TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough) presented a $2.58 billion operating budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2025 during the January 9 meeting of the Board of Education of Baltimore County. The budget reflects the work of the school system to fast forward student achievement.

Dr. Rogers’ budget recommendation represents a modest $42.3 million increase (2.2 percent) over the current FY 2024 general fund budget. The proposed budget outlines the work and key investments that will ensure all students are learning at high levels, have access to innovative programs, and receive comprehensive support and services.

“This proposed FY 25 operating budget takes a thoughtful and strategic approach to helping our school system fast forward, and it prioritizes investments in our areas of greatest need simply because our students and staff can’t wait,” Superintendent Rogers said. “We represent a diverse community of learners with growing student needs, and we must do the critical work of building an innovative and collaborative learning community where all students excel and reach their highest potential.”

The investments outlined in the proposed FY 2025 operating budget are aligned with the system’s four priority areas:

• Academic achievement
• Infrastructure
• Safety and climate
• Highly effective teachers, leaders, and staff

BCPS is also targeting resources to create the conditions necessary for improvements in its English language arts, mathematics, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and special education programs.

Highlights (PDF) from the proposed FY 2025 operating budget include:

• Reduced class sizes in Grades 3-5.
• Expansion of full-day PreKindergarten programs.
• Compensation enhancements for all staff.
• Special education Individualized Education Program (IEP) chairpersons in elementary schools.
• An elementary math lead teachers pilot.
• Additional special education, ESOL, staff development, and special area teachers.
• New English Language Learner (ELL) and secondary English language arts curriculum.
• Expansion of community schools.
• Virtual academy teachers.
• Student safety assistants and additional athletic trainers.

The FY 2025 budget cycle has been a challenging one for BCPS and school systems across the nation because federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) stimulus funds will run out on September 30, 2024. BCPS is facing a budget shortfall (fiscal cliff) of nearly $84 million from ongoing ESSER initiatives. To address the shortfall, cover significant new expenses associated with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation, address the rapidly growing needs of students, and improve student learning, BCPS adopted a new budget approach that includes zero-based budgeting, reimagining ways to maximize grant funding, implementing a central office hiring freeze, and budgeting to actuals. This strategic work enabled the district to identify more than $104 million in reductions. These savings include position reductions, teacher adjustments to match enrollment, a slight increase in the student-to-teacher ratio at the secondary level to meet system needs, shifts in revenue sources, and other built-ins.

The full FY 2025 proposed budget will be posted online. A Board public hearing on the budget will be held virtually on Tuesday, January 16, at 6:30 p.m., to be followed by a Board operating budget work session on Tuesday, January 23, at 6:30 p.m. (Snow dates for these meetings are Wednesday, January 17, and Wednesday, January 24, respectively). The Board is scheduled to adopt its budget at its Tuesday, February 27 meeting at 6:30 p.m.

View the full budget presentation below.