Maryland is amidst an effort to study the adequacy of its overall school funding formulas, with a multi-stakeholder advisory group guiding efforts of several hired consultants. That effort is expected to yield several work products before the end of this year, which may guide continued policy decisions regarding school funding.

The MSDE “Study of Adequacy of Funding for Education in the State Of Maryland” is profiled in an online site hosting documents and meeting agendas for the workgroup. MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson is among the group’s representatives.

A recent “progress report” note from MSDE indicates a number of items are expected to be completed and released before the end of 2015. Among them:

Upcoming Deliverables

June 30, 2015
Final Report – School Size Study
Final Report – Proxy for Economically Disadvantaged Students
Final Report – Evaluation of the Impact of Increasing and Declining Enrollment
Interim Report – Adequacy Cost Study – Methodology and Progress to Date
Interim Report – Impact of Concentrations of Poverty, Literature Review

September 30, 2015
Final Report – Prekindergarten Services and Funding
Final Report – Evaluation of the Wealth Calculation
Preliminary Report – Review of the Maryland Geographic Cost of Education Index

The group is scheduled to convene its next meeting on July 22nd at 1:00 p.m. in Annapolis, and will review the June items listed above.

For more information on the Adequacy Study, see previous Conduit Street coverage:
Study on Wealth Formulas Due This Fall
Education Adequacy Study Group To Hold Second Meeting

For related documents and background, visit the MSDE website for Adequacy Study materials.