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Board discusses state funding risks tied to 60/40 collaborative‑planning requirement; Accountability board seeks delay
Summary
District staff told the board the governor’s proposed budget could delay or reduce funding for the 60/40 collaborative‑planning requirement in Maryland’s Blueprint for Education; board members said the Accountability Implementation Board has asked the governor to postpone that requirement because of staffing and cost concerns.
Worcester County Board of Education members discussed potential impacts from the governor’s proposed budget on Maryland’s Blueprint for Education, including a likely delay or phased implementation of the 60/40 collaborative‑planning requirement for teachers.
Curriculum staff and the district’s finance director briefed the board on early signals from Annapolis. The district said one item under review is the timeline and funding for the 60/40 rule — commonly described as allocating 40 percent of teacher time for collaborative planning and 60 percent for direct instruction — and that state action could push implementation out by several years.
Why it matters: The 60/40 requirement affects staffing models and could require additional district resources to comply. Board members said the Accountability Implementation Board (AIB) has formally asked the governor and General Assembly to delay the mandate because of staffing shortages and budget uncertainty.
What staff reported Ms. Shorts (curriculum/instruction staff) said the district is preparing deeper public briefings on the Blueprint pillars and will hold centralized outreach sessions. She said Worcester County’s funding formula and current staffing place the district in a relatively stable position but that elementary scheduling may need “a little tweaking” if the 60/40 requirement proceeds on the state’s original timeline.
Finance and AIB context Chief Financial Officer Tolbert told the board the governor’s budget included a proposed pause of a statutory per‑pupil foundation increase (a $164 per‑pupil increase that is part of the Blueprint law) and that legislature action would be required to change the statute. A board member responding to the discussion said the Accountability Implementation Board has requested a multi‑year delay of the 60/40 requirement because of teacher shortages and costs; the board member estimated the per‑pupil cost impacts at roughly the low hundreds of dollars per pupil but said final figures will depend on statute and budget actions.
Ending Board members said they will continue outreach and watch the state budget process as final numbers are set in April. Staff will present a Blueprint “deeper dive” to the public in February and March.
