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Operating Budget → Fiscal Year 2015  → Budget Brief: Fast Facts about the Board of Education's Budget Request

Fast Facts about the Board of Education's Budget Request

 
 
 
 

The Montgomery County Board of Education has recommended a $2.3 billion Operating Budget for next school year (2014–2015). The budget is a 4 percent increase over this year’s budget and is just 2.5 percent above the minimum funding level required by state law. This budget will allow MCPS to continue to provide all students with access to a world-class education while—

  • Managing our continued growth,
  • Investing to narrow achievement gaps, and
  • Preparing our students for the future.

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A VALUES-DRIVEN BUDGET

This budget reflects our community’s values and is focused on areas that the Board of Education, parents, staff, students, and community leaders have told us matter the most. The following are among the key highlights in the budget:

  • Continuing to provide additional resources to the 67 elementary schools most impacted by poverty  
  • Nearly $21 million for 276 new teaching and staff positions that will serve an additional 2,721 students and increases in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Special Education services
  • $140,000 to staff two more prekindergarten classes for families in need
  • $3 million for new tablets and devices to help increase technology in the classroom and support the administration of new state assessments
  • $800,000 for the “Career Lattice” program that will encourage up to 250 highly effective, veteran teachers to move to or stay in high-needs schools  
  • About $1 million to put more math and reading teachers in eight high schools where students struggle the most in these core areas
  • More than $1.4 million to improve ESOL services in 21 middle schools that are seeing significant growth in the number of ESOL students
  • About $1.2 million to begin a multiyear effort to improve the student support model. These funds will add 5.5 elementary school counselors, 5 school psychologists, and 6 pupil personnel workers, with more positions to be added in future years to lower caseloads
  • More than $2 million to give teacher leaders more time to coach and collaborate
  • Funds to improve community partnerships that provide wraparound health and wellness services to students and their families and high-quality, after-school programs  
 

Share Your Thoughts

The budget is now in the hands of the Montgomery County Executive and the Montgomery County Council. Share your thoughts with them: