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.
HB 1438 requires Maryland's State Board of Education to review and update public high school graduation requirements at least every five years. After approval, the Board must implement changes for students entering high school in the school year following the review. This bill directly affects all public high school students in Maryland by establishing a regular cycle for updating graduation standards. The law amends Section 7-205.1(b) of the Maryland Annotated Code and takes effect July 1, 2026. It does not change current requirements but mandates periodic review and implementation for future student cohorts.
HB 781 requires Maryland public middle schools to teach students in grades 6-8 about the legal penalties of a felony murder conviction. The State Board of Education must develop age-appropriate curriculum resources, and county school boards must incorporate this instruction into their curriculum starting the 2027-2028 school year. The bill defines "consequences" as penalties that take away freedom, rights, and access to programs after conviction under Maryland law. This applies specifically to felony murder convictions (first-degree murder under § 2-201(A)(4) of the Criminal Law Article).
HB 1077 requires Maryland's State Department of Education and Career and Technical Education Committee to form a workgroup by July 2026 to study how high school students can earn portable, industry-recognized credentials that build toward college degrees. The workgroup will review models from South Carolina and Arkansas, examine student planning tools starting in 8th grade, and explore flexible credit systems allowing course substitutions for graduation requirements. It will also analyze credential portability across schools and propose a standardized "list of valuable credentials" for high-demand fields, with a final report due December 2026. This bill does not enact changes but studies potential reforms to align with Maryland's existing education framework.
SB 592 requires Maryland public high schools to add a standalone personal financial literacy course as a graduation requirement, effective for students graduating in 2030 or later. The bill mandates that students complete at least one semester of this course in grades 11 or 12, with county boards of education determining curriculum and materials while aligning with state standards. Successful completion earns students at least 0.5 credits toward their diploma, and counties may allow this credit to satisfy remaining requirements through existing courses like business or social studies. The State Board of Education must establish the graduation requirement, and the law takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1334, the Maryland Public Education Parental Partnership Act, requires each county board of education to create a written parent and family engagement policy by the start of the 2027-2028 school year. This policy must include parental input, provide translation services, and outline how schools will collaborate with families. Additionally, starting in the 2028-2029 school year, every public school must develop a Parent-School Compact detailing shared responsibilities - such as school curriculum quality, parental support for learning, teacher qualifications, and regular communication between parents and staff. The bill directly affects all Maryland public school systems and their families by mandating structured, written frameworks for parental involvement.
HB 943 requires Maryland public high schools to implement a financial literacy course as a graduation requirement for students graduating in 2030 or later. The course must be a standalone, at least one-semester class taught in grades 11 or 12, and aligns with state standards for personal financial literacy. Upon successful completion, students earn at least half a credit toward graduation, and counties may allow this requirement to fulfill remaining credit needs through existing courses in business, career education, or social studies. County school boards determine specific curriculum and materials, but must follow state standards for the course content.
HB 1202 requires Maryland's State Board of Education to develop content standards on Palestinian culture and history for inclusion in social studies curriculum standards by December 2026. These standards must cover historical presence, cultural traditions, impacts of displacement, and Palestinian identity as a distinct ethnic group, while emphasizing factual, nonpartisan teaching and critical thinking. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, all public schools must integrate this content into social studies. The bill also updates bullying policies to explicitly prohibit anti-Palestinian bias and mandates county boards to create age-appropriate curriculum guides in collaboration with educators and community stakeholders.
This bill requires Baltimore City public middle schools (grades 6-8) to teach students about the legal consequences of a felony murder conviction. The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners must develop age-appropriate curriculum resources by 2027, defining these consequences as loss of freedom, rights, and access to programs/services after conviction. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, schools must incorporate this instruction at least once during grades 6-8. The law applies exclusively to Baltimore City public schools and does not alter criminal law.
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.
