The deadline for counties to file a formal request for a waiver from their FY 2012 maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement will be April 1, 2011.  The State Board of Education will adhere to this statutory deadline as referenced in the Maryland Education Article, Section 5-202 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.  County governments must prove that the county’s fiscal condition “significantly impedes” the county’s ability to fund maintenance of effort (MOE).

By the April 1 deadline, any county planning to file a waiver request must send a letter to the State Board stating the amount of the requested waiver and the percentage of the total Maintenance of Effort (MOE) amount the waiver requests represents.   As in previous years, the letter should be sent to:

Anthony South, Executive Director
Maryland State Board of Education
200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

As in prior years, once a county’s formal request has been filed, the State Board will issue guidelines for the contents of the filing briefs to be submitted for the waiver hearings.  These hearings are usually held in late April or early May.

If the General Assembly acts on any pending legislation prior to April 1, to alter the maintenance of effort waiver process, the State Board will announce any needed clarifications to the FY 2012 MOE waiver process and the deadlines that will apply. Multiple bills have been introduced before the General Assembly to modify this waiver procedure, but have not yet received action in either the Senate or House.