachers unions that can be seen in the new groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement between the Baltimore Teachers Union and the Baltimore City Public Schools."

Read the full statement below:

WASHINGTON--While we haven't reached the end zone yet, many states have made great strides in education, in spite of the worst recession since the Great Depression. Even in time of economic crisis, these states recognize the need to invest, not disinvest in education, and to develop programs that will provide broad and lasting improvements. Students in top-ranked Maryland are doing well because of their state's laserlike focus on doing what works--proven strategies and promising innovations. The state has embraced a philosophy of trust, shared responsibility, and shared decision-making between administrators and teachers unions that can be seen in the new groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement between the Baltimore Teachers Union and the Baltimore City Public Schools. Maryland and other leading states are shining examples of what we can accomplish when collaboration, not conflict, is the approach used to help our kids succeed in school, life and career.