[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6264168,"mediaKeyId","3098733-ef5dedea698b9d2772c1f7707787c106","parentId",3098733,"title","Montgomery College budget holds tuition flat; council committee flags pension shift and agrees to seek seed funding for collective‑impact institute","audioSeconds",1501,"startMs",0,"endMs",1501000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098733-ef5dedea698b9d2772c1f7707787c106&start=0&end=1501","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098733-ef5dedea698b9d2772c1f7707787c106/thumbnail_0.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6264168/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Montgomery-College-budget-holds-tuition-flat-council-committee-flags-pension-shift-and-agrees-to-seek-seed-funding-for-collectiveimpact-institute","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264168-0dc7e79d742fab851ed6ac5f4aff6071/orig.mp4?Expires=1776219998&Signature=bjtIWbLGo8abudlzwClaZXQ~f7k-VMmQiv3MI~zNmYcjA7vWUlBhNEML6pZXplU1UQAWdwsC~aqIR-YIou8qDXMMZeG-RRg8S9guxBIsYRGeCMoSpRWSOY50GODYD8~DLLPYYmVzco7896~B818G9GA-lj6LTynFlXMw1i97JPX5RBJVJ73ljrtfHOxG5LPDwBGkS7aayQduZIQ54nPIW~FGUoL5Q1iEs6ipj3bkeG9eQ1gpKQ27ljtUKZXw7icONJl1siYSTgxb3pwSl5mSTCzp1LuRT9YISatg3MRNuASIlCwx14NyC9oVPp-L6Vle3FnlWABN-FY1Biqf45tgkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery County, MD","date","2025-04-23T19:54:26.58Z","article","The Montgomery County Council’s Education and Culture Committee reviewed Montgomery College’s proposed FY26 operating budget Wednesday, April 23, with college officials stressing the package is a “maintenance of effort” plan that holds tuition steady while asking the county to absorb a newly shifted state pension cost.

The budget keeps tuition flat and would preserve pay increases and other core services for the college’s roughly 45,000 students, college officials said. The committee heard details on enrollment trends, an expected increase in state aid, and a separate request to seed a “Collective Impact Institute” partnership with Montgomery Moving Forward and other stakeholders.

Why it matters: College leaders told the committee the budget sustains operations without raising tuition, but a state decision to shift pension costs onto local governments would increase Montgomery College’s local funding need unless the county offsets that change. Committee members signaled support to move the college’s budget forward while awaiting a county executive amendment intended to cover that pension liability.

Dr. Williams, a Montgomery College official who briefed the committee on the institution’s FY26 request, described the budget as “very straightforward and utilizing existing resources, trying to maximize what we have to offer and contribute,” and said the maintenance‑of‑effort plan helps preserve compensation for faculty and staff while keeping tuition flat.

Committee staff and college analysts told the panel that MC is projecting modest enrollment growth over the next several years. Senior legislative analyst Doug Prady summarized the enrollment outlook, saying MC is “projecting enrollment will continue, increasing for the next few years, by 1 to 2%,” and that credit hours per student are rising as students take larger course loads.

Pension cost shift and state aid: Committee staff described a late legislative change that increased the college’s state aid by approximately $1.9 million but also included a shift of certain pension costs to the county. Office of Management and Budget staff notified the committee that the county executive intends to file a budget amendment to add roughly $1 million to the college’s current fund to cover the county’s share of the pension shift; committee members said they would consider that amendment when it arrives.

Collective Impact Institute request: Council members also discussed a separate request to provide seed funding for a proposed Collective Impact Institute at Montgomery College. Council sponsors proposed $550,000 originally and then asked the committee to consider a smaller, $350,000 startup allocation to seed planning and strategic work with community partners. A sponsor moved the smaller amount and a second was recorded; the committee agreed to add the $350,000 request to its reconciliation list for the budget process.

Fund balance and contracts: College and county staff reviewed the college’s fund balance and use of reserves for the operating budget; staff noted the projected available balance increased after the late state aid increase but that the fund balance is expected to decline year‑to‑year because of prior budget decisions. College officials also confirmed that most collective bargaining agreements were reflected in the FY26 request; one remaining bargaining unit (AFSCME in the packet) was expected to ratify an agreement by the end of the month and its cost was included in the college’s request.

Committee action: Without objection, the committee moved Montgomery College’s full FY26 operating budget forward with the understanding that the county executive will transmit a budget amendment to address the pension shift. The Collective Impact Institute seed request was added to the committee’s reconciliation list for final budget negotiations.

Looking ahead: Committee members asked for the county executive’s amendment and said they expect to consider the reconciliation list and amendments before finalizing their recommendation to the full council.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Apr. 23, 2025 - EC Committee Worksession","oneSentenceSummary","The Montgomery County Council’s Education and Culture Committee reviewed Montgomery College’s proposed FY26 operating budget Wednesday, April 23, with college officials stressing the package is a “maintenance of effort” plan that holds tuition steady while asking the county to absorb a newly shifted state pension cost.","taxTitle","Montgomery County, Maryland","taxId",3351,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6264160,"MCPS requests 688 special‑education FTEs, 47 EML teachers and expansions to CREA and blended learning; proposes cross‑functional teams to support schools",728,2495000,3223000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098733-ef5dedea698b9d2772c1f7707787c106&start=2495&end=3223","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098733-ef5dedea698b9d2772c1f7707787c106/thumbnail_2495000.jpg","/articles/6264160/Montgomery-County/Maryland/MCPS-requests-688-specialeducation-FTEs-47-EML-teachers-and-expansions-to-CREA-and-blended-learning-proposes-crossfunctional-teams-to-support-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264160-fe6df3b46406f600ad4abf87da3cc657/orig.mp4?Expires=1776219998&Signature=Puivb-ffP2G8Wp3XAVCTtTwxXSqZhI9bC5rEJf6BwWTuxDCXi8t5-R8pp0bJtLE~r~v5hFZKGwuH4vGbdEdDqGdKaCn1oLcPenpC7F7lOtJksrDhkgJo4klTvPKgYtEBotfWJVi4HZyPs4yKDT5QE1bDNrmf~kWr2G~50bvBoDGF6ui60aeI5-W7XDTK6FWaSHsIYqK6oz4zhGBz6Xjw8ORaop0zVJ6u4QUYKmzC7WFxSk35iwHCBx522DB9bbr5jT~N4h4HiYMuYqMsHqws5qri~d1mySQIOvy17INTbTPnbQHwmxxcVeVPoDixxQwO8s2EyiZo~j9VzyKwEHfRNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montgomery County Public Schools told the county’s Education and Culture Committee on April 23 that its FY26 proposal includes major personnel additions aimed at addressing sharply rising special‑education caseloads, rapid growth in emerging multilingual learners (EML), and expanded alternatives for students who need options beyond a conventional classroom.

Key requests and rationale
- Special education: MCPS proposes adding 688 full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions, a change the district estimates would cost about $46.6 million. The district said the request primarily converts temporary part‑time paraprofessionals to full‑time roles and adds classroom staff so that schools can meet established staffing guidelines. Of the 500 paraprofessional positions in the request, the district told the committee that about 366 would be conversions of existing temporary part‑time staff into full‑time positions with benefits.

- Emerging multilingual learners (EML): The proposed budget adds 47 EML teachers—estimated at $4.2 million—to serve a student population that the district says is its fastest growing group. The district noted that EML enrollment is projected to rise by about 1,000 students next year and that the average EML teacher ratio currently stands near 38 students per teacher.

- CREA and alternative pathways: The budget request includes 14 positions and about $1.7 million to expand CREA (dropout recovery, GED and career‑credentialing services) so students who have left the traditional graduation pathway can earn credentials or industry certificates. The district said this is a non‑statutory, equity‑focused program intended to help students who run out of time to earn a diploma.

- Blended/virtual learning: MCPS proposed 22 additional FTEs ($2.1 million) to professionalize and expand the district’s blended and virtual options for students who are medically unable to attend school or for other students who benefit from distance learning. The district described the prior operating model as cobbled together and said the new request would create predictable funding and a program with more consistent academic and social supports.

- Cross‑functional teams and central office reorganization: The district plans to reallocate central office staff into 13 cross‑functional teams embedded in clusters of schools. The proposal reallocates roughly $8.1 million from central office accounts and assigns school‑facing roles (literacy, math, EML, special education, safety/security, professional‑learning specialists and parent/community liaison roles) so teams spend about 80% of their time in schools. The district identified three clusters that will have dedicated teams (Kennedy, Watkins Mill, and Gaithersburg) and said teams will have smaller caseloads (8–19 schools) than some prior central‑office assignments.

Superintendent and leadership remarks
Superintendent Taylor told the committee the requested additions do not represent system expansion but rather an attempt to fulfill existing staffing guidelines and correct chronic shortfalls that created “untenable” classroom conditions. “We are not solving any problems with special education, nor are we expanding our special education footprint even though it may look that way on paper,” Taylor said, adding the request is aimed at meeting statutory and internal service expectations already owed to students with disabilities.

Dr. Margaret Cage, the district's new chief student support services officer, described the work ahead as substantial and said she was honored to join MCPS. Cage said the district must address placement practices, staffing and program design to serve high‑need students closer to their home schools and to reduce reliance on temporary employees in critical roles.

Recruitment and implementation risks
MCPS leaders acknowledged hiring and retention challenges—speech‑language pathologists and other specialized staff are hard to recruit—and said the district will rely on expanded recruitment and converting temporary staff to full‑time roles to reduce churn. Committee members pressed for metrics and regular reporting to ensure the added positions translate into improved student outcomes and safer, more stable classrooms.

Committee response and context
Council members voiced broad support for the thrust of the requests while urging caution about sustainability: several said the investment is necessary but large and that the council will expect follow‑up benchmarks and reporting from the district. Members noted the connection between special education and general‑education performance: inadequate special‑education staffing often increases burdens on principals and instructional leaders and reduces capacity elsewhere.

What the requests would change on the ground
District leaders said the paraprofessional conversions mean established temporary employees would gain benefits and become more stable members of school staffs; the new EML teachers are intended to support co‑teaching and revamp English language development course structures; CREA expansion aims to provide more seats for students needing alternate pathways; and blended learning expansion would provide a more consistent virtual curriculum, clubs and social‑emotional supports.

Next steps
The MCPS presentation was a budget‑review discussion; committee members asked MCPS to return with implementation details, measures of success and updates on hiring progress before the committee finalizes a funding recommendation during reconciliation.

","Montgomery County Public Schools told the Education and Culture Committee on April 23 that its FY26 budget would add 688 special‑education FTEs, 47 EML teachers and new positions for CREA and blended learning while reorganizing central office staff into 13 cross‑functional teams to bring more resources into schools.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6264163,"Committee OKs 3% increase to Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy contract amid rising need for ESOL services",987,1508000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098733-ef5dedea698b9d2772c1f7707787c106&start=1508&end=2495","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098733-ef5dedea698b9d2772c1f7707787c106/thumbnail_1508000.jpg","/articles/6264163/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Committee-OKs-3-increase-to-Montgomery-Coalition-for-Adult-English-Literacy-contract-amid-rising-need-for-ESOL-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264163-ace10d7ac96829908e52832f29e30031/orig.mp4?Expires=1776219998&Signature=BZoTWMBY8fHuJPiBnLEyI0IKcES~h8lx~dS2HelFMOyXlYX9EbZZ-W5Boj2uvXvAzuZS~MnoT9FV~YLaRaHyMpowV3LDG5ysxTAHasHDQHXUofwdafZWo20ddTq-jcSMXtPAvLNEwLqnC1LZ9BetodfTHCVTQRryLukvO~E4zZNqTeRk~MVgNP0qBRvJ73Sdd-nDPmSj5IbUvpbn8AbBKpYSjJmuK2~Ff9htlKaY5FKAEzQngtU~poyqL8f--ue31wP7SzScqtbjupnsSHWCAlCxkWLf393cvuuFinpXSjPOSWf22QX2oexvPs6VWRcTTyVxs1Nqo-2ET2KMJZu9TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montgomery County Council Education and Culture Committee approved a 3% inflationary increase to the county contract for the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL) Wednesday, April 23, in a recommendation the full council will consider during budget reconciliation.

Committee staff described the action as a ‘‘same services’’ contract renewal that adds a 3% inflationary adjustment—$75,361 over FY25—to the nonprofit’s county support. Without objection, the panel approved the adjustment as part of the committee’s operating budget recommendations.

Why it matters: MCAEL coordinates a network of adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programs that county staff say cannot match the overall growth in the local population needing services. MCAEL staff told the committee that the American Community Survey estimates roughly 139,000 county residents speak English less than “very well,” up from 134,000 the prior year.

Program snapshot: MCAEL staff said the Coalition funds 24 partner organizations that operate 29 ESOL programs. Rudy Chung, MCAEL’s director of programs, told the committee that midyear July–December 2024 reporting shows more than 3,500 unique learners and a total of 4,366 class enrollments when duplicated enrollments are counted. The nonprofit reported growth in in‑person classes (46 in the July–December 2024 window) and more hybrid offerings as in‑person capacity returned after the pandemic.

Leadership: Gerard Etienne, the coalition’s incoming executive director, told the committee his personal background as an immigrant informs his approach to the role. Committee members welcomed Etienne and thanked former executive director Kathy Stevens for her work. Several council members emphasized the importance of MCAEL’s East County outreach and suggested a joint session with the county’s health and human services committee to coordinate on mental health and immigrant supports.

Committee action: Council staff recommended approval of the executive’s MCAEL funding as submitted, subject to the separate approval of the 3% adjustment; the committee approved the 3% increase without objection and welcomed Etienne.

Next steps: The committee indicated it expects to revisit MCAEL and called for ongoing updates on the coalition’s strategic plan and outreach, especially efforts to expand classes and services in East County.

","The Education and Culture Committee approved a 3% inflationary increase—$75,361—to the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL) county contract, citing growing demand for adult ESOL services across the county; incoming executive director Gerard Etienne and program staff presented mid‑year data showing rising learner counts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Montgomery College budget holds tuition flat; council committee flags pension shift and agrees to seek seed funding for collective‑impact institute

MCPS requests 688 special‑education FTEs, 47 EML teachers and expansions to CREA and blended learning; proposes cross‑functional teams to support schools

Committee OKs 3% increase to Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy contract amid rising need for ESOL services