Posted on 01/09/25
| News Source: FOX45
Maryland’s 90-day legislative session starts on Wednesday, January 8, and one of the biggest agenda items this year will be the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
The state is facing a multi-billion-dollar deficit, much of which is driven by education spending that a growing number of state leaders say needs to be slowed down.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, passed in 2021, allocates $30 billion in additional tax dollars to public education statewide over the first 10 years and $4 billion more annually thereafter. The funding comes from a mix of state and local dollars and is aimed at increasing teacher salaries, expanding Pre-K, and bolstering career and technology training. However, when the legislature passed the law, it did not include a funding mechanism.
Now, nearly four years after its passage, some lawmakers, including Maryland Governor Wes Moore, are calling for changes as the state faces a projected $2.7 billion budget shortfall in 2025.
“Our fidelity is to our students, not to our formulas,” Moore said in December at the Maryland Association of Counties Winter Conference. “This year I will call for a pause in implementation for collaborative time provisions in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.”
While Moore announced plans to pause some elements of the law, he has not yet provided specifics. Some see this move as inevitable. Senator Justin Ready, who represents Carroll and Frederick Counties, has long warned that education spending is driving Maryland toward a financial cliff. In June 2024, Moody’s credit agency downgraded Maryland’s financial outlook to “negative” from “stable,” citing education spending as a key factor.
Ready and other Maryland Republicans argue the Blueprint could be fully funded if implemented over 14 years instead of 10, significantly reducing strain on state and local budgets.
“You don’t have to raise taxes, and you also don’t need draconian massive cuts. You just need to slow down the rate of growth,” Ready said. “And we can address a lot of our outstanding budget issues.”
State and local education leaders are calling for a seat at the table to discuss the Blueprint’s future. In the coming weeks, local school systems like Baltimore County Public Schools will finalize budgets for the upcoming fiscal year starting July 1. BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers has expressed hope for flexibility from Annapolis on how Blueprint funds are spent, as pending budget cuts could complicate school system planning.
“They want to know what our priorities and needs are before moving into formal session. We’re having those conversations. We’re going to meet with them, tell them, and move forward together,” Rogers said in November.
While the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future will likely dominate headlines, it is not the only legislation expected to impact education this session. Project Baltimore will continue monitoring Annapolis for bills affecting schools and students.