Md. Code, Human Services § 8-104

(a) (1) On or before October 1, 2025, the Office shall submit a report on neighborhood indicators of poverty to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Accountability and Implementation Board, and the Department of Education.

(2) The report required under this subsection shall include an analysis of different methods used to calculate indicators of poverty in order to determine:

(i) eligibility for the compensatory education program under § 5–222 of the Education Article, including the data necessary to implement each methodology; and

(ii) eligibility under the Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program under § 5–223 of the Education Article, including the data necessary to implement each methodology.

(3) In completing the report required under this subsection, the Office shall:

(i) evaluate the American Community Survey data available across geographic areas in the Small Income and Poverty Estimates Program to provide school district poverty estimates;

(ii) evaluate the Area Deprivation Index developed by the University of Wisconsin–Madison to rank neighborhoods by socioeconomic status disadvantage;

(iii) analyze how other states approach measuring poverty;

(iv) analyze how other states calculate eligibility for state programs for school districts that participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision; and

(v) consult with each local school system for input.

(4) Any State agency, including the Department of Education and the Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center, shall share any data needed by the Office to complete the report required under this subsection.

(b) (1) On or before December 1, 2025, the Accountability and Implementation Board, in consultation with the Department of Legislative Services and the Department of Budget and Management, shall submit a methodological recommendation, based on the Office’s report required under subsection (a) of this section, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly.

(2) The recommendation submitted under this subsection shall include whether there should be an updated methodology for calculating eligibility for compensatory grants under § 5–222 of the Education Article, and if so, an updated methodology for calculating the compensatory education formula under § 5–222 of the Education Article.