A first-rate school system is at the core of everything this Council is working to achieve to move Prince George’s County forward. Our children deserve a world-class education. Quality education makes us competitive in a global marketplace. And, finding talented people with a strong educational background is a high priority for County businesses. To that end, our schools consistently receive our largest fiscal allocation, currently 63-percent of all County revenues collected.

Targeting the areas of school construction and maintenance of schools, improving student achievement and vocational education, and expanding opportunities for our early learners, the Prince George’s County Council supports funding the operational budget and recommended construction spending for the County’s school system.

The Council’s FY 2017 approved spending for Education at $1.9 billion, exceeded the state-mandated Maintenance of Effort requirement by $21 million. Additionally, under Council Bill-33-2015 the Council required that 50-percent of MGM National Harbor gaming/tax revenue, up to $25 million, is allocated annually for public education purpose, including Pre-K through 12, the Prince George’s Community College, career training, and County libraries. This funding supplements money already allocated to these educational entities.

As we focus on the fiscal future of our County, we expect to work even harder to match our resources with the needs of our students. We look forward to receiving the final report in early 2017 of the independently contracted and managed Continuous Business Process Improvement Study (CBPIS), which was jointly sponsored by the County Council, the County Executive, and Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). This initial CBPIS study is the first major joint study or performance audit of PGCPS in over 18 years. This initial baseline report, coupled with a series of additional jointly-sponsored follow-up studies, audits, and analyses planned over the coming years, will provide the information necessary to establish a firm foundation and ensure accountability for the County’s education investments.

The Council commends the diligence of Dr. Kevin Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer for Prince George’s County Public Schools and his administrative and budget teams, in their presentation of his proposed FY 2018 school system budget.

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