Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1305: State Child Welfare System - Reporting

HB 1305 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to annually report specific data on students in the state's child welfare system, including school stability, graduation rates, college enrollment, and disciplinary rates. The report must break down data by county, age, gender, race, and ethnicity while protecting student confidentiality. Additionally, the Department of Education and Department of Human Services must submit a 2026 report identifying service gaps, best practices from other states, and recommendations to improve educational outcomes for foster youth. This bill directly affects foster youth in Maryland's child welfare system and the state agencies responsible for their education and care.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires data collection on student outcomes (graduation, college enrollment) in child welfare system to identify gaps and improve educational support for vulnerable students.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1075: Higher Education - Maryland Graduate and Professional Scholarship Program - Eligible Institutions

HB 1075 expands eligibility for Maryland's Graduate and Professional Scholarship Program to include students at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) enrolled in four specific degree programs: Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. This change directly affects UMES students in these fields who previously could not qualify for the scholarship. The bill amends the existing law by adding UMES to the list of eligible institutions under the program's criteria, which requires applicants to be Maryland residents attending approved institutions in designated health-related fields. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026, allowing UMES students to access this financial aid for the first time.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship eligibility for UMES graduate students in specific programs, increasing access to funding for higher education without restrictions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands scholarships for healthcare education (PA, pharmacy, PT, vet med) to grow healthcare workforce, aligning with funding/support indicators for healthcare workforce development.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 845: Higher Education - Student Financial Assistance - Alterations to Scholarship Programs

HB 845 amends Maryland's Community College Promise Scholarship program to include residents of Delmar, Maryland who graduated from Delmar High School in Delmar, Delaware. Currently, the scholarship requires applicants to have graduated from a Maryland high school or completed a Maryland GED, but this bill adds a new eligibility pathway for students meeting both conditions: graduation from Delmar High School (Delaware) and residency in Delmar, Maryland. The change would allow these students to qualify for the scholarship without needing to meet the standard Maryland graduation requirement. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship access to Delmar, MD residents who graduated from Delmar High School (DE), increasing higher education opportunities for targeted students.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 646: Public School System Contracts - Prohibited Provisions

This bill prohibits Maryland public school systems from including 10 specific contract terms in new agreements, such as clauses requiring schools to pay for others' liabilities without funding, mandating binding arbitration, or restricting the school's choice of legal counsel. If such terms are included, they are invalid from the start, and contracts must be enforced as if those terms never existed. The law applies only to contracts signed on or after July 1, 2026, leaving existing agreements unaffected. It ensures public school contracts comply with state law and protect school systems from unfair obligations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits contract terms that could drain school funding (e.g., requiring payment for others' liabilities without funding), protecting resource stability for public schools.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 852: Higher Education - Scholarships for Correctional Officers

HB 852 expands Maryland's existing scholarship program to include correctional officers. It amends the Maryland Police Officers and Probation Agents Scholarship Program (now titled "Maryland Police Officers, Probation Agents, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS Scholarship Program") to allow current or future correctional officers to qualify. Eligible recipients must be Maryland residents or graduates of Maryland high schools, enrolled at an eligible institution (public university or community college), and agree to work as correctional officers for at least 5 years within 8 years of graduation. The bill does not create a new program but updates the eligibility criteria of an existing scholarship.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands scholarships for correctional officers, funding education to strengthen corrections workforce within criminal justice system90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education scholarships to correctional officers, increasing access and funding for a specific group within the education system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 748: Publicly Funded Prekindergarten - Early Childhood Educator Career Ladder for Private Providers - New Pathways

HB 748 repeals specific deadline requirements for private prekindergarten providers participating in Maryland's publicly funded prekindergarten program. The bill removes time limits (like "within 3 years of hire" or "by July 1, 2027") that educators needed to meet certain educational or credentialing qualifications to advance through the state's early childhood educator career ladder. Private providers who receive public funding for prekindergarten services are directly affected, as they will no longer face strict deadlines to ensure staff meet these qualifications. The career ladder structure itself - including its three levels (teaching assistant, lead teacher, consulting teacher) and core goals of improving pay, professional development, and retention - remains unchanged. This is a procedural adjustment to the existing framework, not a substantive policy shift.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRepeals deadlines for educator career advancement, removing barriers to professional development in publicly funded prekindergarten programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 828: State Board of Education - Membership - Employee of a County Board of Education

HB 828 adds a new "Educational Support Member" position to Maryland's State Board of Education, directly affecting noncertificated, non-supervisory school support staff (like paraprofessionals or clerical workers in bargaining units). The bill requires the Governor to appoint this member based on an election conducted by eligible educational support professionals across the state, following regulations set by the Department of Education. The new member can attend and participate in board meetings but cannot vote on appeals to the State Board under specific sections of law. This change modifies existing board membership rules to include representation from this specific school support workforce category.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds representation for support staff on education board, strengthening their voice in policy decisions affecting schools.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates elected position for school support staff on education board, enabling direct representation in policy decisions affecting their workplace85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1457: Washington County - Juveniles - Truancy Reduction Pilot Program

HB 1457 authorizes the Circuit Administrative Judge of Maryland's Fourth Circuit to establish a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program specifically in Washington County's juvenile court. The bill directly affects Washington County juveniles who are truant and the juvenile court system there, aiming to address school absenteeism through court-led interventions rather than punitive measures. Key provisions amend existing law to explicitly include Washington County in the list of jurisdictions where such pilot programs may operate, alongside other counties already covered. The program would operate using state budget funds and requires consultation with other circuit administrative judges before implementation, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates non-punitive truancy intervention in juvenile court to prevent youth from entering justice system, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of diversion over punishment.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAddresses school absenteeism through court-led interventions, promoting student attendance and educational access in K-12 settings without punitive measures.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 715: Washington County - Juveniles - Truancy Reduction Pilot Program

SB 715 authorizes the Circuit Administrative Judge of the Fourth Circuit to establish a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program specifically in Washington County's juvenile court. The bill amends existing Maryland law to add Washington County as a jurisdiction eligible for this pilot program, which aims to address student absenteeism through court-based interventions. The program would operate under the existing framework used in other counties (like Dorchester and Worcester) but is limited to Washington County for a defined period. It directly affects Washington County juvenile courts and students with chronic absenteeism, without creating new funding or changing current truancy enforcement procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAddresses juvenile truancy through court-based interventions, preventing escalation into criminal justice system and aligning with reform goals of reducing recidivism.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAddresses student absenteeism via court-based interventions, directly supporting K-12 attendance and educational access through targeted program expansion.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 285: Higher Education - Scholarships for Correctional Officers

SB 285 expands Maryland's existing scholarship program to include correctional officers. The bill amends state law to add "correctional officers" to the eligibility criteria for the Maryland Police Officers, Probation Agents, and Correctional Officers Scholarship Program, which previously covered only police officers and probation agents. It defines "correctional officer" per Maryland law and allows current or future correctional officers to apply for tuition assistance if they meet residency, enrollment, and service obligation requirements. The scholarship requires recipients to work in the field for at least five years within eight years of graduation or repay funds. This change directly affects correctional officers seeking higher education in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands tuition assistance for correctional officers, directly supporting corrections workforce development within criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education scholarships to correctional officers, increasing funding access for a new group under existing program.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education