LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Board of Commissioners approved a $555.5 million operating budget for Charles County Public Schools on June 24, establishing funding for classroom instruction, school safety, special education and student support programs for the 2026–27 school year.
The fiscal 2027 budget totals $555,532,999 — an increase of about $26 million, or 4.9 percent, over the current year’s budget. The spending plan includes an estimated $12.4 million increase in state funding, a $13.6 million increase in county funding and the use of $10.2 million in fund balance to balance the budget.
Here’s what families, students and school employees should know.
1. Nearly $17 Million Is Set Aside for Employee Contracts
The budget includes a $16.9 million reserve for collective bargaining with the Education Association of Charles County and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The funding is intended to support future contract negotiations and help recruit and retain teachers and staff.
2. Eight New Youth Engagement Advocates Are Coming to Secondary Schools
The budget funds eight Youth Engagement Advocates who will work in middle and high schools. The new staff members will serve as liaisons between students, parents, teachers, counselors, mentors and community partners. Their responsibilities include encouraging student engagement, helping manage student caseloads, supporting disciplinary investigations, promoting positive behavior and conducting regular student check-ins.
3. Special Education Receives a $5 Million Boost
The spending plan adds $5 million to the special education budget to help cover rising costs for legally required services, including therapists, private-duty nurses, specialized programs and out-of-county placements. School officials said demand for special education services continues to grow while the program has not received a significant base funding increase in several years.
4. School Safety Investments Continue
The budget continues investments in school safety, including portable weapons detection systems that can be deployed at schools and large events, expanded gun detection technology and additional safety initiatives designed to strengthen campus security. School officials have said the portable screening systems provide flexibility to enhance security where they are needed most, while the expanded Omnilert system uses artificial intelligence to detect visible firearms on existing security cameras and quickly alert school staff and law enforcement.
The budget includes funding for:
- Community and student safety pilot programs
- Portable walk-through weapons detection systems
- Expansion of the Omnilert gun detection system
5. Rising Costs Are Affecting School Operations
Like many school systems, Charles County Public Schools continues to face increasing operating costs. The budget includes:
- $4.3 million for employee health insurance
- $2.09 million for transportation, including bus contract increases and fleet needs
- $346,160 for higher utility costs
6. Community Schools Continue to Grow
The budget continues funding through Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future for schools serving higher concentrations of students living in poverty. Charles County Public Schools will have 14 Community Schools during the 2026–27 school year.
Under the Blueprint’s Concentration of Poverty funding, these schools receive additional resources to support students and families. The budget includes $665,477 in additional funding for Community Schools and related initiatives. The funding will benefit:
- Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School
- Benjamin Stoddert Middle School
- John Hanson Middle School
- Thomas Stone High School
- Glymont Middle School
- Eva Turner Elementary School
- J.P. Ryon Elementary School
- Dr. James Craik Mudd Elementary School
- Indian Head Elementary School
- Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School
- Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School
- William B. Wade Elementary School
- Paul Barnhart Elementary School
- J.C. Parks Elementary School
As part of the funding, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School and Dr. James Craik Mudd Elementary School will each receive a new Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Instructor to provide evidence-based math and English language arts interventions for students who need additional academic support.
7. School Meal Prices Are Increasing
Students who pay full price for school meals will see a 5-cent increase beginning with the 2026–27 school year. New prices will be:
- Elementary breakfast: $1.50
- Middle and high school breakfast: $1.65
- Elementary lunch: $2.95
- Middle and high school lunch: $3.20
8. Most of the Funding Comes from the State and County
The $555.5 million operating budget is funded primarily through state and county revenue. Funding sources include:
- State funding: $286.2 million (51.5%)
- County funding: $256.2 million (46.1%)
- Other local revenue: $12.1 million
- Federal funding: $970,000
The fiscal 2027 budget takes effect July 1 and funds the operation of Charles County Public Schools, including classroom instruction, transportation, student services, school safety and ongoing implementation of Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future.
Watch the full June 24 meeting on CCGTV.
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