MCPS Recommendation for FY21 Operating Budget Released

Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Jack Smith recently announced the recommended operating budget for Fiscal Year 2021.

According to MCPS, the $2.8 billion will allow the district to provide services to accommodate the student population growth, fund ongoing salaries and benefits, and manage increasing operational costs.

Dr. Smith’s recommendation reflects the Board of Education’s budget interests and significant input from staff, parents, students and community members who voiced specific areas of need.

Currently there are 165,267 MCPS students enrolled, making it the 14^th largest school systems in the nation.Officials say for the 2020-2021 school year, the projected enrollment is expected to be 167,041.

Compared to FY 2020, the FY 2021 recommended budget is an increase of $121 million (4.5 %).

According to a press release, the recommendation also includes $23.7 million to expand and implement strategic key bodies of work including investments in special education early learning, launching the Equity and Innovation Fund, providing additional support for language and STEM programming as well as additional security staffing.

The process and timeline for the FY 2021 operating budget is:

• Mid-December 2019 through early January 2019: Signups for operating budget hearings
• January 13 and January 15, 2020: Board of Education holds operating budget hearings
• January 22 and January 28, 2020: Board of Education holds operating budget work sessions
• February 10, 2020: Board takes action on the recommended budget

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