§5–239.

    (a)    (1)    Under this section a county may be eligible for a reduction in the local share of major education aid required under § 5–235(a)(1) of this subtitle.

        (2)    A reduction in the local share of major education aid under this section may not reduce the local share below the per pupil appropriation required under § 5–235(a)(2) of this subtitle.

        (3)    If a reduction in the local share of major education aid under this section would result in a local share that is less than the requirement under § 5–235(a)(2) of this subtitle, the State distributions required under this section shall be reduced.

        (4)    For the purposes of § 5–205 of this subtitle, State distributions required under this section shall be included in the State share of major education aid.

    (b)    (1)    (i)    In this subsection the following words have the meanings indicated.

            (ii)    “Education effort adjustment” equals the local share of major education aid minus the maximum local share.

            (iii)    “Education effort index” means local education effort divided by the State average education effort.

            (iv)    “Local education effort” means, for each county, the county’s local share of major education aid divided by the county’s wealth and rounded to the nearest seven decimal places.

            (v)    “Major education aid” has the meaning stated in § 5–201(l) of this subtitle minus item (9) of § 5–201(l) of this subtitle.

            (vi)    “Maximum local share” equals the local wealth multiplied by the State average education effort.

            (vii)    “State average education effort” equals the local share of major education aid for all counties divided by the wealth of all counties and rounded to the nearest seven decimal places.

        (2)    (i)    A county is eligible for the education effort adjustment if the education effort index is greater than 1 for 2 consecutive fiscal years.

            (ii)    Subject to subsection (a) of this section, the required local share of major education aid is reduced by the amount provided by the State under this subsection.

        (3)    For each county, if the education effort index is greater than 1 but less than 1.15, the State shall distribute to the county board the following proportion of the education effort adjustment and the county shall provide the remainder:

            (i)    For fiscal year 2022, 10%;

            (ii)    For fiscal year 2023, 15%;

            (iii)    For fiscal year 2024, 20%;

            (iv)    For fiscal year 2025, 25%;

            (v)    For fiscal year 2026, 30%;

            (vi)    For fiscal year 2027, 35%;

            (vii)    For fiscal year 2028, 40%;

            (viii)    For fiscal year 2029, 45%; and

            (ix)    For fiscal year 2030 and each fiscal year thereafter, 50%.

        (4)    For each county, if the education effort index is at least 1.15 but less than 1.27, the State shall distribute to the county board the following proportion of the education effort adjustment and the county shall provide the remainder:

            (i)    For fiscal year 2022, 20%;

            (ii)    For fiscal year 2023, 20%;

            (iii)    For fiscal year 2024, 35%;

            (iv)    For fiscal year 2025, 45%;

            (v)    For fiscal year 2026, 55%;

            (vi)    For fiscal year 2027, 65%;

            (vii)    For fiscal year 2028, 75%;

            (viii)    For fiscal year 2029, 85%; and

            (ix)    For fiscal year 2030 and each fiscal year thereafter, 100%.

        (5)    For each county, if the education effort index is at least 1.27, for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter, the State shall distribute to the county board 100% of the education effort adjustment.

    (c)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subject to the limitation in subsection (a) of this section, the local share of major education aid shall be reduced by the amount of State funds provided to a county board under § 5–214 of this subtitle.

        (2)    For Baltimore City, the local share of major education aid may be reduced only by the amount by which the State funds provided under § 5–214 of this subtitle exceed $10,000,000.

    (d)    Subject to the limitation in subsection (a) of this section, the local share of major education aid shall be reduced by:

        (1)    The sum of the amount of State funds provided to a county board in a county that is eligible for the minimum State funding under the foundation program as defined in § 5–201(q)(2) of this subtitle and the difference between the local share of the foundation program and the foundation program; and

        (2)    The amount by which the sum of the State share and local share of the at–promise programs as defined in § 5–221(c)(2) of this subtitle exceeds the total program amount as defined in § 5–221(e) of this subtitle for each program.

    (e)    Subject to the limitation in subsection (a) of this section, the local share of major education aid for counties with an index of at least 0.130 under § 5–216 of this subtitle shall be reduced by the amount equal to 50% of the local share calculated under § 5–216 of this subtitle.