Schools Scramble to Make Grade Despite Lost Funding
Maryland educational leaders are bracing for the loss of about $190 million in projected state aid in the coming fiscal year after legislators decided to curtail additional funding.</br></br>The impact at the local level varies widely, and officials are still assessing the damage to their budgets. But educators say they are working to ensure that the cuts do not affect the quality of instruction.</br></br>Annual state education aid has increased by well over $1 billion since 2002 as a result of the Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act, better known as the Thornton plan for the commission that recommended it. But the plan never had a secured source of funding. With the state facing a $1.7 billion revenue shortfall, state lawmakers voted during a special session this month to eliminate inflation adjustments to the Thornton plan for 2009 and 2010 and limit the increases afterward.</br></br>The cut will save the state about $190 million in 2009. By 2012, it is projected to save nearly $400 million. The savings may be partially offset by new revenue from the Geographic Cost of Education Index, a component of the Thornton plan that is to go into effect this year.</br></br>Prince George's County, the hardest-hit system, stands to lose about $31.3 million, according to the fiscal analysis attached to the bill. The Prince George's superintendent said he expected to lose $40 million to $50 million.