The Maryland Public Policy Institute today commended the Hogan Administration for strengthening state investments in public charter schools and their students. Governor Hogan announced Wednesday new charter school funding in his budget and legislation to ensure more dollars go directly to the classrooms at public charter schools.

“Despite chronic underfunding, Maryland’s public charter schools consistently provide an outstanding education for children who were previously stuck in dysfunctional schools,” said Christopher B. Summers, president & chief executive officer of the Institute. “The Hogan Administration is right to invest in public charter school classrooms, which historically have received 38 percent less per pupil funding than their public school counterparts.”

Thirty-four percent of public charter schools in Maryland performed in the top 20 of their respective school districts, and charter schools make up more than half of the top 20 schools in the City of Baltimore, according to the Maryland Alliance for Public Charter Schools. 

Governor Larry Hogan announced that his Fiscal Year 2020 budget will designate a combined $3.8 million for construction projects and heating and air conditioning issues and other necessary maintenance improvements at public charter schools across Maryland.

The governor also announced that he has introduced the Public Charter School Facility Fund Act of 2019, which will provide $1,600 in per-pupil funding for each public charter school student. According to the Governor’s Office, public charter schools often face financial constraints that force them to divert resources intended for innovative programs and classroom activities to critical facility repairs. The governor’s legislation will ensure that funds intended to go to the classroom will truly be dedicated to learning.

The Institute has published a series of reports detailing the impact of charter schools in Maryland, which can be found at mdpolicy.org.

About the Maryland Public Policy Institute: Founded in 2001, the Maryland Public Policy Institute is a nonpartisan public policy research and education organization that focuses on state policy issues. The Institute’s mission is to formulate and promote public policies at all levels of government based on principles of free enterprise, limited government, and civil society.  Learn more at mdpolicy.org.

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