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Interagency Commission on School Construction: DLS flags overdue mandated reports as IAC expands role
Summary
DLS told the subcommittee that the Interagency Commission on School Construction has not submitted several mandated reports dating to 2023–2025; IAC staff said the agency is completing a cloud‑based system and expects outstanding reports to be submitted in the coming weeks and that the state's evolving capital needs will demand increased planning
Department of Legislative Services analyst Laura Hyde told the Education and Economic Development Subcommittee that the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) had not submitted several mandated reports required under recent law and that DLS recommends budget language to restrict funds until overdue submissions are received.
Why it matters: The IAC administers most state school construction grants; timely reporting is required by statute and informs legislative oversight and capital planning.
DLS findings. Hyde summarized the IAC operating budget and staffing and noted a 5.3 percent increase in the agency’s fiscal 2026 budget to $18.2 million, including $10 million for the Public School Safety Grant Program. Hyde said IAC has 44 regular positions in FY26 with three vacancies and that several statutorily mandated reports, including those required by Chapter 32 of 2022, were not submitted on schedule for calendar years 2023–2025. DLS recommended adding budget‑bill language to restrict funds pending submission of the outstanding reports.
IAC reply and system work. Executive Director Alex Donahue said the agency is expanding its role after legislation in recent years and that implementing new cloud‑based information systems to replace legacy systems has been time‑consuming; Donahue said the project should be fully operational by the end of calendar 2025. Donahue provided status updates on the outstanding items and said several reports are in final coordination among multiple parties (for example, the Baltimore City 21st Century Schools reports require Maryland Stadium Authority and local approvals). Donahue committed to providing the delayed reports, saying the IAC intends to submit the outstanding items within weeks and no later than April 30 of the coming month.
Pre‑K classroom capacity and facilities work. IAC and DLS also discussed the capital implications of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future pre‑K expansion. Donahue said districts are using varied strategies—regional pre‑K centers, renovating leased space, and grade‑band shifts—to create seats. DLS quantified an initial statewide need of roughly 300 new pre‑K classrooms at an average of about $1 million per classroom; Donahue noted state/local cost share and site‑specific variation and said some projects in the pipeline could be three years from opening depending on design and construction timelines.
What comes next: DLS recommended restricting funds pending completion of mandated reports. The IAC said it would complete and submit outstanding reports promptly and continue implementing the cloud‑based systems to improve reporting and grant management.
