Maryland

Abstract

The equity of Maryland’s P–12 education formula has long been scrutinized and challenged in court. Changes to Maryland’s P–12 funding formula occurred following a successful legislative override during the 2021 session following the governor’s 2020 veto of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Act. The new P–12 formula includes 13 categories: Foundation Aid, Transportation Aid, Compensatory Education Aid, English Learner Aid, Special Education Aid, Guaranteed Tax Base Aid, Comparable Wage Index Aid, Post College and Career Readiness Pathways Aid, Concentration of Poverty Aid, Transitional Supplemental Instruction Aid, Prekindergarten Aid, and Career Ladder Aid. Funding formula changes were implemented in FY2023, following delays in reporting and the COVID-19 pandemic. No changes were made to higher education funding formulas. The state allocated $7.3 billion for P–12 education in FY2022, 15.2% of the state budget. The state allocated $4.8 billion for higher education in FY2022, 7.9% of the state budget. FY2023 allocations for higher education will include a $59.5 million settlement for Maryland’s historically Black colleges and universities.