Superintendent Thomas Taylor addresses the 2026 Operating Budget.

by Laurika Pich ‘27

In December, MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor proposed a fiscal year 2026 operating budget of $3.61 billion, a nearly 9-percent increase from the previous year. The spending plan aims to stabilize the school system and focuses more attention on the needs for student learning and school support that will provide long-term improvements.

Within the budget, Taylor has introduced an add-on to the funding formula for school materials to enhance equity. The $5.75 million program would help to support certain populations of students to have a better experience and environment for their education by adding to the funding for school materials.

“In many cases, some students come to school without the materials and supplies that they need to be successful. I would like to correct that by providing funds that would offset that need,” said Taylor. The additional funding aims to ensure that all students equitably have the necessities needed for their academics by helping bridge the need for specific students who are Emergent Multilingual Learners (EML), those qualified for Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS), and especially those identified as special education.

Taylor also takes into consideration that school characteristics are different, that some school communities do not provide as many resources as other schools because of economic disparities among school communities. Taylor is advocating that MCPS acknowledge inequities in the amount of funding directed to schools.

“Currently, funds are distributed to schools based on a set amount. Like $105 per student, regardless of any other factors.” said Taylor. “I am proposing that we change that to take into consideration things like disabilities, English proficiency, and FARMS rate by adding more money to the school account based on those factors.” The proposed funding formula also considers other factors in determining allocations to schools such as tutoring resources, school supplies, prom tickets, and more.

Under the equity add on, Sherwood would gain an allocation of $31,778. Springbrook, which has a similar number of students to Sherwood, would receive $77,257. Whitman in highly affluent Bethesda would receive an add-on of $19,655 even though it has nearly 1,000 more students than both Sherwood and Springbrook.