Del. April Miller

Maddy summaryHB 1421 places Maryland's Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) under the State Board of Education, requiring the State Board to review reporting requirements for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and submit a report. The bill clarifies that the AIB’s authority is limited to monitoring and evaluating the Blueprint’s implementation, including reviewing implementation plans and progress reports. In conflicts between the AIB and other entities (like local school systems or state agencies) on Blueprint-related matters, the AIB’s decisions will take precedence. This change directly affects the AIB, the State Board of Education, and local school systems implementing the Blueprint, without altering the AIB’s core duty of tracking education reform progress.

Maddy summaryHB 1436 requires the Interagency Commission for School Construction to include an inflation adjustment using a cost-of-construction index in its annual projections of school construction needs. These updated projections must be shared with both the Capital Debt Affordability Committee and the Governor when setting the annual school construction funding allocation. The bill clarifies that Maryland’s annual $450 million funding goal for public school construction (starting in FY 2023) must be recalculated each year with inflation adjustments before funding the Public School Facilities Priority Fund. This policy change directly affects how school construction funding is calculated and allocated by state agencies, ensuring the funding target accounts for rising construction costs.

Maddy summaryHB 912 requires Maryland colleges and universities to train instructors on federal disability laws (the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) and how to provide academic accommodations for students with disabilities. New instructors must complete this training before teaching, and current instructors must do so by October 1, 2026. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will develop a model training program for institutions to adopt. This law applies to all higher education institutions in Maryland, except those already offering training that meets the required standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1185 allows Maryland public high schools to permit homeschool students enrolled in state-approved home instruction programs to join school sports teams under the same conditions as enrolled students. It specifically requires schools to follow COMAR guidelines for home instruction programs and gives priority to enrolled students if team spots are limited. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to clarify that homeschoolers in compliant programs may participate in athletic activities outside regular school hours without earning academic credit. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, directly affecting homeschool families and public high school athletic departments.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Maryland public high school students to earn one math credit toward graduation by completing a college-prep computer science or programming course instead of a traditional math class. Students must take the course after completing Algebra II, and county school boards must certify eligible courses to the state Department of Education. It modifies existing graduation requirements to expand math credit options for students pursuing computer science pathways. The policy takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1305 requires Maryland's Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports to form a workgroup by December 2025 to study whether its grant system effectively matches community behavioral health services to local school needs and distributes funding equitably across the state. The workgroup must include school system representatives and review all 2024 grants to assess service alignment and geographic fairness. The bill prohibits the Consortium from awarding new grants in fiscal year 2026 while this study occurs. Grants may resume in 2027 only if the study confirms the system is both effective and equitable. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2026, without requiring further legislative action.

Maddy summaryHB 1194 requires all Maryland public schools (including elementary/secondary schools, the Maryland School for the Blind, Maryland School for the Deaf, and juvenile justice education programs) to track and report injury incidents occurring on campus. Schools must document all physical or mental harm to students, teachers, or staff - regardless of workers’ compensation claims - and report incidents requiring room clearance for safety, including offering counseling and notifying parents. Schools submit reports monthly to county boards (or directly to the state/program for specialized schools), while the State Department of Education verifies reports claiming no incidents and annually submits disaggregated data to the legislature for review. The bill aims to standardize injury tracking and transparency without mandating specific interventions.

Maddy summaryHB 1211 requires law enforcement agencies to report student arrests for specific serious offenses (like violent crimes or gang-related violations occurring off school grounds) to the Maryland Center for School Safety, Juvenile Services Education Program, State Board of Education, and the State’s Attorney within 24 hours. The State’s Attorney must then notify these same agencies of court outcomes. This applies to students aged 5-22 in public or nonpublic schools across Maryland. The bill creates a formal reporting chain to ensure schools and safety programs receive timely information about student arrests and legal dispositions.

Maddy summaryHB 1430 changes how Maryland public school teachers earn salary increases tied to career advancement. It replaces lump-sum raises with annual stipends: $5,000 for National Board Certified Teachers (NBC), $3,500 for NBC teachers in low-performing schools, and $2,500 for lead teachers, among others. The bill requires counties to prove teachers received a 10% salary increase above negotiated rates (2019-2024) and mandates the State Department of Education to study National Board Certification’s impact. It also sets a new $60,000 minimum teacher salary starting July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects teachers seeking career ladder advancements, county school boards, and state education funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1479 requires Maryland public school systems to report procurement contracts and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) entered into during the previous fiscal year. Covered entities - such as county boards, school superintendents, public schools, and the state education office - must submit these reports to the state superintendent by September 1 annually. The state superintendent then compiles these reports into a public annual report by October 1, detailing each contract/MOU, total contract amounts, and payments made. This report is shared with specific legislative committees, increasing transparency around education spending without altering budget authority.