Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2026

HB 659: State Board of Education - Membership - Early Childhood Development Professional

HB 659 adds a new member position to Maryland's State Board of Education, requiring the Governor to appoint an early childhood development professional with extensive experience in child care operations and curriculum development. This member must be selected from a list of three candidates provided by the Office of Child Care Advisory Council. The bill directly affects the State Board's composition and ensures representation from early childhood education professionals, who will attend executive sessions but cannot vote on personnel appeals. The appointment process requires the Department to notify licensed child care providers of vacancies, and the position takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds early childhood development professional to State Board, ensuring specialized representation for curriculum and child care operations in early education governance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Early Childhood

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 16, 2026

SB 126: Charles County - Summer Academy for Mathematics and Service Pilot Program - Establishment

SB 126 establishes a 6-week summer math program for Charles County students in grades 9-11 who are not proficient in algebra or geometry. It requires Charles County Public Schools to implement the program during summer break, offering math instruction, transportation, meals, and adaptive learning technology. The Maryland Department of Labor will provide grants to the school system based on the number of eligible students and must develop program standards, report annual outcomes (including math proficiency changes), and publish aggregated data. The program runs from October 2026 through September 2040, focusing on reducing learning loss and accelerating student achievement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes grant-funded summer math program for algebra/geometry struggling students, providing instruction, meals, and adaptive tech - directly advancing educational access and support for K-12 students.90% confidence

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 490: Education - The Blueprint for Maryland's Future - Revisions

HB 490 revises provisions of Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland's Future education reform. It repeals an annual requirement for county boards to submit technology spending reports, extends the timeline for calculating compensatory education enrollment, and removes a termination date for Concentration of Poverty Grant funds. The bill also adjusts teacher certification rules, extends deadlines for National Board Certified teachers to become licensed principals, and updates definitions for wraparound services in community schools. These changes primarily affect school districts, educators, and state agencies administering education funding and programs under the Blueprint framework.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves termination date for Concentration of Poverty Grant funds, ensuring continued state funding for education programs without defunding.80% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves termination for Concentration of Poverty Grant funds, extends teacher certification deadlines, and continues Blueprint funding streams per bill revisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 324: Higher Education - Public Senior Higher Education Institutions - Direct Admission Program and Study

SB 324 establishes a direct admission program for high school students meeting Maryland's college and career readiness standards (CCR standards) at participating public senior higher education institutions, starting in the 2027-2028 academic year. It directly affects eligible high school seniors who complete required coursework, meet CCR standards, and apply during their 12th grade. Key mechanisms include requiring the Maryland Higher Education Commission to administer the program through the financial aid system and Common Application, mandating joint notification by the State Department of Education and Commission about students meeting CCR standards, and allowing institutions to participate (with waived application fees and conditional admission offers). Institutions may set additional criteria but must report them annually and can revoke offers for failing to meet standards or diploma requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes direct admission program for high school students meeting CCR standards, expanding access to public higher education institutions starting 2027-2028.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 207: Higher Education - Guaranteed Access Grant Program - Applicability

SB 207 delays the shift from a centralized to a decentralized administration of Maryland's Guaranteed Access Grant Program until the 2029-2030 financial aid year. The bill maintains the current system where the State Treasurer's Office ranks applicants by financial need, provides these lists to public colleges, and reimburses institutions for grants awarded. It directly affects Maryland public colleges and students seeking need-based financial aid. The bill preserves existing processes for awarding and renewing grants without changing eligibility or funding levels. This is a procedural delay, not a substantive policy change to the grant program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPreserves existing need-based financial aid program for Maryland public colleges, maintaining current access to higher education funding without changes to support structures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 562: Primary and Secondary Education - Maintenance of Effort - Inflation Adjustment (Maintenance of Effort Modernization Act)

HB 562, the "Maintenance of Effort Modernization Act," updates Maryland's method for calculating annual inflation adjustments in local school funding. It replaces the current formula with a new standard that uses the lesser of three measures: the Consumer Price Index for the Washington Metropolitan Area, a government spending index, or 5%, with 0% if neither index rises. This change requires county governments and Baltimore City to adjust their annual local school funding appropriations based on this new inflation metric, starting July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects all Maryland counties and Baltimore City, which are responsible for maintaining local school funding levels.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill modernizes inflation adjustment for school funding to maintain real value, preventing erosion of local education budgets by requiring annual adjustments based on conservative inflation measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 27, 2026

HB 649: Advancing Equal Educational Opportunities for All Students in Maryland

HB 649 establishes new protections against discrimination in Maryland's educational institutions by creating a dedicated enforcement mechanism under the Commission on Civil Rights. It prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or marital status in schools and colleges. The bill requires Maryland's higher education agencies to refer discrimination complaints to the Commission and creates a private right of action, allowing individuals to directly pursue legal claims for violations. This shifts enforcement authority from the State Superintendent to the Commission while expanding the scope of protected categories in educational settings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits discrimination in schools, establishes enforcement for equal educational opportunities, and protects students from bias in educational settings.95% confidence

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 329: Education - Certification of Scholarship Granting Organizations (Opting in on Opportunity Act)

SB 329 (Opting in on Opportunity Act) requires Maryland’s State Department of Education to certify nonprofit organizations as scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) if they meet specific criteria, such as being organized under Maryland law and providing scholarships to eligible students. It mandates the Department to annually submit a list of certified SGOs to the U.S. Treasury starting in 2027 and directs the Comptroller to provide online guidance helping taxpayers claim federal tax credits for donations to these SGOs. The bill directly affects nonprofit scholarship organizations seeking certification and Maryland taxpayers who contribute to them. Key provisions include standardized certification rules, annual reporting requirements, and public reporting of scholarship data (e.g., numbers awarded, amounts, schools attended). It aims to align Maryland’s process with the federal tax credit program under Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects Comptroller to provide tax credit guidance for scholarship donors, enabling federal tax relief per bill's mandate.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes certification for scholarship-granting organizations to provide student scholarships, directly expanding educational access through private funding mechanisms.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HJ 3: Elementary and Secondary Education - Curriculum - Importance of Diversity

This House Joint Resolution (HJ 3) is a policy statement, not a binding law, acknowledging Maryland's commitment to inclusive education. It resolves that elementary and secondary school curricula should include the history of communities that have experienced discrimination (based on disability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, indigenous affiliation, or sexual orientation) to ensure all students feel represented. The resolution directs education officials to adopt this inclusive approach but does not mandate specific curriculum changes or allocate funding. It primarily affects state education leaders, school boards, and curriculum developers by setting a policy direction for curriculum content.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates inclusive curriculum including histories of marginalized groups to ensure student representation, advancing educational equity and access per its resolution directive.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 614: Education - School Building Energy Usage - Monthly Report

HB 614 requires every county board of education in Maryland to collect monthly data on energy usage in school buildings and submit it to the Interagency Commission on School Construction. The Commission must then create rules specifying exactly what data to collect and how often to report it. After gathering this data, the Commission must analyze it and provide specific recommendations to county boards for improving school energy efficiency. This bill directly affects county school districts and the state Commission, aiming to standardize energy reporting and drive efficiency improvements in public schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates energy efficiency data collection for school infrastructure, aligning with improving educational facility maintenance per topic description.75% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates data collection and analysis to improve school energy efficiency, directly advancing energy efficiency measures without promoting fossil fuels or restricting renewables.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates energy usage data collection and efficiency recommendations for school buildings, reducing consumption and emissions85% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency

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