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[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
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*hb1287*
HOUSE BILL 1287
F1, F2 (4lr0598)
ENROLLED BILL
— Ways and Means/Education, Energy, and the Environment —
Introduced by The Speaker and Delegates Atterbeary and Wilkins
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
State and County Superintendents of Schools – Employment Contracts – School 2
Leadership Course or Program 3
School Leadership Training Program – Alterations 4
FOR the purpose of requiring, beginning on a certain date, that an employment contract 5
for the State Superintendent of Schools, a county superintendent of schools, or the 6
Chief Executive Officer of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners include 7
a provision requiring the completion of a certain school leadership course or program 8
during a certain period of time; requiring a public institution of higher education 9
that offers a certain school leadership course or program in which the State 10
Superintendent, a county superintendent, or the Chief Executive Officer enrolls to 11
offer the enrollee the option to participate in a virtual format; and generally relating 12
to a school leadership course or program for the State Superintendent of Schools, 13
county superintendents of schools, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Baltimore 14
City Board of School Commissioners altering the school leadership training program 15 2 HOUSE BILL 1287
developed by the State Department of Education and the Accountability and 1
Implementation Board to require that certain individuals complete the training at 2
least once; combining two leadership trainings into a single training; providing for 3
the content of the school leadership training; and generally relating to the school 4
leadership training program. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Education 7
Section 2–302, 4–201, 4–201.1, and 4–304 6–124 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Education 13
2–302. 14
(a) The State Superintendent shall be appointed by the State Board for a term of 15
4 years beginning on July 1 after the Superintendent’s appointment and serves until a 16
successor is appointed and qualifies. 17
(b) The State Board shall fix the STATE Superintendent’s salary and pay it from 18
the appropriation for the expenses and maintenance of the Department. 19
(c) (1) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2024, A CONTRACT OF EMPLOY MENT 20
EXECUTED BETWEEN A STATE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE STATE BOARD FOR THE 21
STATE SUPERINTENDENT ’S INITIAL TERM OF OF FICE SHALL INCLUDE A PROVISION 22
THAT REQUIRES THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT TO COM PLETE, DURING THE TERM 23
OF THE CONTRACT , A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COURSE OR PROGRAM : 24
(I) OFFERED BY A PUBLIC I NSTITUTION OF HIGHER 25
EDUCATION IN THE STATE; OR 26
(II) ESTABLISHED UNDER § 6–124 OF THIS ARTICLE. 27
(2) A PUBLIC INSTITUTION O F HIGHER EDUCATION T HAT OFFERS A 28
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CO URSE OR PROGRAM IN W HICH THE STATE 29
SUPERINTENDENT ENROLL S SHALL OFFER THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT THE 30
OPTION TO PARTICIPAT E IN A VIRTUAL FORMA T. 31
(D) The State Superintendent shall: 32
(1) Be an experienced and competent educator; 33
HOUSE BILL 1287 3
(2) Be a graduate of an accredited college or university; 1
(3) Have at least 2 years of special academic and professional graduate 2
preparation in an accredited college or university; and 3
(4) Have at least 7 years of experience in teaching and administration. 4
[(d)] (E) (1) The State Board may remove the State Superintendent for: 5
(i) Immorality; 6
(ii) Misconduct in office; 7
(iii) Insubordination; 8
(iv) Incompetency; or 9
(v) Willful neglect of duty. 10
(2) Before removing the State Superintendent, the State Board shall send 11
the Superintendent a copy of the charges against the Superintendent and give the 12
Superintendent an opportunity within 10 days to request a hearing. 13
(3) If the State Superintendent requests a hearing within the 10–day 14
period: 15
(i) The State Board promptly shall hold a hearing, but a hearing 16
may not be set within 10 days after the State Board sends the State Superintendent a notice 17
of the hearing; and 18
(ii) The State Superintendent shall have an opportunity to be heard 19
publicly before the State Board in the Superintendent’s own defense, in person or by 20
counsel. 21
[(e)] (F) The State Board shall appoint a new State Superintendent to fill a 22
vacancy in that office for the remainder of the unexpired term. 23
4–201. 24
(a) (1) This section does not apply to Baltimore City. 25
(2) Subsections (b), (c), (d), and (f) of this section do not apply in Prince 26
George’s County. 27
(b) (1) The term of a county superintendent is 4 years beginning on July 1. A 28
county superintendent continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 29
4 HOUSE BILL 1287
(2) By February 1 of the year in which a term ends, the county 1
superintendent shall notify the county board whether the superintendent is a candidate for 2
reappointment. 3
(3) In the year in which a term begins, the county board shall appoint a 4
county superintendent between February 1 and June 30. However, if the county board 5
decides to reappoint the incumbent superintendent, the county board shall take final action 6
at a public meeting no later than March 1 of that year. 7
(4) If a county board is unable to appoint a county superintendent by July 8
1 of a year in which a term begins, the provisions of subsection (d) of this section apply. 9
(c) (1) An individual may not be appointed as county superintendent unless 10
the individual: 11
(i) Is eligible to be issued a certificate for the office by the State 12
Superintendent; 13
(ii) Has graduated from an accredited college or university; and 14
(iii) Has completed 2 years of graduate work at an accredited college 15
or university, including public school administration, supervision, and methods of teaching. 16
(2) (I) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2024, AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRA CT 17
EXECUTED BETWEEN A C OUNTY SUPERINTENDENT AND A COUNTY BOARD F OR THE 18
COUNTY SUPERINTENDEN T’S INITIAL TERM OF OF FICE SHALL INCLUDE A 19
PROVISION THAT REQUI RES THE COUNTY SUPER INTENDENT TO COMPLETE , DURING 20
THE TERM OF THE CONT RACT, A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COURSE OR PROGRAM : 21
1. OFFERED BY A PUBLIC I NSTITUTION OF HIGHER 22
EDUCATION IN THE STATE; OR 23
2. ESTABLISHED UNDER § 6–124 OF THIS ARTICLE. 24
(II) A PUBLIC INSTITUTION O F HIGHER EDUCATION THA T 25
OFFERS A SCHOOL LEAD ERSHIP COURSE OR PRO GRAM IN WHICH A COUN TY 26
SUPERINTENDENT ENROL LS SHALL OFFER THE C OUNTY SUPERINTENDENT THE 27
OPTION TO PARTICIPAT E IN A VIRTUAL FORMA T. 28
[(2)] (3) The appointment of a county superintendent is not valid unless 29
approved in writing by the State Superintendent. 30
[(3)] (4) If the State Superintendent disapproves an appointment, the 31
State Superintendent shall give the reasons for disapproval in writing to the county board. 32
HOUSE BILL 1287 5
(d) If a vacancy occurs in the office of county superintendent, the county board 1
shall appoint an interim county superintendent who serves until July 1 after the interim 2
county superintendent’s appointment. 3
(e) (1) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, the State Superintendent 4
or a county board may remove a county superintendent for: 5
(i) Immorality; 6
(ii) Misconduct in office; 7
(iii) Insubordination; 8
(iv) Incompetency; or 9
(v) Willful neglect of duty. 10
(2) (i) The State Superintendent may remove a county superintendent 11
under this subsection if the State Superintendent provides the county superintendent with: 12
1. The reason for removal, chosen from one or more of the 13
items in paragraph (1) of this subsection; 14
2. Documentation supporting the case for removal; and 15
3. The opportunity to request a hearing within 10 days before 16
the State Superintendent in accordance with this subsection. 17
(ii) The county superintendent may appeal the decision of the State 18
Superintendent to the State Board. 19
(3) If the county superintendent requests a hearing before the State 20
Superintendent within the 10–day period: 21
(i) The State Superintendent promptly shall hold a hearing, but a 22
hearing may not be set within 10 days after the State Superintendent sends the county 23
superintendent a notice of the hearing; and 24
(ii) The county superintendent shall have an opportunity to be heard 25
publicly before the State Superintendent in the county superintendent’s own defense, in 26
person or by counsel. 27
(4) (i) A county board may remove a county superintendent under this 28
subsection if the county board provides the county superintendent with: 29
1. The reason for removal, chosen from one or more of the 30
items in paragraph (1) of this subsection; 31 6 HOUSE BILL 1287
2. Documentation supporting the case for removal; and 1
3. The opportunity to request a hearing within 10 days before 2
the county board in accordance with this subsection. 3
(ii) The county superintendent may appeal the decision of the county 4
board to the State Board. 5
(f) On notification of pending criminal charges against a county superintendent 6
as provided under § 4–206 of this subtitle, the county board may suspend the county 7
superintendent with pay until the final disposition of the criminal charges. 8
4–201.1. 9
(a) This section applies only in Prince George’s County. 10
(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, the County 11
Superintendent of the Prince George’s County public school system shall be: 12
(1) Selected by the County Executive in accordance with subsection (c) of 13
this section; and 14
(2) Appointed by the county board after agreement on contract terms 15
negotiated by the chair of the county board. 16
(c) (1) The County Executive shall select a County Superintendent from a list 17
of three nominees recommended by a search committee that is comprised of: 18
(i) One member of the State Board, appointed by the State 19
Superintendent; and 20
(ii) Two residents of Prince George’s County, appointed by the 21
Governor. 22
(2) The search committee shall be chaired by a member selected by the 23
State Superintendent. 24
(d) (1) The term of the County Superintendent is 4 years beginning on July 1. 25
(2) The County Superintendent continues to serve until a successor is 26
appointed and qualifies. 27
(3) By February 1 of the year in which a term ends, the County 28
Superintendent shall notify the County Executive and the county board if the County 29
Superintendent is a candidate for reappointment. 30
HOUSE BILL 1287 7
(4) (i) In the year a term begins, the County Executive shall select a 1
County Superintendent between February 1 and June 1, and the county board shall 2
complete the appointment on or before June 30. 3
(ii) If the County Executive decides to select the incumbent County 4
Superintendent, the county board shall complete the reappointment no later than March 1 5
of that year. 6
(5) If the county board is unable to appoint a County Superintendent by 7
July 1 of the year a term begins, the provisions of subsection [(f)] (G) of this section apply. 8
(e) (1) An individual may not be appointed as County Superintendent unless 9
the individual: 10
(i) Is eligible to be issued a certificate for the office by the State 11
Superintendent; 12
(ii) Has graduated from an accredited college or university; and 13
(iii) Has completed 2 years of graduate work at an accredited college 14
or university, including public school administration, supervision, and methods of teaching. 15
(2) The appointment of the County Superintendent is not valid unless 16
approved in writing by the State Superintendent. 17
(3) If the State Superintendent disapproves an appointment, the State 18
Superintendent shall give the reasons for disapproval in writing to the county board and 19
the County Executive. 20
(F) (1) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2024, A CONTRACT OF EMPLOY MENT 21
EXECUTED BETWEEN THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT AND TH E COUNTY BOARD FOR 22
THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT ’S INITIAL TERM OF OF FICE SHALL INCLUDE A 23
PROVISION THAT REQUI RES THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT TO COM PLETE, 24
DURING THE TERM OF T HE CONTRACT , A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COURSE OR 25
PROGRAM: 26
(I) OFFERED BY A PUBLIC I NSTITUTION OF HIGHER 27
EDUCATION IN THE STATE; OR 28
(II) ESTABLISHED UNDER § 6–124 OF THIS ARTICLE. 29
(2) A PUBLIC INSTITUTION O F HIGHER EDUCATION T HAT OFFERS A 30
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CO URSE OR PROGRAM IN W HICH THE COUNTY 31
SUPERINTENDENT E NROLLS SHALL OFFER T HE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT THE 32
OPTION TO PARTICIPAT E IN A VIRTUAL FORMA T. 33
8 HOUSE BILL 1287
[(f)] (G) If a vacancy occurs in the office of County Superintendent, the County 1
Executive shall select and the county board shall appoint an interim County 2
Superintendent to serve until July 1 after the appointment. 3
[(g)] (H) On notification of pending criminal charges against the County 4
Superintendent as provided under § 4–206 of this subtitle, the county board may suspend 5
the County Superintendent with pay until the final disposition of the criminal charges. 6
4–304. 7
(a) There is a Chief Executive Officer of the board. 8
(b) The Chief Executive Officer shall: 9
(1) Be responsible for the overall administration of the Baltimore City 10
Public School System; 11
(2) Report directly to the board; 12
(3) Be a member of the cabinet of the Mayor; and 13
(4) Designate individuals with primary responsibility for each of the 14
following functions: 15
(i) Management and administration of the Baltimore City Public 16
School System; 17
(ii) Assessment and accountability of the academic performance of 18
the students in the Baltimore City Public School System; 19
(iii) Provision of services to students with disabilities in accordance 20
with federal and State law; 21
(iv) Development and implementation of initiatives for educational 22
reform; and 23
(v) Professional hiring and development. 24
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b)(4) of this section, the Chief 25
Executive Officer and the board shall be held accountable for the delegated functions. 26
(d) The board shall employ the Chief Executive Officer and establish the salary 27
of the Chief Executive Officer at an amount commensurate with the credentials, experience, 28
and prior positions of responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer. 29
HOUSE BILL 1287 9
(e) (1) The employment contract of the Chief Executive Officer shall provide, 1
at a minimum, that continued employment is contingent on demonstrable improvement in 2
the academic performance of the students in the Baltimore City Public School System and 3
the successful management of the Baltimore City public schools. 4
(2) (I) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2024, AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRA CT 5
EXECUTED BETWEEN THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND THE BOARD FOR THE 6
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S INITIAL TERM OF OFFICE SHALL INCLUDE A 7
PROVISION THAT REQUI RES THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO COMPLETE , 8
DURING THE TERM OF T HE CONTRACT , A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COURSE OR 9
PROGRAM: 10
1. OFFERED BY A PUBLIC I NSTITUTION OF HIGHER 11
EDUCATION IN THE STATE; OR 12
2. ESTABLISHED UNDER § 6–124 OF THIS ARTICLE. 13
(II) A PUBLIC INSTITUTION O F HIGHER EDUCATION T HAT 14
OFFERS A SCHOOL LEAD ERSHIP COURSE OR PRO GRAM IN WHICH THE CHIEF 15
EXECUTIVE OFFICER ENROLLS SHALL OFFER THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER THE 16
OPTION TO PARTICIPAT E IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT. 17
(f) The initial contract and any renewal may not exceed 4 years. 18
6–124. 19
(a) (1) The Department shall establish, in collaboration with the 20
Accountability and Implementation Board established under § 5–402 of this article, 21
[separate] A school leadership training [programs] PROGRAM for[: 22
(1) The] THE State Superintendent, [local school] COUNTY 23
superintendents, [and] senior instruction–related staff[; and 24
(2) Members], MEMBERS OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND 25
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD, MEMBERS of the State Board, members of county boards, 26
and school principals. 27
(2) (I) AN INDIVIDUAL LISTED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 28
SUBSECTION THE FOLLOWING INDIVID UALS SHALL COMPLETE THE S CHOOL 29
LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM AT LEAST ONCE: 30
1. THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT ; 31
2. A COUNTY SUPERINTENDEN T; AND 32
10 HOUSE BILL 1287
3. THE CHAIR AND VICE CH AIR OF THE STATE BOARD, A 1
COUNTY BOARD , AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD. 2
(II) THE INDIVIDUALS DESCR IBED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 3
SUBSECTION NOT REQUI RED TO COMPLETE THE TRAI NING UNDER SUBPARAGR APH 4
(I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH AR E, TO THE EXTENT PRACTI CABLE, ENCOURAGED TO 5
COMPLETE THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM. 6
(b) [Both programs] THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM shall: 7
(1) Be: 8
(i) For a duration of 12 to 24 months; 9
(ii) Cohort–based to encourage collaboration and shared learning, 10
INCLUDING THROUGH RE GIONAL GATHERINGS OF EDUCATION LEADERS AN D 11
OTHER MEETINGS WHEN APPROPRIATE ; 12
(iii) [Job–embedded] TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE, 13
JOB–EMBEDDED to allow for application of knowledge and techniques; 14
(iv) Tailored to program participants using self–diagnostics and 15
school–level diagnostics; [and] 16
(v) Evidence–based in accordance with the guidelines for the federal 17
Every Student Succeeds Act; and 18
(VI) PROVIDED THROUGH BOTH IN–PERSON AND VIRTUAL 19
SESSIONS; AND 20
(2) Include training on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, as defined in 21
§ 5–401 of this article. 22
(c) [A] THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TRAINING program [for school 23
superintendents and senior, instruction–related staff] shall include: 24
(1) A review of education in the United States relative to countries with top 25
performing education systems and the implications of high performance for students, the 26
economic security of the United States, and quality of life; 27
(2) A model for strategic thinking that will assist education leaders to 28
transform districts AND REDESIGN SCHOOLS under their leadership; 29
HOUSE BILL 1287 11
(3) Training to provide a working knowledge of research on how students 1
learn and the implications for instructional redesign, curriculum plans, and professional 2
learning; 3
(4) A research–based model for coaching school leaders AND 4
INSTRUCTIONAL COACHE S; [and] 5
(5) A REVIEW OF RESEARCH R EGARDING: 6
(I) THE BENEFITS T O STUDENTS FROM ACCE SS TO 7
HIGH–QUALITY AND DIVERSE TEACHERS; 8
(II) METHODS TO ATTRACT HI GHLY QUALIFIED TEACH ERS 9
FROM DIVERSE BACKGRO UNDS WHO REFLECT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE 10
STUDENTS THEY TEACH ; AND 11
(III) BEST PRACTICES FOR TE ACHER RETENTION , INCLUDING 12
RETENTION OF TEACHER S FROM DIVERSE BACKG ROUNDS; 13
[(5)] (6) Lessons in transformational leadership[.]; 14
[(d) A program for board of education members and school principals shall include: 15
(1)] (7) A method for organizing schools to achieve high performance, 16
including: 17
(i) Building instructional leadership teams; 18
(ii) Implementing career ladders for teachers; 19
(iii) Overseeing teacher induction and mentoring systems; and 20
(iv) Identifying, recruiting, and retaining high–quality AND 21
DIVERSE school leaders; 22
[(2) A model for strategic thinking that will assist school leaders in driving 23
redesign efforts in their schools; 24
(3)] (8) Training to provide a deep understanding of standards–aligned 25
instructional systems; 26
[(4) Training to provide a working knowledge of the research on how 27
students learn and the implications of this research for instructional redesign, curriculum, 28
and professional learning; 29
12 HOUSE BILL 1287
(5) A research–based model for instructional coaching; 1
(6)] (9) An overview of ethical leadership directly tied to the [school] 2
EDUCATIONAL leaders’ responsibility to drive equitable learning in their schools; and 3
(10) A REVIEW OF RESEARCH R EGARDING METHODS TO ATTRACT AND 4
RETAIN AN INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE . 5
[(7) Lessons in transformational leadership.] 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 7
1, 2024. 8
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.