A new 17-page primer on Maryland school funding is a concise and useful tool for understanding these high-profile, and high-importance, programs.

The Department of Legislative Services – the nonpartisan staff agency to the General Assembly – has developed a nuts-and-bolts overview of public school funding. The document, presented to the Kirwan Commission on October 10 as that Commission carries into its final weeks of deliberations, offers background and definitions of the various elements of Maryland school funding.

Some highlights of the document:

Wealth Equalization and how county wealth is calculated

Foundation Funding and student weights for special classes

Geographic Cost of Education Index – regional funding based on local cost drivers

Teacher Retirement – general summary of funding laws

Maintenance of Effort – county funding requirements under state law

Education Aid by Category – FY19 funds summarized on one page