School funding is not one-size-fits-all — it is based on student demographics, school services, and state-mandated categories to ensure equity and accountability across every school community.
Learn how PGCPS schools are funded under Blueprint for Maryland's Future, including how state and local dollars are allocated to public schools (both traditional and charter) and how factors like student needs shape school budgets.
The Blueprint is Maryland’s statewide education funding plan aimed at transforming public education. It mandates significant increases in funding for schools and changes how that money is allocated and tracked. The law is focused on equity, student achievement, and accountability.
School funding is shared by:
The state sends money to school systems (called LEAs) based on wealth-equalized formulas that consider:
Counties must contribute their share as well — either through Maintenance of Effort (MOE) or a required Local Share under the Blueprint, whichever is greater.
PGCPS uses a student-based budgeting (SBB) approach. This means that a school’s funding is directly tied to the demographics and needs of its student population. Schools with more students needing additional support receive more funding.
Charter schools and traditional schools are both subject to this process. Each school is guaranteed a Minimum School Funding (MSF) level for each Blueprint program area — determined by multiplying the per-pupil amount (PPA) by the number of qualifying students.
Each student has a unique funding amount based on their characteristics.
For example:
Each school’s budget is a reflection of the aggregate PPAs of its enrolled students.
|
School Type |
Average PPA |
|
Elementary Schools |
$20,234 |
|
Middle Schools |
$18,719 |
|
PreK–8 Schools |
$15,922 |
|
High Schools |
$17,192 |
|
Charter Schools |
$14,289 |
|
SPED Regionals |
$24,793 |
|
Alternative Schools |
$20,922 |
PPAs vary based on student demographics and services required.
Each school budget includes three parts:
Decided by the school principal. Includes positions, classroom resources, and academic interventions.
Managed centrally but dedicated to a specific school (e.g., special education, Pre-K, custodians).
District-level services that support all schools (e.g., transportation, nurses, technology, athletics).
Charter schools are public schools and receive per-pupil funding based on the same Blueprint formulas. However, because charter school populations often have lower percentages of students eligible for FARMs or multilingual learner services, their average funding tends to be lower.
Charters also receive:
Charters may also opt to "buy back" district-managed services (like health or technology) if needed.
The Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) ensures that school systems follow the law. Each year:
By FY27, full compliance with the Blueprint’s MSF requirements is mandatory. The AIB may withhold state funds from schools or districts that fall short.
AIB (Accountability and Implementation Board)
An independent state body created to oversee and ensure compliance with the Blueprint law.
Blueprint for Maryland’s Future
Maryland’s comprehensive education reform law that redesigns funding formulas and requires new accountability measures to improve education outcomes statewide.
Commensurate Funding (CF)
The requirement that charter schools receive a share of local, state, and federal funding equivalent to what other public schools receive, based on enrollment and need.
Comparable Wage Index (CWI)
An adjustment factor in the Blueprint formula to reflect differences in educator salaries across geographic areas.
County Share / Local Share
The portion of funding that counties must contribute under the Blueprint, which is often greater than the previously required “Maintenance of Effort.”
FARMs (Free and Reduced-Price Meals)
A commonly used indicator of poverty to determine eligibility for compensatory education funding.
Minimum School Funding (MSF)
A guarantee that each school — charter or traditional — receives a minimum amount of funding for each Blueprint program based on student enrollment.
Multilingual Learners (ML)
Students whose primary language is not English and who are learning English as part of their education.
PPA (Per-Pupil Amount)
The amount of money allocated for each student based on their needs. This value varies significantly depending on factors like poverty, disability status, and language support.
SBB (Student-Based Budgeting)
A budgeting model where funding follows the student. School principals (or charter operators) receive funds based on the characteristics and needs of their students and make localized decisions on spending.
School-Based Locked Resources
Funds and staff assigned to a specific school but managed centrally (e.g., special education teachers, Pre-K staff).
Centrally Managed Locked Resources
District-level services that support all schools, such as transportation, nurses, and technology — not directly managed by the school but essential to its operation.
Special Education (SPED) Overage
When the cost of special education services exceeds available state and federal funds. PGCPS covers this overage, and charter schools are assigned a portion of the cost based on proportional usage.
