New Blueprint funding requirements are coming for Maryland school systems

 By reporter William Ford in Maryland Matters. Full story here.

Local school systems have less than four months to begin meeting new financial reporting requirements to ensure public school students receive the resources for a quality education, under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan.

The Blueprint’s Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB), which oversees the 10-year $3.8 billion plan, approved a policy Thursday that would require officials from all 24 school systems to ensure at least 75% of per pupil funding follows that person to the school attended.

That percentage must also be shown in specific categories for students who, for example, are English language learners, enrolled in special education and college and career readiness programs.

The policy, called the minimum school funding requirement, will go into effect for school systems, also known as local education agencies, or LEAs, on July 1, when fiscal year 2025 begins.