EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0888*
SENATE BILL 888
F1 2lr2991
CF HB 352
By: Senator Lee
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2022
Assigned to: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Education – American Studies and Social Equity Standards Advisory Board 2
– Academic Standards and Model Policy 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the American Studies and Social Equity Standards 4
Advisory Board within the State Department of Education; requiring the Advisory 5
Board to review and develop recommendations for academic standards for American 6
studies in public schools in the State and to develop a model policy on ethnic and 7
social equity in schools; requiring the State Board of Education to adopt American 8
studies academic standards on or before a certain date; requiring each county board 9
of education to adopt a certain policy and implement a curriculum for an American 10
studies course based on certain standards on or before the start of a certain school 11
year; and generally relating to the American studies academic standards and 12
curriculum and ethnic and social equity model policy. 13
BY adding to 14
Article – Education 15
Section 7–129 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Education 21
7–129. 22
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 23
INDICATED. 24
2 SENATE BILL 888
(2) “ADVISORY BOARD” MEANS THE AMERICAN STUDIES AND 1
SOCIAL EQUITY STANDARDS ADVISORY BOARD. 2
(3) “AMERICAN STUDIES ” MEANS THE EXAMINATIO N OF AMERICAN 3
HISTORY AND CULTURE FROM MULTIPLE PERSPE CTIVES, INCLUDING THE 4
PERSPECTIVES OF VARI OUS CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND ETHNIC GROUPS . 5
(4) (I) “ETHNIC GROUP ” MEANS A NONDOMINANT RACIAL OR 6
ETHNIC GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES. 7
(II) “ETHNIC GROUP ” INCLUDES GROUPS OF I NDIVIDUALS WHO 8
IDENTIFY AS INDIGENO US AND INDIVIDUALS O F AFRICAN, ASIAN, PACIFIC ISLAND, 9
HISPANIC, LATINO, OR MIDDLE EASTERN DESCENT . 10
(5) “SOCIAL GROUP ” INCLUDES WOMEN , INDIVIDUALS WITH 11
DISABILITIES, IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO IDENTIFY AS 12
LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER , QUEER, QUESTIONING , INTERSEX, OR 13
ASEXUAL. 14
(B) THERE IS AN AMERICAN STUDIES AND SOCIAL EQUITY STANDARDS 15
ADVISORY BOARD IN THE DEPARTMENT . 16
(C) (1) THE ADVISORY BOARD CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS : 17
(I) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, OR THE STATE 18
SUPERINTENDENT ’S DESIGNEE; 19
(II) AN ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE OFFICE OF THE 20
ATTORNEY GENERAL WITH EXPERTIS E WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT ON 21
RACIAL AND SOCIAL JU STICE ISSUES IN SCHO OLS, APPOINTED BY THE ATTORNEY 22
GENERAL; 23
(III) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND STATE 24
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S DESIGNEE; 25
(IV) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND 26
ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION, OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S 27
DESIGNEE; 28
(V) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL 29
SUPERINTENDENTS ’ ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND, OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S 30
DESIGNEE; 31
SENATE BILL 888 3
(VI) A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 1
OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS WITH EXPER TISE IN THE DEVELOPM ENT OF 2
SCHOOL CURRICULUM , APPOINTED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 3
ASSOCIATION; 4
(VII) A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 5
OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS WITH EXPER TISE IN THE DEVELOPM ENT OF 6
SCHOOL CURRICULUM , APPOINTED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 7
ASSOCIATION; AND 8
(VIII) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 9
FOLLOWING MEMBERS AP POINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH 10
THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION: 11
1. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE NATIVE AMERICAN 12
COMMUNITY ; 13
2. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BLACK AND AFRICAN 14
AMERICAN COMMUNITY ; 15
3. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE HISPANIC AND 16
LATINO COMMUNITY ; 17
4. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DISABILITY RIGHT S 18
COMMUNITY ; 19
5. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE LESBIAN , GAY, 20
BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER , QUEER, QUESTIONING , INTERSEX, OR ASEXUAL 21
COMMUNITY ; 22
6. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC 23
ISLANDER COMMUNITY ; 24
7. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MIDDLE EASTERN 25
COMMUNITY ; AND 26
8. A MARYLAND–BASED, COLLEGE–LEVEL FACULTY 27
EXPERT IN AMERICAN STUDIES . 28
(2) THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MARYLAND 29
ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION, SHALL DEVELOP AN APP LICATION 30
PROCESS FOR INDIVIDU ALS SEEKING APPOINTM ENT TO THE ADVISORY BOARD AS A 31
REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ETHNIC OR SOCIAL GRO UP IDENTIFIED UNDER 32 4 SENATE BILL 888
PARAGRAPH (1)(VIII) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 1
(3) AT LEAST 80% OF THE MEMBERS OF TH E ADVISORY BOARD 2
IDENTIFIED UNDER PAR AGRAPH (1)(VIII) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL: 3
(I) TO THE EXTENT POSSIBL E, REFLECT THE GEOGRAPH IC 4
DIVERSITY OF THE STATE; AND 5
(II) HAVE A BACKGROUND IN ADVOCACY FOR THE ETH NIC OR 6
SOCIAL GROUP THE MEMBER REPR ESENTS. 7
(4) (I) A VACANCY ON THE ADVISORY BOARD SHALL BE FILLED IN 8
THE SAME MANNER THE VACATED MEMBER WAS A PPOINTED OR SELECTED . 9
(II) A MEMBER FILLING A VAC ANCY SHALL REPRESENT THE 10
SAME ETHNIC GROUP OR SOCIAL GROUP THAT WA S REPRESENTED BY THE VACATE D 11
MEMBER. 12
(D) (1) THE ADVISORY BOARD SHALL SELECT A CHAIR FROM AMONG ITS 13
MEMBERS. 14
(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE STAFF FOR THE ADVISORY 15
BOARD. 16
(3) A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY BOARD: 17
(I) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBE R OF THE 18
ADVISORY BOARD; BUT 19
(II) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER 20
THE STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE 21
BUDGET. 22
(E) THE ADVISORY BOARD SHALL: 23
(1) IDENTIFY EXISTING STATE ACADEMIC STANDA RDS IN UNITED 24
STATES HISTORY THAT DO NOT INCORPORATE THE HIST ORY, CONTRIBUTIONS , AND 25
PERSPECTIVES OF ETHN IC GROUPS AND SOCIAL GROUPS; 26
(2) DEVELOP AMERICAN STUDIES ACAD EMIC STANDARDS FOR 27
STUDENTS AT EACH GRA DE LEVEL THAT: 28
(I) INCREASE ATTENTION TO THE HISTORY, CONTRIBUT IONS, 29 SENATE BILL 888 5
AND PERSPECTIVES OF ETHNIC GROUPS AND SO CIAL GROUPS IN THE UNITED 1
STATES; 2
(II) PROMOTE CRITICAL THIN KING REGARDING THE H ISTORY, 3
CONTRIBUTIONS , AND PERSPECTIVES OF ETHNIC GROUPS AND SO CIAL GROUPS IN 4
THE UNITED STATES; 5
(III) INCREASE THE CULTUR AL COMPETENCY OF STU DENTS; 6
AND 7
(IV) ELIMINATE PATHWAYS TO RACIAL BIAS IN CURRI CULUM; 8
(3) RECOMMEND CONTENT AND INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD S THAT 9
ENABLE STUDENTS TO S AFELY EXPLORE QUESTI ONS OF IDENTITY, RACE, EQUALITY, 10
AND RACISM IN AMERICAN STUDIES COUR SES; AND 11
(4) RECOMMEND BASIC CURRI CULUM AND EXTRACURRI CULAR 12
PROGRAMS THAT MAY BE OFFERED IN SCHOOLS T HAT: 13
(I) ARE WELCOMING TO ALL STUDENTS; AND 14
(II) TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PAR ENTAL CONCERNS ABOUT 15
RELIGION OR CULTURE . 16
(F) (1) THE ADVISORY BOARD SHALL DEVELOP A MODEL POLI CY ON 17
ETHNIC AND SOCIAL EQ UITY IN SCHOOLS. 18
(2) THE MODEL POLICY DEVE LOPED UNDER PARAGRAP H (1) OF THIS 19
SUBSECTION SHALL INC LUDE MINIMUM STANDAR DS FOR A SCHOOL ENVI RONMENT 20
THAT: 21
(I) PROMOTE AN OVERARCHIN G FOCUS AND PARTICIP ATION IN 22
THE RACIALLY, CULTURALLY , AND SOCIALLY DIVERSE GLOBAL COMMUNITY ; 23
(II) ENSURE THAT EVERY STU DENT HAS A SAFE , SECURE, AND 24
WELCOMING LEARNING A ND SOCIAL ENVIRONMEN T IN WHICH ACTS OF I MPLICIT OR 25
EXPLICIT RACIAL, SEXUAL ORIENTATION , GENDER, CULTURAL, OR ABILITY BIAS ARE 26
ACKNOWLEDGED AND ADD RESSED APPROPRIATELY ; 27
(III) CHALLENGE RACIST , SEXIST, GENDER, OR ABILITY 28
ASSUMPTIONS , ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIORS WHEN T HEY OCCUR USING PRIN CIPLES 29
AND PRACTICES OF RES TORATIVE JUSTICE MET HODS; 30
6 SENATE BILL 888
(IV) PROVIDE PARENTS WI TH A WELCOMING WAY T O RAISE 1
CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR CHILD’S EXPERIENCES RELATI NG TO RACE OR SOCIAL 2
IDENTITY AT SCHOOL ; 3
(V) ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOO L PERSONNEL ARE TRAI NED ON 4
BEST PRACTICES FOR A DDRESSING RACIAL INC IDENTS; 5
(VI) PROHIBIT CONDUCT BASE D ON RACISM, SEXISM, ABLEISM, 6
AND OTHER SOCIAL BIA SES, AND SPECIFY THE APPR OPRIATE MANNER TO AD DRESS 7
ALLEGED MISCONDUCT , INCLUDING DISCIPLINA RY ACTION, IF APPROPRIATE ; AND 8
(VII) ESTABLISH DISCIPLINAR Y RESPONSES TO RACIA L 9
INCIDENTS, INCLUDING INCREASED UTILIZATION OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE 10
PRACTICES, IF APPROPRIATE . 11
(3) (I) ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2024, THE ADVISORY BOARD 12
SHALL SUBMIT THE MOD EL POLICY TO THE STATE BOARD AND EACH COUNTY 13
BOARD. 14
(II) BEFORE THE 2025–2026 SCHOOL YEAR , EACH COUNTY 15
BOARD SHALL AD OPT A POLICY ON ETHN IC AND SOCIAL EQUITY IN SCHOOLS THAT 16
TAKES INTO CONSIDERA TION THE POLICY ADOP TED BY THE ADVISORY BOARD. 17
(G) (1) ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2024, THE ADVISORY BOARD SHALL 18
SUBMIT A REPORT TO T HE DEPARTMENT THAT INCLU DES: 19
(I) THE AMERICAN STUDIES ACAD EMIC STANDARDS 20
RECOMMENDED BY THE ADVISORY BOARD; 21
(II) ANY ADDITIONAL AMERICAN STUDIES CONT ENT, BASIC 22
CURRICULUM , AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS RECOMMENDED UNDER 23
SUBSECTION (E) OF THIS SECTION; AND 24
(III) THE MODEL POLICY ON E THNIC AND SOCIAL EQUITY IN 25
SCHOOLS. 26
(2) ON OR BEFORE MAY 31, 2025, THE STATE BOARD SHALL ADOPT 27
AMERICAN STUDIES ACAD EMIC STANDARDS FOR E ACH GRADE LEVEL , TAKING INTO 28
CONSIDERATION THE AMERICAN STUDIES ACAD EMIC STANDARDS RECOM MENDED 29
BY THE ADVISORY BOARD UNDER SUBSECTION (E) OF THIS SECTION. 30
(3) BEFORE THE START OF T HE 2025–2026 SCHOOL YEAR , EACH 31
COUNTY BOARD SHALL I MPLEMENT A CURRICULU M BASED ON THE AMERICAN 32 SENATE BILL 888 7
STUDIES ACADEMIC STA NDARDS ADOPTED BY TH E STATE BOARD. 1
(H) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2025, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REPO RT 2
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 3
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON THE AMERICAN STUDIES ACAD EMIC STANDARDS 4
ADOPTED BY THE STATE BOARD AND THE IMPLEME NTATION OF THE AMERICAN 5
STUDIES ACADEMIC STA NDARDS AND THE ETHNIC AND SOCIAL EQ UITY POLICY 6
ADOPTED BY COUNTY BO ARDS. 7
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 8
1, 2022. It shall remain effective for a period of 4 years and, at the end of June 30, 2026, 9
this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 10
of no further force and effect. 11