HB 976, the Education Funding Accuracy Act, changes how Maryland calculates full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment for public school funding. Under current law, FTE enrollment is based on the average number of students enrolled on September 30 and May 31 of the prior school year, plus certain evening high school and P-TECH students. The bill would revise that definition so the K-12 portion of FTE reflects the average number of students enrolled on those two dates in the prior school year, rather than counting only one date and a separate average measure as currently described in the bill text. The measure is aimed at making the enrollment figure used in the State aid formula more accurate and more reflective of actual student counts.
The bill also requires the Maryland State Department of Education to publish an annual report online and submit it to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Appropriations Committee by December 31 each year beginning in 2026. That report must break down the enrollment count used for FTE by county, identify the number of students in each enrollment category including “whereabouts unknown,” show the FTE number used for the upcoming school year, and list each county’s per-pupil State and local education funding allocation. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to education funding calculations for fiscal years beginning after June 30, 2027.
The bill’s impact is primarily on State education aid formulas under the Education Article, especially the definitions used in § 5-201 for enrollment count, foundation program calculations, and FTE enrollment. By changing the enrollment measure and adding a reporting requirement, it would affect how county school systems are funded and increase transparency around the data used in the State’s school finance system. It would not directly change local school operations, but it could influence future appropriations and county funding distributions.
General sentiment appears supportive and policy-focused, with the bill framed as a funding accuracy and transparency measure rather than a major substantive overhaul. The available context shows the bill introduced with broad delegate sponsorship and no recorded opposition, votes, or committee testimony in the provided materials. Because there are no transcripts or vote results, there is little evidence of formal controversy in the record supplied.
The main point of potential contention is likely the technical change to the enrollment-count methodology, since any adjustment to FTE calculations can shift funding among counties and school systems. Counties that gain under the revised formula may support the bill, while counties that could lose funding or face reduced predictability may object. The reporting requirement may also raise administrative concerns, but the bill’s stated purpose is to improve accuracy and public visibility in school funding calculations.
HB 976 amends the Education Article provisions governing enrollment count and full-time equivalent enrollment for State education aid, and adds a new reporting section requiring annual public disclosure of county-by-county enrollment and funding data. It would affect the calculation of foundation program funding and related per-pupil allocations for county school systems beginning with fiscal years after June 30, 2027, while also imposing a recurring reporting duty on the State Department of Education.
The bill appears to have a generally favorable, reform-oriented reception based on its broad sponsorship and the absence of recorded opposition or vote history in the provided materials. It is presented as a technical accuracy and transparency measure for school funding rather than a controversial policy shift.
The likely area of disagreement is the revised FTE enrollment methodology, because changes to the student-count formula can redistribute State aid among counties and alter local funding levels. Some stakeholders may support the added transparency and more current enrollment data, while others may question whether the new method is more accurate or worry about administrative burden and funding losses.