MARYLAND EDUCATION officials maintain that Montgomery County didn't give its schools enough money this year. Its solution -- believe it or not -- is to slap a $23.4 million fine on the very schools that they say are underfunded. That's the equivalent of 360 teachers, or adding 1 1/2 children to each classroom. It is time that the Maryland General Assembly step in with some much-needed common sense and end this absurd fight over funding.
The Maryland State Board of Education levied the fine against Montgomery last month because it had determined the county failed to meet the state's "maintenance of effort" requirement for education during the 2010 fiscal year. Under this law, local school funding levels must remain at least the same as in previous years if the system is to receive state funds. It is an admirable policy that has provided stable funding for Maryland schools, making them among the nation's best. Under normal circumstances, we might understand the state's insistence on strict adherence.
But county and school officials in Montgomery agreed last year that an exception was in order because of tough times and because federal stimulus dollars provided sufficient cushion for education needs. That local comity -- and the fact that Montgomery County has a history of generously funding its schools -- mattered not a whit to an inflexible state board. It wouldn't grant a waiver and is insisting that the schools give back millions of dollars. To use a technical term, this is ridiculous.
Several bills have been introduced in Annapolis to provide relief to Montgomery. Those eliminating all funding requirements go too far, but lawmakers should act so that Montgomery schools and students aren't penalized.
SOURCE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702165.html
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