ANSWER:

For Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, the central funding for instrumental and choral music programs is $343,371. This amount does not include the cost of positions or the funding allocations to schools for instructional materials and furniture/equipment replacement, for which schools can use a portion to purchase classroom materials and instruments to support their instrumental music program.  Funding for instrumental music support is provided in the following ways:

Elementary Level

• $56,000 is budgeted to ensure that every student in Grades 4–5 enrolled in Instrumental Music Level I receives a workbook (method book) which students keep and continue using into Level II.
• $39,162 is budgeted to purchase a variety of instruments with priority going to Title I or Focus schools as part of a central instrument inventory for the county.  Music teachers may request instruments for students who receive Free and Reduced-price Meals System Services (FARMS) through the instrumental music coordinator (IMC).
• $13,940 is budgeted for instrument repairs, and requests by schools are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the IMC.
• $16,308 is budgeted for piano tuning (one tuning per school for the school year).
• All elementary schools must allocate a minimum of $1.50 to $1.80 per pupil for programs based on student enrollment in instrumental music.

Middle School Level

• $39,950 is allocated to schools for instrument repairs based on the number of students enrolled in their instrumental music program. For FY 2023, the per-pupil amount for middle school is $6.25.
• $17,801 is budgeted annually to purchase additional musical instruments for disadvantaged middle school students. Music teachers may request instruments for students on FARMS through the fine arts coordinator. The instruments purchased remain a part of each school’s instrument inventory.
• $9,250 is budgeted for piano tuning (two tunings per school for the school year).
• Secondary schools receive an allocation of $1,000–$2,260 to assist in transportation costs for music adjudication events. Funds are allocated based on the anticipated number of events in which the school will participate.

High School Level

• $27,308 is allocated to schools for instrument repairs based on the number of students enrolled in their instrumental music program.  For FY 2023, the per-pupil amount for high school is $8.25.
• $14,192 is budgeted for piano tuning and managed centrally (four tunings per school for the school year).
• Secondary schools receive an allocation of $1,000–$2,260 to assist in transportation costs for music adjudication events. Funds are allocated based on the anticipated number of events in which the school will participate.

All Levels

A Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Accelerator Fund of $180,000 is handled centrally across all music areas for purchases as needed, with a concentration on Title I and Focus schools.

In addition, schools have the discretion to use a portion of the following FY 2023 Operating Funds Allocations to purchase instructional supplies/equipment required for their Fine Arts programs:

• Instructional material allocations are used to purchase classroom materials required to implement all curricula.
  • $95 per student is allocated to high schools for instructional materials.
  • $90 per student is allocated to middle schools for instructional materials.
  • $62 per student is allocated to elementary schools for instructional materials.

• Furniture/equipment replacement allocations are used to purchase replacement furniture and/or equipment items. If a school makes the request, they may use these funds to purchase Fine Art needs (e.g., instruments, choral risers, kilns) up to the threshold amounts.
  • $5,000 to $10,000 is allocated to high schools for furniture/equipment replacement.
  • $1,500 to $5,500 is allocated to middle schools for furniture/equipment replacement.
  • $1,000 is allocated to elementary schools for instructional materials.

MCPS currently provides funding for the replacement of high school marching band uniforms on a rotating cycle.  Once every 12 years, each school with a marching band receives an allocation of $430 per student.  The average of the last three years of enrollment for that program is calculated to determine the final allocation amount to individual schools.