ENOUGH Act Eligibility Analysis

Census tract and school eligibility for the 2026 application cycle, including the proposed Margin of Error methodology

Maryland Governor's Office for Children | Data: 2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Prompted by Nick Lal | Built with Claude Code

Statewide Overview

1,463
Census Tracts in Maryland
180
Tracts >30% Child Poverty (Criteria 1)
216
Total Census Tract Poverty Rate Qualified
181
Fully ENOUGH Eligible
287
Schools Qualified (≥75% CPG)
11.3%
Statewide Child Poverty Rate
156,135
Children in Poverty
28
Active ENOUGH Grantees

Full ENOUGH Eligibility Requires Both Tests

A community is ENOUGH-eligible only when it contains both (1) a Census Tract Poverty Rate Qualified tract (>30% child poverty, or qualifying via the proposed MOE methodology) AND (2) a School Poverty Rate Qualified school (concentration of poverty ≥75%, the statutory Year 3 threshold).

ENOUGH Grantee Coverage

62
Eligible Tracts With Grantee Coverage
119
Eligible Tracts WITHOUT Grantee Coverage
28
Active Grantee Organizations
3
Program Phases (Planning, Partnership, Implementation)

Of the 181 fully eligible tracts, only 62 have an active ENOUGH grantee serving that tract. 119 eligible tracts have no grantee coverage. Note: grantees serve 114 total tracts, but 49 of those are non-eligible tracts within their broader community boundaries — a grantee only needs at least one eligible tract in their service area to qualify.

Key Metrics

Census Tract Qualification Over Time

Eligibility Breakdown (2026 Cycle)

Top Counties by Fully Eligible Tracts

School Qualification Trend

2026 Eligibility Formula

Census Tract Poverty Rate Qualification

Criteria 1 (Standard)
2024 ACS 5-Year child poverty rate > 30%
— OR —
Criteria 2 (Proposed MOE Provision)
2024 estimate + MOE > 30%
AND 2023 estimate > 30%

Criteria 2 requires Secretary's approval. See full methodology rationale →

School Poverty Rate Qualification

Statutory Threshold (Year 3)
School concentration of poverty ≥ 75%

Lowered from 80% (Years 1-2) to 75% per statute. See school analysis →

2024 cycle (80% threshold):244 schools
2025 cycle (80% threshold):284 schools
2026 cycle (75% threshold):287 schools