Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program - Personnel and Per Pupil Grants - Eligible Uses
HB0352 amends Maryland’s Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program by removing a sunset-like limitation on how long personnel grants and per pupil grants may be used to support certain fine arts instructional programs. Under current law, those grant funds could be used for the specified programs only through fiscal year 2027; the bill repeals that end date so the eligible use continues without that fiscal cutoff. The bill otherwise leaves the structure and purpose of the grant program unchanged.
The measure keeps the existing grant program in place for schools with a high concentration of eligible students and preserves the two grant components: the personnel grant and the per pupil grant. By extending the allowable use of these funds for the referenced programs, the bill gives schools more flexibility to continue funding those instructional offerings beyond FY 2027. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB0352 amends Section 5-223 of the Education Article of the Maryland Code by deleting the fiscal year 2027 limitation in subsection (c)(9). This changes the duration of an authorized use of Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program funds, allowing personnel and per pupil grants to continue supporting the specified COMAR Title 13A, Subtitle 04 programs, including fine arts-related instruction, after FY 2027. The bill does not alter eligibility for the grant program itself or the overall grant structure, but it expands the timeframe during which local schools may apply these funds to the listed uses.
The available legislative history suggests the bill was received favorably in the House, where the committee report was favorable with amendments and the House adopted the bill. No committee transcript or recorded vote details are provided, but the bill’s movement indicates general support for preserving funding flexibility for high-poverty schools. The absence of recorded opposition in the provided materials suggests the measure was not especially controversial in the House stage.
The main policy issue is whether the state should continue allowing Concentration of Poverty School Grant funds to be used for the specified instructional programs beyond fiscal year 2027. Supporters would likely view the change as preserving flexibility and sustaining programs, including fine arts instruction, for schools serving high-need student populations. Any concern would likely center on the use of limited grant dollars for these purposes versus other school needs, but no explicit opposition or disputed amendments are shown in the provided record.