The Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) kicked off a collaboration this week with counties, schools, and consultants to work through budget strategies related to implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

The visionary educational reform policy for Maryland schools incorporates historic standards in terms of fiscal transparency and accountability. The AIB in conjunction with the Maryland State Department of Education are tasked with ensuring schools are following the specified budget guidelines. Notably, the plan calls for ensuring that 75 percent of per-pupil funding follows students to their schools. This requirement is intended to guarantee that the distribution of resources at the school level reflects how the state and counties distribute funds to the districts.

This resource allocation process is a departure from how education agencies were distributing funding across schools prior to the Blueprint. In an effort to help schools and local governments reach the Blueprint goals collaboratively, and with the more rigorous procedures, the AIB has contracted five consultancies to aid in the transition. Strategies for effectively allocating funding in line with the Blueprint requirements was the primary focal point for this round of technical support from the AIB.

According to meeting organizers on Wednesday, each firm will work with both the county and school representatives in a set group of jurisdictions. Officials representing county budget and finance teams, county administrators, and school agencies were present on the kick off call. With the introductory session concluded, more location-specific work will begin in the coming months, in smaller groups, with the hope of helping local governments and schools move implementation forward.