Maintenance of Effort is a Maryland local school funding rule.
In plain English, it sets a local funding floor for school operating budgets. The rule uses local funding and enrollment calculations, and the official law includes exceptions and waiver provisions.
On the county’s FY27 Recommended MCPS operating budget page, the County Executive’s recommended county contribution is described as exceeding the State Maintenance of Effort requirement.
Why It Matters
Maintenance of Effort shapes how much local funding the county must provide for school operations before local budget choices can be compared fairly.
Common Misunderstanding
Maintenance of Effort is not the same thing as the full MCPS operating budget. It applies to local funding requirements, not every state, federal, grant, fee, or capital source connected to schools.