Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 57: Public Schools - Maryland Civic Excellence Program - Established

HB 57 establishes the Maryland Civic Excellence Program within the State Department of Education to recognize public school students demonstrating proficiency in civics and civic literacy. Local school systems may voluntarily participate to award a "Seal of Civic Excellence" on students' high school diplomas based on criteria developed by the Department by the 2027-2028 school year. Schools must submit annual reports to the Department starting July 1, 2028, detailing program implementation. The bill directly affects Maryland public schools and students, creating a formal recognition system without mandating curriculum changes or altering existing civics education requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes civic recognition program enhancing student curriculum and achievement through voluntary diploma seal for civics proficiency.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 198: Prince George's Community College - Aerospace and Aviation Systems Technology Programs - Feasibility Study

SB 198 requires Prince George’s Community College to establish an Aerospace Technology Studies Program by December 2026, in collaboration with Maryland’s Higher Education Commission, Department of Commerce, and local economic development groups. The program must include training in aerospace systems, avionics, advanced manufacturing, and AI applications, with industry internships and a clear high school-to-college career pathway. It mandates formal partnerships with local aerospace employers and requires annual reports on progress and student outcomes to state and county officials. The bill directly affects students seeking aerospace careers and local employers needing skilled workers, focusing on workforce development without specifying funding or cost.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates new aerospace program at community college with industry partnerships, career pathways, and training in high-demand fields, expanding educational opportunities and workforce development.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill creates AI and aerospace technology training program at community college, advancing tech workforce development through targeted education and industry partnerships.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes aerospace technology training programs with industry partnerships, advancing transportation infrastructure and workforce development in aviation systems.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 14: County Boards of Education - Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation - Information Collection and Reporting Requirements

HB 14 requires Maryland county school boards to collect and report detailed data on bullying, harassment, or intimidation incidents involving students. It mandates a standardized report form that specifically identifies if incidents were motivated by characteristics like race, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and requires schools to post annual summaries of such incidents on their websites, broken down by the motivating characteristic. County boards must submit these summaries to the State Board by January 31 each year, while maintaining confidentiality under federal privacy laws. The bill directly affects public schools, students experiencing bullying, and school staff responsible for handling reports.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires data collection on bias-motivated bullying incidents, enabling targeted interventions to improve school safety and access for all students.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 102: Education - Dependent Children of Active Service Members - Advance Enrollment Procedures

HB 102 requires Maryland counties to allow dependent children of active-duty military members to enroll in schools *before* relocating to the area, using remote registration without fees or in-person visits. It ensures children with disabilities continue receiving their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans without delay when enrolling. The bill also mandates that counties coordinate with the sending state’s school system and allows military families to use temporary housing addresses for residency proof. Additionally, children who enroll through this process may stay in their school for the full academic year, even if their residency status changes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves enrollment barriers for military children, ensuring IEP continuity and expanding access without fees or relocation delays, directly advancing educational access for K-12 students.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 546: Primary and Secondary Education - Educator Professional Development - Course on Well-Being and Flourishing

HB 546 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to provide a free, mandatory professional development course on educator well-being and flourishing to all school personnel and administrators by July 1, 2027. The course must cover eight key areas of well-being identified by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, including social connections, physical health, emotional resilience, and financial literacy. Schools may use synchronous or asynchronous instruction, and the department can develop the course itself or adapt existing third-party materials. The bill ensures this course is offered at the same rate as other required professional development courses for licensed educators.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandatory free professional development for educators on well-being directly supports teacher welfare and school staff effectiveness per bill requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates course covering SAMHSA well-being areas including mental health, emotional resilience, and physical health, directly supporting mental health services for educators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 3: Higher Education - Student Financial Assistance - Dependents of State or Local Public Safety Employees (Maryland Fallen Heroes Tuition Benefits Act)

HB 3, the Maryland Fallen Heroes Tuition Benefits Act, exempts financially dependent children of state or local public safety employees who died while on duty from paying out-of-state or out-of-county tuition at Maryland public colleges. It directly affects children of firefighters, police officers, EMTs, correctional officers, and Maryland National Guard members who were residents of Maryland at the time of their death. The bill amends Maryland law to define "public safety employee" broadly and requires the Commission to create implementing regulations. The exemption applies to public higher education institutions statewide and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts dependent children from tuition costs, increasing state spending on higher education for public safety families through fiscal allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts dependents of fallen public safety employees from out-of-state tuition, expanding higher education access for a specific vulnerable group.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 326: Education - Maryland Center for School Safety - Anonymous Reporting System

HB 326 requires the Maryland Center for School Safety to develop and operate an anonymous reporting system for school safety concerns. This system allows students, staff, and others to report safety issues without revealing their identity. Local school systems must participate in the system (with one specified exception), and the Center must create operational guidelines, provide training, and protect the confidentiality of all related information. The bill also mandates that custodians of records deny public inspection of materials connected to the anonymous reporting system.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates anonymous safety reporting system to protect school environment, strengthening educational safety protocols without restricting access or funding.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 325: Education - Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board - Composition

HB 325 changes the makeup of Maryland's Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board. It removes one position for a certified nonpublic school classroom teacher and adds two positions for representatives from the Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities. The bill alters the board's composition by replacing the single nonpublic school teacher seat with two seats for special education facilities, while maintaining other membership categories like public school teachers and education faculty. These changes take effect July 1, 2026, and directly affect how the board is structured to represent different education sectors.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds special education facility reps to teacher board, enhancing representation for special needs education support within educator standards framework.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 311: Public Schools - Individuals With Disabilities - Accessibility and Emergency Planning

HB 311 requires Maryland public schools to include accessibility for students with disabilities in routine safety evaluations and emergency planning. It mandates that school systems report annually on instances where a facility became inaccessible for a disabled student in a way that could impede evacuation or emergency response. These reports must remain confidential, exempt from public records laws, and only discloseable to legislators upon request. The bill directly affects local school systems and students with disabilities by ensuring accessibility is prioritized in safety protocols. It amends Maryland’s education code to integrate disability accessibility into standard emergency planning procedures.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates accessibility inclusion in school emergency planning for disabled students, enhancing educational access and safety within K-12 infrastructure requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 396: Residential Child Care Programs - Education of Children and Training of Child and Youth Care Practitioners

HB 396 requires operators of licensed residential child care programs (like group homes and emergency shelters) to ensure children aged 5-16 in their care receive proper education. It mandates enrolling children in local schools (or approved in-house programs), transferring academic records, meeting with teachers, and providing study time, homework help, and support for extracurricular activities or individualized education plans. The bill also sets new training standards for child care practitioners, requiring background checks, education credentials, and approved training on child development and their role. These changes directly affect residential programs receiving state funding and their staff in Maryland.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates educational access and support for children in residential care, requiring school enrollment, academic records transfer, and homework help per IEPs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education