Hogan Announces Initiatives To Support Charter Schools

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Gov. Larry Hogan has announced initiatives to support charter schools, including a new funding proposal.

Hogan announced the Public Charter School Facility Fund Act of 2019 on Wednesday.

It would provide $1,600 in per-pupil funding for each public charter school student.

Maryland has about 23,000 charter school students, so that would add up to about $36.8 million, if passed in its entirety.

It would be distributed through the Maryland State Department of Education.

The Republican governor's budget proposal includes $2.6 million specifically for construction projects at charter schools.

It also includes $1.2 million from the Healthy School Facility Fund to fix heating and air conditioning issues and other maintenance improvements.

A charter school is one that receives government funding but operates independently of the established state school system.

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