Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1642: Higher Education - Transformative Economic Efficiency - Framework and Standards

This bill directs Maryland's Higher Education Commission to create a framework for transformative economic efficiency, which focuses on measurable improvements in economic performance, resource use, and health risk prevention through education and research. The Commission must develop independent consensus-based standards collaboratively with universities, research institutions, and subject matter experts, using independent research and verification methods. These standards must be posted on the Commission's website and updated regularly to encourage continuous improvement in higher education practices. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies to institutions of higher education and community-based research institutions in Maryland.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes framework for economic efficiency in higher education through measurable improvements and resource optimization, indicating support for educational advancement.75% confidence

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SB 999: County Boards of Education - Reappointments of County Superintendents of Schools - Audit Requirement (Local School System Fiscal Accountability Act)

This bill requires county school boards in Maryland to conduct a financial audit before reappointing a county superintendent of schools, ensuring the district's financial management is evaluated for effectiveness and efficiency. The audit must be completed by the Office of Legislative Audits or an independent certified public accountant during the final year of the superintendent's term, with results submitted to the State Superintendent of Schools and made public. This provision applies to all county school systems except Baltimore City and Prince George's County, which already have different appointment procedures. The bill also maintains existing requirements that superintendents must have a college degree and two years of graduate work in public school administration to be eligible for appointment or reappointment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal responsibility by requiring financial audits before reappointing superintendents, ensuring effective and efficient use of public funds.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens fiscal accountability in local school systems by requiring financial audits before superintendent reappointment, ensuring effective and efficient management of educational resources.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Higher Education

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1636: Primary and Secondary Schools - Discipline-Related Data - Collection and Publication

This Maryland bill requires the State Department of Education to collect and publish discipline-related data for all public and nonpublic schools, including charter schools, special education programs, and specialized schools for students with visual or hearing impairments. The law mandates that schools with high suspension rates for specific student subgroups - defined by race, ethnicity, gender, disability, socioeconomic status, grade level, or English language proficiency - create action plans to address disproportional disciplinary practices. Schools are considered high-suspending if they suspend 10% or more of elementary students or 25% or more of secondary students within any subgroup, and the Department will use a risk ratio threshold of 2.0 to identify schools where removal rates for certain groups are disproportionately high compared to the state average. All discipline data will be made publicly available in a searchable, usable format on the Department's website, allowing parents and communities to review suspension statistics by school level and subgroup.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes equity in school discipline by collecting data on disparities by race, disability, and other factors, supporting criminal justice reform through early intervention and reducing systemic bias.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requires collection and publication of discipline data to identify disparities and create action plans, promoting equity and improving educational outcomes for marginalized student groups.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Special Education Tags Data Reporting

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1628: Higher Education - Academic Program Approval - Objections

This bill modifies Maryland's higher education regulations by removing the requirement that a proposed new academic program must be a graduate program for the Maryland Higher Education Commission or other institutions to file objections. The change allows objections to be raised for any type of new academic program, not just graduate-level ones, based on criteria such as mission consistency, regional need, program duplication, or violations of equal educational opportunity. Directly affected parties include the Maryland Higher Education Commission, public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education, and students who may be impacted by program approvals. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not alter the existing grounds for objections, only expanding the scope of programs eligible for review.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands objection criteria for new academic programs to protect educational quality and mission consistency, preventing unnecessary program duplication and ensuring equal educational opportunity.80% confidence

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2026

HB 1643: Employment Discrimination - School Employees - Use of Cannabis

This bill prohibits Maryland schools from discriminating against job applicants or employees based on their legal use of cannabis outside of work hours and away from school property. It specifically protects individuals from being denied employment, having their compensation affected, or facing adverse employment actions due to off-duty cannabis use. However, the law does not authorize employees to use, possess, or be impaired by cannabis during work hours, and schools retain the ability to prohibit such behavior on school premises. The legislation also clarifies that it does not override federal requirements for drug testing related to employment, federal funding, or licensing.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects school employees from discrimination based on off-duty cannabis use, supporting teacher retention and workplace fairness without restricting work duties.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects workers' rights by prohibiting discrimination based on off-duty cannabis use, expanding employment protections for school employees95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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

HB 901: Education - Public School Students - Recognition of External Diagnosis of Autism

This bill requires Maryland public schools to recognize autism diagnoses made by licensed medical, mental health, or educational professionals until the school completes its own initial evaluation. It mandates that schools begin their evaluation process within 30 days of receiving an external autism diagnosis and parental consent, while also requiring schools to provide supports recommended in the diagnosis during the evaluation period. The law specifies which professionals qualify for making external diagnoses, including developmental pediatricians, clinical psychologists, and psychiatrists, and allows schools to offer alternative supports only if the original recommendations conflict with laws or pose safety risks. This legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring students with external autism diagnoses receive appropriate support during the school's evaluation timeline.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by requiring schools to recognize external autism diagnoses and provide supports during evaluation, protecting student rights and ensuring timely accommodations.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient rights by requiring schools to recognize external autism diagnoses and provide recommended supports, facilitating access to mental health services and accommodations.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 903: Education - Engagement Policies and School Compact (Maryland Public Education Parental Partnership Act)

This bill requires Maryland county school boards to create parent and family engagement policies by the 2027-2028 school year, and mandates that individual public schools develop Parent-School Compacts starting in the 2028-2029 school year. The policies must be created in consultation with parents and include frameworks for collaboration, technical assistance like translation services, staff training, and annual evaluations to ensure effectiveness. School compacts will define the specific roles and responsibilities of school staff, parents, and students, including curriculum standards, parental support duties, teacher qualifications, and communication requirements. The State Department of Education will provide guidance and technical assistance to help schools implement these policies. Existing policies may be amended to meet the new requirements rather than requiring entirely new documents.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates parent engagement policies and school compacts to improve collaboration, translation services, and staff training, enhancing educational access and family involvement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 900: Legislative Scholarship Programs - Eligibility and Use - Real Estate Appraisal Program

This bill modifies Maryland's legislative scholarship programs to exempt certain applicants from competitive examination requirements and to allow scholarship funds to be used for real estate appraisal training. Specifically, it removes the exam requirement for students who have completed at least one year at an eligible institution, those who graduated high school five years prior, applicants to approved private career colleges, and community college students. Additionally, it authorizes senatorial and Delegate scholarships to cover expenses for completing the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria program. The changes apply to both new scholarship applications and the existing scholarship programs, affecting current and future recipients who meet the specified eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by exempting certain students from exam requirements and adds real estate appraisal training to scholarship funds, supporting career education.75% confidence

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

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1311: Higher Education – Student Financial Assistance for Incarcerated Individuals – Alterations

HB 1311 requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety to help incarcerated individuals access federal Pell Grants and state student financial aid. It mandates that correctional facilities assist eligible incarcerated people in applying for these funds and explicitly states that financial aid established under Maryland law must be available to those meeting eligibility criteria. The bill affects incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities, directing the Department to collaborate with the Maryland Higher Education Commission and specific higher education institutions to facilitate access. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, without creating new funding but altering access procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables incarcerated individuals to access education funding, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly expands educational access by requiring correctional facilities to assist incarcerated individuals in accessing financial aid for higher education, removing barriers to post-secondary opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 910: Child Care Scholarship Program - Priority for Child Care Providers

HB 910 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to create a priority system for the Child Care Scholarship Program, specifically favoring children of individuals who work in licensed child care centers, registered family child care homes, or registered large family child care homes. This change applies to scholarship applications submitted after July 1, 2026, directly affecting child care providers and their children seeking financial aid for early childhood education. The bill amends existing law to establish this priority framework within the scholarship program's administration. It does not alter eligibility criteria for other families but adds a new ranking consideration for child care providers' children.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrioritizes child care providers' children for scholarships, expanding access to early childhood education within the program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Student Financial Aid

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