Delegate Fair seeks task force to study per‑pupil count method for growing districts

Delegate Delaney Crisfair presented House Bill 53, which would establish a task force to study Maryland's per‑pupil funding formula, focusing on how the current practice of using a fixed point-in-time student count (commonly the prior‑year September 30 count) affects rapidly growing districts. "Using year old population data that does not reflect current student members delays the accurate distribution of state funds causing significant resource issues for all schools, but most adversely harming growing school systems," the sponsor said.

Supporters included the Maryland State Education Association and parents who said misalignment between funding timing and current enrollments forces districts to rely on local reserves, leading to staffing shortages and service gaps in ESL and special education programs. Witnesses urged that the task force examine alternative counting dates or multiple-count approaches and produce recommendations to align funding with current need.

Committee members asked whether the bill should prescribe specific counting alternatives; the sponsor said the task force should evaluate options, including multiple counts, and return recommendations. The hearing concluded with no committee vote recorded in the transcript excerpt.