A state commission studying ways to revolutionize Maryland education policies continues to butt heads over a $4 billion price tag, forcing it to delay issuing formal recommendations until mid-January.
But late-stage funding debates could work out in Montgomery County’s favor, said Craig Rice, a County Council member who represents Damascus, Germantown and Clarksburg and sits on the Commission on Excellence in Education, known as the Kirwan Commission.
Rice said he anticipates the commission will place emphasis on funding for school districts based on the number of students on free- and reduced-meal plans, as well as English language learners and special education students, posturing Montgomery County for adequate funding.
About 34 percent of county students are on reduced price lunch programs, 17 percent are English language learners and 11 percent are special education students.
Data presented to the commission Wednesday showed the more black, Latino and Native American students a school district serves, the more underfunded the district is.
For example, roughly 90 percent of Prince George’s County students are students of color and the school system’s per-pupil spending is more than $4,000 less than what the state considers adequate per-pupil expenditure.
Montgomery County has about 50 percent of students in the same category and the school district’s per-pupil spending is approximately $500 less than state benchmarks.
The commission has met more than 50 times since September 2016 in an effort to create a list of education policy changes to increase student success, but just recently began tinkering with how its recommendations would be funded, specifically the cost split between the state and county governments.
The commission ultimately decided it is not comfortable sending such a large financial request to the Maryland legislature, set to begin in early January, without additional discussions.
Chairman William “Brit” Kirwan said the group would be ready to finalize the report at a mid-January meeting, about two weeks later than expected. The commission will then send its recommendations to the Maryland legislature.
“But we have a lot of work to do yet,” Kirwan said.
However, there were signs that any decisions would not be made in the upcoming 90-day legislative session.
In a letter addressed to the commission, leaders of the Maryland General Assembly raised questions about its ability to thoroughly vet Kirwan’s proposals and funding formula in a single 90-day session.
Signed by Senate President Thomas Mike Miller Jr., and House Speaker Michael Busch, the letter said the commission’s work should not be rushed, and suggested development of a working group to review and develop formula recommendations to be considered by the commission in fall 2019.
“It appears we have more work to do to convince the Governor that these generational changes are worth undertaking,” the letter reads. “… The work of the Commission is too important to rush through without something so critical as funding formulas that will ensure that the debate in the General Assembly is backed by the best data available.”
