Board of Education Approves $2.60 Billion Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2019

The Montgomery County Board of Education on Tuesday (June 12) unanimously adopted a $2.60 billion Operating Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The budget represents a $77.2 million increase over the current fiscal year. This will allow the district to manage growth and make investments in critical areas to ensure all Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students are achieving at high levels.

A majority of the $77.2 million spending increase will be used to maintain services for a growing number of students; ensure operational excellence and invest in strategic priorities.

The budget includes $17.1 million and 201.96 additional teacher and staff positions to support a projected enrollment increase of 1,882 students. In addition, MCPS is also adding more space, including the opening of Bayard Rustin Elementary School in September 2018, as part of the budget increase.

The budget includes $16.1 million and 20.4 positions to expand programs and key areas of work, including:

• Introducing new career readiness pathways, including Aviation and Aerospace; Cybersecurity; Fire Safety and Rescue; Law Enforcement and Leadership
• Adding more two-way elementary language immersion programs
• Expanding programs in Computer Science, Coding and Robotics
• Implementing extended-year programs at two elementary schools beginning July 2019
• Launching a Recovery Education program
• Expanding the College Tracks and Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success (ACES) programs
• Expanding Middle and Early College programs

Learn more about the Operating Budget