In a report done by Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst on FOX 45 Baltimore, it was revealed that Maryland’s system for funding each system in the state per pupil enrolled on September 30 of each year has given districts thousands for student no longer enrolled in their schools. The total? $318 million. A large amount in a state that is already in an approximately $2 billion dollar deficit.
Over the past three years, according to the Maryland State Department of Education, combined state and local PreK-12 public education funding has increased by about 16% from $12.3 billion in 2023 to $14.3 billion in 2025. (FOX 45)
The problem is that the state, who gives around $20,000 per student enrolled to each school system, determines that number on September 30 of each year. This means that the number of students in the school system on that day is the final number for funding. However, many times, students leave a system later in the year. Or, better yet, they are said to be enrolled on September 30th but actually don’t exist.
This is more of a problem in larger systems like Baltimore City, but throughout the states, school enrollment figures are often incorrect.
Also, students who leave after being enrolled on September 30th don’t trigger a refund of the money allocated for them to the system.
From FOX 45:
In 2024/2025, 7,440 students left Maryland Public Schools. Some were designated as ” “Not Accessing Educational Services”.” That adds up to about $150 million dollars. In 2023/2024, Maryland had around $168 million for students who unenrolled from public schools.
Remember, while some schools get money to educate students who leave after September 30, that means other schools are being underfunded when students enroll after September 30.
Delegate April Rose, Republican from Frederick and Carroll Counties has submitted a bill to assure that the taxpayers of Maryland are accurately funding students in the state’s districts. It is House Bill 976, the Education Funding Accuracy Act and it was cross filed in the Maryland Senate by Republican Senator Corderman, from Washington and Frederick Counties as SB 712. The bill would require the redefinition of “full time equivalent enrollment” in the funding calculation for state aid to counties. It would include the average number of students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade September 30 and May 31 of the prior school year. It would require the State Department of Education to publish this information online submit reports to designated committees of the General Assembly.
Everyone needs to remember that
The House Bill will have its first hearing on March 11th at 1 p.m. in front of the Ways and Means Committee.
Here are the bills:
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