Project Baltimore

Share your story with us: For six years, Project Baltimore has been committed to telling your stories and holding leaders in Maryland schools accountable.

Maryland’s Child Care Scholarship Program costs taxpayers more than half a billion dollars a year. But internal emails obtained by FOX45 News reveal, nearly two years ago, state employees knew the program had serious problems tracking payments. How much taxpayer money was paid out as a result of errors? According to industry leaders, the state may never know. Full story linked here: bit.ly/4ie1zc2 @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

💵 More than 2,200 childcare providers statewide received overpayments from Maryland’s Child Care Scholarship Program, according to internal emails obtained by Project Baltimore. The state says $10.7 million was paid out because of implementation errors—and decided not to recollect the money. 📄 @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

💰 Project Baltimore has been digging into internal audits of the Maryland Child Care Scholarship Program – a $560 million program. The audits found that the state sent $66.5 million in suspected overpayments to childcare providers between 2023-2025. Now, the state’s top education leaders are answering questions about what happened. 📈 @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

Maryland officials have confirmed to FOX45 News childcare providers statewide received millions of your taxpayer dollars due to an error. But the State Department of Education decided not to recoup the money. Now, one state senator is questioning whether that decision was legal – while state education leaders defend the decision. Full story linked here: bit.ly/3VZqQy9 @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

Maryland's latest school report card was released today. According to the Maryland State Department of Education, roughly 50% of Maryland's public schools earned a 4 or 5 star rating - the highest rating a school can achieve. The report card measures more than just academic outcomes - what do you think of the results? @FOXBaltimore @chrispapst

Early voting is underway in Maryland. In Baltimore County, residents are choosing their next elected school board members. Baltimore County is our region’s largest school system, and in recent years, the district has struggled with student violence concerns and enrollment declines. But those running for school board are hoping to turn it around. Full story linked here: bit.ly/4zaCXqN @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

⚠️ “We are getting free money.” In September 2025, MSDE said it would stop broad efforts to recover the millions in childcare overpayments—and return money already repaid by providers. @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

📊 Millions were flagged in overpayments—but how much came back? FOX45 obtained records showing MSDE received $4.1 million in repayments, plus $433,429 in physical checks. @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

⚠️ Millions of taxpayer dollars misspent. Serious questions about oversight. “Some providers were being paid for the same kid twice,” one provider told Project Baltimore. @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

🚀 Maryland’s Child Care Scholarship Program has seen a drastic funding increase, rising from $132 million in 2022 to $560 million in 2026. That’s more than a 300% jump in annual funding for the program. @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

💸 As Maryland’s Child Care Scholarship Program grew rapidly, did oversight keep up? MSDE officials said the state lacked systems to track and correct overpayments. @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

Maryland voters, in less than two weeks, will head to the polls. In Baltimore County, voters will be deciding on the next elected school board members – in what will be a crucial election for the future of the school system. This next school board will have some tough decisions to make, including how to address budget concerns, a decline in enrollment, safety and how to handle artificial intelligence in the classroom. Full story linked here: bit.ly/4eJFBva @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

An explosive FOX45 News investigation has uncovered internal audits from the Maryland State Department of Education that show, between 2023 and 2025, more than $66 million in overpayments were sent to childcare providers statewide. That money should have been returned to the state. But Project Baltimore found the state mismanaged the process and failed to recoup your tax dollars. Full story linked here: bit.ly/4sgPRAO @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

Did board members know about Mujahid Muhammad’s involvement with KEYS Development when they voted to approve a contract that included the organization? Baltimore City Public Schools did not directly answer Project Baltimore’s question. Former board member Anirban Basu criticized the situation, saying money should benefit students. @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

KEYS Development, Mujahid Muhammad’s nonprofit, was included in a $21 million Baltimore City school system contract while Muhammad served on the board. He recused himself from the vote, but former board member Anirban Basu called the situation “such an obviously bad idea.” @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

Questions remain about a $21 million Baltimore City school board contract that included KEYS Development. Mujahid Muhammad recused himself from the vote without explaining why. He resigned last month after the FBI searched KEYS headquarters. @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

In 2025, Baltimore City’s school board in an 8-0 vote, approved a three-year, $21 million contract for student mental health services. 🔎 Among the 11 vendors: KEYS Development, whose resident agent is listed in state records as Mujahid Muhammad. At the time, Muhammad was also a sitting school board member. @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

Two Baltimore City school board members who promised transparency are now refusing to answer questions about a $21 million school contract they approved. A contract that included a fellow board member’s company. Kwame Kenyatta-Bey and Ashley Esposito are up for reelection in a few weeks, but it seems they’re not living up to their campaign promise from four years ago. Full story linked here: bit.ly/4dD6Sz3 @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore

A potential conflict of interest involving Baltimore City’s school board is raising serious questions about oversight and accountability. This comes after a company founded by a then-sitting school board commissioner was included in a $21 million contract approved by the board in 2025. Now, Project Baltimore is investigating whether other school board members knew about the connection before handing out your money. Full story linked here: bit.ly/4erwMGc @chrispapst @FOXBaltimore