State board committee approves resolution to gather data on charter school funding

The Education Transformation and Accountability Committee on an evening meeting approved a joint resolution directing the state superintendent to collect data from local education agencies on how funding is being distributed to public charter schools and to form a work group to recommend a regulatory framework for future funding decisions.

Zach Hands, executive director of the Maryland State Board of Education, told the committee the resolution responds to confusion about how the Blueprint minimum school funding requirement (referred to in the transcript as "five-two 34" of the Education Article) and the statutory obligation that local boards disperse funding commensurate to public charter schools intersect. "The crux of the resolution is to, collect data in a timely fashion and report back, with an analysis that will help illuminate the actual circumstances on the ground surrounding this issue related to charter school funding to the state board and AIB," Hands said.

Under the resolution, MSDE will gather data from jurisdictions that have public charter schools with an initial data collection date of August 15 to align with PowerSchool reporting timelines. The department and the state superintendent are expected to analyze and provide reports to the state board and the Accountability and Implementation Board by September. Hands said the resolution also "charges the state superintendent along with the executive director of the AIB to form a work group to establish and consider a regulatory framework and recommendations for funding public charter schools moving forward in light of the [two laws]."

Committee members asked for specifics about what the resolution intends to correct. Dr. Getty asked for an example of a practice the resolution seeks to remedy; Hands said he could not provide a specific example off the top of his head and emphasized the committee is in a "fact finding data collection position." A participant identified as Alan explained the purpose is to see how the new Blueprint minimum funding requirement overlays with the longstanding commensurate funding requirement in practice so local systems can demonstrate compliance with both legal checks.

Members also questioned whether the August 15 deadline is achievable in the first year of required reporting. Hands said the date was chosen to match PowerSchool reporting but cautioned that, because this is the first year of that reporting, technical issues could arise and MSDE is working on providing technical assistance. On work group composition, Hands said the resolution specifies the group "should be comprised of members from charter school representatives and local school system finance officers" but leaves final selection to the superintendent's discretion.

Mr. Greer called for a motion to accept MSDE's recommendations. Dr. Getty moved and Sean Bartley seconded; the committee voiced aye and the chair declared the motion carried unanimously. The committee closed the meeting, announced its next meeting for July 11 at 6 p.m., and directed interested parties to the State Board of Education website for committee details.

Next steps are administrative: MSDE will collect the specified data by Aug. 15, report findings to the state board and the AIB by September, and convene the work group to develop possible regulatory recommendations. The resolution reflects a fact‑finding approach rather than immediate enforcement or rulemaking; any regulatory changes would follow from the work group27s recommendations and later actions by the appropriate bodies.