This article was originally published in Capital News Service.
Maryland is set to examine their current method of evaluating poverty in schools throughout the next year, potentially opening up a pathway to boost funding for schools with students in need.
A new study is meant to help address the undercounting of poverty in Maryland public schools according to Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman. The Board of Public Works approved funding for the study at its Dec. 4 meeting.
“This issue is exacerbated for undocumented students or citizen children of undocumented parents,” Lierman said at that meeting.
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The current method of tabulating poverty “really penalizes” schools with large numbers of immigrant students, Lierman said.
The state currently uses proxy measures, such as eligibility for national programs like Medicaid and SNAP, to calculate aid for public schools, according to the proposal for funds from the Department of General Services.