WTOP spoke with Montgomery County Council Vice President Will Jawando, chair of the Education and Culture Committee, about the nearly $3.8 billion fiscal year 2027 operating budget proposed by Montgomery County Public Schools — a spending plan Jawando described as focused squarely on classroom fundamentals rather than extras.
“There’s no bells and whistles here, this is educator funding, it’s to help reduce class size a little bit — things like counselors, school psychologists, some of the mental health service supports that our students need.”
— Will Jawando
Jawando emphasized that the budget reflects a continued commitment to shifting resources back into the classroom at a time when student outcomes remain a priority. He noted that test scores are “not where we want them to be, but you don’t get more with less, and our educators are working really hard.” The plan also includes $11.5 million in proposed central office cuts.
“I don’t think there’s an option for us not to fund the school budget.”
— Will Jawando
With 211 schools in the system — more than half of which are over 25 years old — Jawando also highlighted the challenge of maintaining aging facilities, calling it a “really unique and difficult situation.” The County Council is scheduled to hold a work session on the budget on January 6, with a final vote expected in May.