Maryland Education Section 8-317

      (a)      (1)      In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

            (2)      "4-year average annual full-time equivalent enrollment" means:

                  (i)      The average number of students enrolled annually in grades prekindergarten through grade 12 at the Maryland School for the Blind during 4 consecutive school years as determined by dividing the aggregate monthly enrollment during the 4-year period by the number of months school is in session during the 4-year period; and

                  (ii)      One-half the average number of children served annually by the Maryland School for the Blind's Early Intervention Program during 4 consecutive school years as determined by dividing the Program's aggregate monthly enrollment during the 4-year period by the number of months school is in session during the 4-year period.

            (3)      "Growth in the per pupil basic current expense figure" means the change in the per pupil basic current expense figure from the prior fiscal year to the current fiscal year divided by the per pupil basic current expense figure from the prior fiscal year.

            (4)      "Per pupil basic current expense figure" means the figure calculated for each fiscal year by the Department in accordance with § 5-202 of this article.

            (5)      Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, "prior year appropriation" means the State appropriation to the Maryland School for the Blind in the prior fiscal year less any funding provided under § 8-315 of this subtitle in the prior fiscal year.

            (6)      "Weighted enrollment growth" means the product of 0.2 times the change in the 4-year average annual full-time equivalent enrollment from the 3rd through the 6th prior school years to the 2nd through the 5th prior school years divided by the 4-year average annual full-time equivalent enrollment from the 3rd through the 6th prior school years.

      (b)      (1)      Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subsection (c) of this section, the Maryland School for the Blind shall receive an appropriation equal to or greater than the sum of:

                  (i)      75% of the prior year appropriation multiplied by the product of:

                        1.      The sum of the weighted enrollment growth plus one; and

                        2.      The sum of the growth in the per pupil basic current expense figure plus one; and

                  (ii)      25% of the prior year appropriation multiplied by the sum of the weighted enrollment growth plus one.

            (2)      The minimum appropriation required under paragraph (1) of this subsection may be reduced to the extent reductions are made to the administrative expenses of the Maryland School for the Blind.

      (c)      The "prior year appropriation" used to calculate the fiscal year 2000 appropriation to the Maryland School for the Blind shall be $11,585,436.