EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0206*
HOUSE BILL 206
F5 3lr0447
By: Delegate Ivey
Introduced and read first time: January 20, 2023
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Early Childhood Education – Prekindergarten Programs – Montessori Schools 2
and Programs 3
FOR the purpose of altering the eligibility requirements for the Prekindergarten Expansion 4
Grant Program and publicly funded prekindergarten programs to include certain 5
operational requirements, staff credentials, and student–to–staff ratios for 6
Montessori schools and programs; and generally relating to the inclusion of 7
Montessori schools and programs in prekindergarten programs in the State. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Education 10
Section 7–101.2(a)(1), (5), and (6) and (b)(1) and 7–1A–01(a) and (c) through (e) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Education 15
Section 7–101.2(c) and 7–1A–04(a) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2022 Replacement Volume) 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
7–101.2. 22
(a) (1) In this section the following terms have the meanings indicated. 23
(5) “Program” means the Prekindergarten Expansion Grant Program. 24 2 HOUSE BILL 206
(6) “Qualified provider” means: 1
(i) If partnering with a county board under a memorandum of 2
understanding, a State accredited or nationally accredited child care program or a 3
nonpublic school approved by the Department to provide prekindergarten services; and 4
(ii) A county board. 5
(b) (1) There is a grant program known as the Prekindergarten Expansion 6
Grant Program in the State. 7
(c) (1) [Before] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 8
SUBSECTION, BEFORE approving qualified providers for prekindergarten services to 9
receive a grant under this section, a qualified provider shall certify to the Department that 10
for each classroom funded under this section the provider will: 11
[(1)] (I) Maintain a student–to–classroom personnel ratio of no more 12
than 10 to 1 with a maximum of 20 children per classroom; 13
[(2)] (II) Provide in each classroom at least one teacher certified in early 14
childhood education by the State and at least one teacher’s aide who has at least a high 15
school degree; 16
[(3)] (III) Operate an educational program for: 17
[(i)] 1. 5 days per week; 18
[(ii)] 2. 180 days per year, in accordance with the public school 19
calendar established by the local school board; and 20
[(iii) 1.] 3. A. For half–day programs, at least 2.5 hours per day; 21
or 22
[2.] B. For full–day programs, at least 6.5 hours per day; 23
and 24
[(4)] (IV) To receive a grant under this section, meet the requirements of § 25
7–1A–04 of this title. 26
(2) BEFORE APPROVING QUAL IFIED PROVIDERS WHO ARE 27
MONTESSORI SCHOOLS OR MONTESSORI PROGRAMS F OR PREKINDERGARTEN 28
SERVICES TO RECEIVE A GRANT UNDER THIS S ECTION, A QUALIFIED PROVIDER 29
SHALL CERTIFY TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT FOR E ACH CLASSROOM FUNDED UNDER 30
THIS SECTION THE PRO VIDER WILL: 31
HOUSE BILL 206 3
(I) MEET THE REQUIR EMENTS UNDER PARAGRA PH (1)(III) OF 1
THIS SUBSECTION ; 2
(II) MAINTAIN A STUDENT –TO–CLASSROOM PERSONNEL RATIO 3
OF NO MORE THAN 10 TO 1 FOR STUDENTS UNDER T HE AGE OF 5 YEARS AND NO 4
MORE THAN 15 TO 1 FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE AT LEAST 5 YEARS OLD; AND 5
(III) REQUIRE A CLASSROOM TEACHER TO BE CERTIFIED 6
BY: 7
1. THE ASSOCIATION MONTESSORI INTERNATIONALE , 8
USA; 9
2. THE AMERICAN MONTESSORI SOCIETY; OR 10
3. THE MONTESSORI ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR 11
TEACHER EDUCATION. 12
7–1A–01. 13
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 14
(c) “Eligible prekindergarten provider” includes an: 15
(1) Eligible public provider; and 16
(2) Eligible private provider. 17
(d) (1) “Eligible private provider” means a community–based early learning 18
program that: 19
(i) Is licensed in the State; 20
(ii) Does not charge more tuition for full–day prekindergarten than 21
the cost of quality; and 22
(iii) Meets the requirements under § 7–1A–04 of this subtitle. 23
(2) “Eligible private provider” includes the Ulysses Currie Head Start 24
Program under § 5–231 of this article. 25
(e) “Eligible public provider” means an early learning program that: 26
(1) Is provided by a county board at a public school; and 27
(2) Meets the requirements under § 7–1A–04 of this subtitle. 28 4 HOUSE BILL 206
7–1A–04. 1
(a) (1) [All] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 2
SUBSECTION, ALL eligible prekindergarten providers shall include structural elements 3
that are evidence–based and nationally recognized as important for ensuring program 4
quality, including: 5
[(1)] (I) Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year: 6
[(i)] 1. High staff qualifications, including teachers who, at a 7
minimum, hold: 8
[1.] A. State certification for teaching in early childhood 9
education; or 10
[2.] B. A bachelor’s degree in any field and are pursuing 11
residency through the Maryland Approved Alternative Preparation Program, which 12
includes early childhood coursework, clinical practice, and evidence of pedagogical content 13
knowledge; and 14
[(ii)] 2. Teaching assistants who have at least: 15
[1.] A. A Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate; or 16
[2.] B. An associate’s degree; 17
[(2)] (II) Professional development for all staff; 18
[(3)] (III) A student–to–classroom personnel ratio of no more than 10 to 1 19
in each class; 20
[(4)] (IV) Class sizes of no more than 20 students per classroom; 21
[(5)] (V) A full–day prekindergarten program; 22
[(6)] (VI) Inclusion of students with disabilities to ensure access to and full 23
participation in all program opportunities; 24
[(7)] (VII) For at least 1 year before a student’s enrollment in kindergarten, 25
learning environments that: 26
[(i)] 1. Are aligned with State Early Learning and Development 27
Standards; 28
[(ii)] 2. Use evidence–based curricula; and 29 HOUSE BILL 206 5
[(iii)] 3. Use instruction methods that are: 1
[1.] A. Developmentally appropriate; and 2
[2.] B. Culturally and linguistically responsive; 3
[(8)] (VIII) Individualized accommodations and supports for all students; 4
[(9)] (IX) Instructional staff salaries and benefits that are comparable to 5
the salaries and benefits of instructional staff employed by the county board of the county 6
in which the early learning program is located; 7
[(10)] (X) Program evaluation to ensure continuous program improvement; 8
[(11)] (XI) On–site or accessible comprehensive services for students; 9
[(12)] (XII) Community partnerships that promote access to comprehensive 10
services for families of students; and 11
[(13)] (XIII) Evidence–based health and safety standards. 12
(2) AN ELIGIBLE PR EKINDERGARTEN PROVID ER THAT IS A 13
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR MONTESSORI PROGRAM SH ALL INCLUDE ALL OF THE 14
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS LISTED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION E XCEPT 15
THE FOLLOWING : 16
(I) FOR STAFF QUALIFICATI ONS, THE ELIGIBLE 17
PREKINDERGARTEN PROV IDER SHALL EMPLOY TEACHERS WHO ARE CER TIFIED BY: 18
1. THE ASSOCIATION MONTESSORI INTERNATIONALE , 19
USA; 20
2. THE AMERICAN MONTESSORI SOCIETY; OR 21
3. THE MONTESSORI ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR 22
TEACHER EDUCATION; AND 23
(II) FOR THE STUDENT–TO–CLASSROOM PER SONNEL RATIO , 24
THE PREKINDERGARTEN PROVIDER SHALL MAINT AIN A STUDENT–TO–CLASSROOM 25
PERSONNEL RATIO OF N O MORE THAN 10 TO 1 FOR STUDENTS UNDER T HE AGE OF 5 26
YEARS AND NO MORE TH AN 15 TO 1 FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE AT LEAST 5 YEARS OLD. 27
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 28 6 HOUSE BILL 206
1, 2023. 1