Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 728: Higher Education - Student Financial Assistance - Alterations to Scholarship Programs

SB 728 amends Maryland's Community College Promise Scholarship eligibility to include graduates of Delmar High School in Delmar, Delaware, who reside in Delmar, Maryland. The bill adds a new eligibility criterion requiring applicants to have graduated from Delmar High School (Delaware) and to be Maryland residents of Delmar. This change applies to students pursuing vocational certificates, certificates, associate's degrees, or registered apprenticeships at eligible Maryland community colleges. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2026, expanding existing scholarship access for this specific group without altering other program requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship access for Delmar High School graduates in Delmar, Maryland, increasing educational access for higher education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1582: Education - Program of Educational Accountability - Alterations (Comprehensive Outcomes and Measures of Progress for Supporting Schools (COMPASS Act))

HB 1582 (COMPASS Act) changes Maryland's public school accountability system by requiring schools to use multiple quality indicators beyond standardized tests for evaluation. It mandates at least three indicators - including school climate surveys, class size, chronic absenteeism, and access to advanced courses - and prohibits national tests from being the sole measure. The bill sets strict rules for the composite score, limiting academic indicators to 70% of the total, requiring transparency in score breakdowns, and banning letter grades. It takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting all public schools and the State Board of Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates multiple indicators beyond standardized tests, including school climate and access to advanced courses, shifting focus from test scores to holistic school evaluation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 503: Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program - Funding

SB 503 requires the Governor to include $450,000 annually in the state budget for the Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program during fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2026, and 2028-2030. The bill formalizes funding for grants to support local programs that help establish and sustain family child care services, directly affecting family child care providers and local jurisdictions (counties or groups of counties). To receive funds, counties must partner with a child care resource center to jointly apply for and administer the grants. The program, administered with the Maryland Child Care Resource Network, aims to provide start-up assistance for family child care homes serving children under 13 or developmentally disabled individuals under 21.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates $450,000 annual state budget allocation for child care program grants, directly increasing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds family child care programs expanding early education access and supporting providers, directly aligning with educational access under topic scope.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds family child care provider programs, directly supporting employment stability and operational capacity for workers in this sector.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 742: Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program - Funding

HB 742 requires the Governor to include $450,000 annually in Maryland's budget for the Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program during fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2026, and 2028-2030. This funding supports grants to help local counties and child care resource centers establish and operate family child care programs. The program directly benefits family child care providers by providing start-up assistance for materials, curriculum, and renovations. Administered through partnerships between counties and child care resource centers, the bill mandates specific annual appropriations to expand access to licensed family child care services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates annual $450k budget allocation for child care program, directly funding essential services through state appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds early childhood education through $450k annual grants for family child care programs, supporting curriculum development and provider access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds $450k annually for family child care programs, providing start-up grants to providers, directly supporting workers in the child care sector.95% 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 809: Walter Sondheim Jr. Public Service Internship Scholarship Program - Funding

HB 809 establishes funding requirements for Maryland's Walter Sondheim Jr. Public Service Internship Scholarship Program. The bill mandates that starting in fiscal year 2028, the Governor must include in the annual budget an appropriation for the program equal to at least 150% of the fiscal year 2026 level, with specific requirements for University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) funding. The program provides scholarships ($2,000-$5,000) to Maryland college and graduate students pursuing public service internships, prioritizing residents with demonstrated interest in careers serving low-income or underserved communities through legal, social work, nursing, or other public/nonprofit sectors. It directly affects eligible students and administers through the Shriver Center, ensuring sustained funding for three specific internship tracks: Governor’s Summer Internship, Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership, and Sondheim Public Service Law Fellowships.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 150% budget increase for public service scholarships, advancing program funding per fiscal requirements.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates 150% funding increase for student scholarships, advancing higher education access and financial support for college students.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 668: Children's Cabinet Fund - Renaming and Funding for Grants to Local Management Boards

SB 668 renames Maryland's "Children's Cabinet Fund" to the "Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund" and requires the Governor to annually appropriate specific funds for grants to local management boards. It mandates $3 million more for fiscal year 2028 than 2027 and $2 million more for fiscal year 2030 than 2029. Local management boards receiving funds must develop community partnership agreements coordinating with state and local child and family service plans, and use the money for evidence-based programs addressing youth development, prevention services, and out-of-home care needs. This bill directly affects local boards, children, and families by structuring state funding to support coordinated, community-driven services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates annual appropriations with specific increases ($3M FY2028 vs 2027, $2M FY2030 vs 2029) for child services grants, directly increasing state budget allocations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates increased annual funding ($3M more FY2028, $2M more FY2030) for grants to local boards coordinating with child/family service plans, directly supporting educational access and programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 720: Education - Artificial Intelligence - Guidelines, Professional Development, and Collaborative (Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act)

SB 720, the "Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act," requires Maryland’s State Department of Education to create and maintain online guidance for schools, educators, parents, and students on the safe, ethical, and equitable use of AI in K-12 education. It mandates county school boards to adopt AI policies within 120 days of guidance release, designate AI coordinators, and procure AI tools aligned with state standards. The bill also requires Morgan State University to annually certify AI tools and establishes statewide teacher training in AI literacy by July 2027, with compensation for educators participating. Local school systems must integrate AI into workforce preparation standards by June 2027, coordinated with the Maryland Center for Computing Education. The law directly affects all Maryland public schools, educators, students, and technology vendors supplying educational AI tools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AI guidelines, professional development, and policy adoption for K-12 schools to advance ethical AI use, strengthening educational technology integration and access.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates safe, ethical AI guidelines in schools, promoting responsible adoption and digital equity through state standards and policy requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 168: Housing and Community Development - Affordable Housing - Educator Workforce Housing and Municipal Corporations

HB 168 allows Maryland school districts to use state housing funds for developing housing specifically for teachers and school staff (called "educator workforce housing"). It explicitly states that such housing qualifies as an eligible use of state financial assistance under housing programs and ensures teachers are recognized as a "specified group" for federal low-income housing tax credits. The bill modifies existing laws to clarify that school districts can repurpose unused school properties for this housing and that state housing agencies must inform applicants about this eligibility. This directly affects school districts seeking to address housing needs for educators and teachers applying for federal housing tax credits.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables school districts to use state housing funds for teacher housing, directly supporting educator workforce stability and access to housing as a specified group for tax credits.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly permits using state housing funds for educator housing, qualifies it as eligible for state/federal programs, and designates teachers as a specified group for housing tax credits, directly advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill designates teachers as a 'specified group' for housing benefits, directly supporting educator workforce housing as an employment standard under state/federal programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education