Education Advocate
March 28, 2017
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We CAN Make a Difference.
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Never underestimate the power of your voice. The Baltimore Education Coalition, co-chaired by the ACLU, rallied more than 2000 people in Annapolis, sent letters & postcards, made phone calls, sent emails, held a press conference, made lobby visits, wrote opinion editorials and tweeted. Finally, Governor Hogan has taken action to help Baltimore City Schools #FixtheGap!
The governor submitted a supplemental budget on Monday, which, unlike the one submitted last Friday, includes $28.2 million for 11 school systems, including $23.7 m. for Baltimore City Schools. Maryland school systems that are experiencing declining enrollment or that provide full-day prekindergarten will also receive grants.*
The supplemental budget releases funding for HB684, part of the three-year "
Bridge to Kirwan
" package developed by Del. Maggie McIntosh, City Senate and House budget leaders, and Mayor Pugh. The General Assembly cut the Governor's proposed budget to make this supplemental re-allocation of funds to the school systems possible. (Budget committees had a "Plan B" to relieve school systems of some pension payments that would have given the equivalent amount had the Governor not acted.) The $23.7 m. is linked to a requirement that the City of Baltimore give an additional $22 m. to City Schools in FY18.
Other parts of the "Bridge to Kirwan" package do not require a specific appropriation. They relieve City Schools of paying certain obligations, essentially giving them funds that they would otherwise have had to pay. These actions are on the way to passage in the General Assembly but are NOT yet final.
Because of our huge collective outcry and organizing, City and legislative leaders mobilized and Governor Hogan included City Schools in his supplemental budget. The deficit has been reduced enormously; remember City Schools started this legislative session with state funding $42 m. below the prior year. But a funding gap still remains.
The chart below shows where City Schools' $130 m. deficit stands at this moment for FY18.
This
explanation details the State-City funding commitments of $180 m. over three years ($60 m./year). FY19 and 20 sources and proportions will be different. The chart also shows additional commitments made by City Schools and President Jack Young to fix the gap.
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#FixtheGap: Where We Stand
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The good news is that we have contribution commitments from both the City and State to address the $130 m. deficit.
This chart illustrates total commitments and their sources.
- State Grants in Supplemental Budget (from HB684):
- $10.2 m. from Pre-K grant
- $13.5 m. from declining enrollment grant
- Spending relief (amounts City Schools will not have to pay due to enacted state legislation - not yet final)
- $4.6 m. from 21st Century Building Program (excess bottle tax revenue)
- $1.8 m. from increased pension costs
- $7.5 m. from MTA. If passed, would relieve City Schools of paying for MTA passes for 3 years.
- Mayor's Commitment
- $22 m. from the City. The "Bridge to Kirwan" package requires the City to contribute $22 m. in order to receive state funds. Mayor Pugh will release her budget later this week, and it is possible additional funds will be added.
- City Council President Jack Young's Commitment
- $10 m. in additional city funds. President Young has pledged $10 million from the police department budget. It is unknown whether this is a 3-yr. commitment.
- City Schools' Central Office Cuts
- $30 m. from City Schools. CEO Dr. Santelises has identified $30 m. in additional cuts at the district level.
- Remaining Funding Gap
- A $30.4 m. funding gap will remain if all commitments above are fulfilled.
- City Schools reported that an additional $10-20 m. in savings could come from negotiations between the school system and Baltimore Teachers Union.
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Gov. Hogan's supplemental budget and the other bills are important steps in this year's fight, but our ultimate goal is adequate and equitable funding for City Schools (and schools across the state).
For nine years, per pupil state funding to Maryland schools has been essentially flat due to changes made in the Thornton per-pupil funding formula in 2008. The state has documented that City Schools is $290 m./year below what the "Thornton" education funding formula deemed adequate. Consultants for the Kirwan Commission peg the number City Schools should receive as an additional
$358 m. per year.
In addition to working to ensure the funds above are fully allocated in the City budget, we must shore up our resources for the big fight for a revised adequate funding formula, the root of the budget deficit, next year.
Follow us on Twitter and like our page on Facebook for timely updates, and check your inbox for updates as these decisions are finalized.
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*Additional counties to receive funding from HB684.
Allegany: $793,000 Calvert: $240,000 Carroll: $1.6 m. Cecil: $190,000 Garrett: $456,000
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Harford: $356,000
Kent: $215,000
Queen Anne's: $22,000
Somerset: $455,000
Talbot: $133,000
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Stay Connected:
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ACLU-MD Education Reform Project
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 350
Baltimore, MD 21217
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Bebe Verdery, Director
Frank Patinella, Senior Education Advocate
Kimberly Humphrey, Esq., Legislative/Education Advocate
Jerrica Stanley, Education Intern Jada Grant, Communications Manager
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