WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 127
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Chapter 127
(House Bill 1287)
AN ACT concerning
State and County Superintendents of Schools – Employment Contracts – School
Leadership Course or Program
School Leadership Training Program – Alterations
FOR the purpose of requiring, beginning on a certain date, that an employment contract
for the State Superintendent of Schools, a county superintendent of schools, or the
Chief Executive Officer of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners include
a provision requiring the completion of a certain school leadership course or program
during a certain period of time; requiring a public institution of higher education
that offers a certain school leadership course or program in which the State
Superintendent, a county superintendent, or the Chief Executive Officer enrolls to
offer the enrollee the option to participate in a virtual format; and generally relating
to a school leadership course or program for the State Superintendent of Schools,
county superintendents of schools, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Baltimore
City Board of School Commissioners altering the school leadership training program
developed by the State Department of Education and the Accountability and
Implementation Board to require that certain individuals complete the training at
least once; combining two leadership trainings into a single training; providing for
the content of the school leadership training; and generally relating to the school
leadership training program.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Education
Section 2–302, 4–201, 4–201.1, and 4–304 6–124
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Education
2–302.
(a) The State Superintendent shall be appointed by the State Board for a term of
4 years beginning on July 1 after the Superintendent’s appointment and serves until a
successor is appointed and qualifies.
(b) The State Board shall fix the STATE Superintendent’s salary and pay it from
the appropriation for the expenses and maintenance of the Department.
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(c) (1) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2024, A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT
EXECUTED BETWEEN A STATE SUPERINTENDENT AND TH E STATE BOARD FOR THE
STATE SUPERINTENDENT ’S INITIAL TERM OF OF FICE SHALL INCLUDE A PROVISION
THAT REQUIRES THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT TO COM PLETE, DURING THE TERM
OF THE CONTRACT , A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COURSE OR PROGRAM :
(I) OFFERED BY A PUBLIC I NSTITUTION OF HIGHER
EDUCATION IN THE STATE; OR
(II) ESTABLISHED UNDER § 6–124 OF THIS ARTICLE.
(2) A PUBLIC INSTITUTION O F HIGHER EDUCATION T HAT OFFERS A
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CO URSE OR PROGRAM IN W HICH T HE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT ENROLL S SHALL OFFER THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT THE
OPTION TO PARTICIPAT E IN A VIRTUAL FORMA T.
(D) The State Superintendent shall:
(1) Be an experienced and competent educator;
(2) Be a graduate of an accredited college or university;
(3) Have at least 2 years of special academic and professional graduate
preparation in an accredited college or university; and
(4) Have at least 7 years of experience in teaching and administration.
[(d)] (E) (1) The State Board may remove the State Superintendent for:
(i) Immorality;
(ii) Misconduct in office;
(iii) Insubordination;
(iv) Incompetency; or
(v) Willful neglect of duty.
(2) Before removing the State Superintendent, the State Board shall send
the Superintendent a copy of the charges against the Superintendent and give the
Superintendent an opportunity within 10 days to request a hearing.
(3) If the State Superintendent requests a hearing within the 10–day
period: WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 127
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(i) The State Board promptly shall hold a hearing, but a hearing
may not be set within 10 days after the State Board sends the State Superintendent a notice
of the hearing; and
(ii) The State Superintendent shall have an opportunity to be heard
publicly before the State Board in the Superintendent’s own defense, in person or by
counsel.
[(e)] (F) The State Board shall appoint a new State Superintendent to fill a
vacancy in that office for the remainder of the unexpired term.
4–201.
(a) (1) This section does not apply to Baltimore City.
(2) Subsections (b), (c), (d), and (f) of this section do not apply in Prince
George’s County.
(b) (1) The term of a county superintendent is 4 years beginning on July 1. A
county superintendent continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(2) By February 1 of the year in which a term ends, the county
superintendent shall notify the county board whether the superintendent is a candidate for
reappointment.
(3) In the year in which a term begins, the county board shall appoint a
county superintendent between February 1 and June 30. However, if the county board
decides to reappoint the incumbent superintendent, the county board shall take final action
at a public meeting no later than March 1 of that year.
(4) If a county board is unable to appoint a county superintendent by July
1 of a year in which a term begins, the provisions of subsection (d) of this section apply.
(c) (1) An individual may not be appointed as county superintendent unless
the individual:
(i) Is eligible to be issued a certificate for the office by the State
Superintendent;
(ii) Has graduated from an accredited college or university; and
(iii) Has completed 2 years of graduate work at an accredited college
or university, including public school administration, supervision, and methods of teaching.
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(2) (I) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2024, AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRA CT
EXECUTED BETWEEN A C OUNTY SUPERINTENDENT AND A COUNTY BOARD F OR THE
COUNTY SUPERINTENDEN T’S INITIAL TERM OF OF FICE SHALL INCLUDE A
PROVISION THAT REQUI RES THE COUNTY SUPER INTENDENT TO COMPLET E, DURING
THE TERM OF THE CONT RACT, A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COURSE OR PROGRAM :
1. OFFERED BY A PUBLIC I NSTITUTION OF HIGHER
EDUCATION IN THE STATE; OR
2. ESTABLISHED UNDER § 6–124 OF THIS ARTICLE.
(II) A PUBLIC INSTITUTION O F HIGHER EDUCATION T HAT
OFFERS A SCHOOL LEAD ERSHIP COURSE OR PRO GRAM IN WHICH A COUN TY
SUPERINTENDENT ENROL LS SHALL OFFER THE C OUNTY SUPERINTENDENT THE
OPTION TO PARTICIPAT E IN A VIRTUAL FORMA T.
[(2)] (3) The appointment of a county superintendent is not valid unless
approved in writing by the State Superintendent.
[(3)] (4) If the State Superintendent disapproves an appointment, the
State Superintendent shall give the reasons for disapproval in writing to the county board.
(d) If a vacancy occurs in the office of county superintendent, the county board
shall appoint an interim county superintendent who serves until July 1 after the interim
county superintendent’s appointment.
(e) (1) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, the State Superintendent
or a county board may remove a county superintendent for:
(i) Immorality;
(ii) Misconduct in office;
(iii) Insubordination;
(iv) Incompetency; or
(v) Willful neglect of duty.
(2) (i) The State Superintendent may remove a county superintendent
under this subsection if the State Superintendent provides the county superintendent with:
1. The reason for removal, chosen from one or more of the
items in paragraph (1) of this subsection;
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 127
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2. Documentation supporting the case for removal; and
3. The opportunity to request a hearing within 10 days before
the State Superintendent in accordance with this subsection.
(ii) The county superintendent may appeal the decision of the State
Superintendent to the State Board.
(3) If the county superintendent requests a hearing before the State
Superintendent within the 10–day period:
(i) The State Superintendent promptly shall hold a hearing, but a
hearing may not be set within 10 days after the State Superintendent sends the county
superintendent a notice of the hearing; and
(ii) The county superintendent shall have an opportunity to be heard
publicly before the State Superintendent in the county superintendent’s own defense, in
person or by counsel.
(4) (i) A county board may remove a county superintendent under this
subsection if the county board provides the county superintendent with:
1. The reason for removal, chosen from one or more of the
items in paragraph (1) of this subsection;
2. Documentation supporting the case for removal; and
3. The opportunity to request a hearing within 10 days before
the county board in accordance with this subsection.
(ii) The county superintendent may appeal the decision of the county
board to the State Board.
(f) On notification of pending criminal charges against a county superintendent
as provided under § 4–206 of this subtitle, the county board may suspend the county
superintendent with pay until the final disposition of the criminal charges.
4–201.1.
(a) This section applies only in Prince George’s County.
(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, the County
Superintendent of the Prince George’s County public school system shall be:
(1) Selected by the County Executive in accordance with subsection (c) of
this section; and Ch. 127 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(2) Appointed by the county board after agreement on contract terms
negotiated by the chair of the county board.
(c) (1) The County Executive shall select a County Superintendent from a list
of three nominees recommended by a search committee that is comprised of:
(i) One member of the State Board, appointed by the State
Superintendent; and
(ii) Two residents of Prince George’s County, appointed by the
Governor.
(2) The search committee shall be chaired by a member selected by the
State Superintendent.
(d) (1) The term of the County Superintendent is 4 years beginning on July 1.
(2) The County Superintendent continues to serve until a successor is
appointed and qualifies.
(3) By February 1 of the year in which a term ends, the County
Superintendent shall notify the County Executive and the county board if the County
Superintendent is a candidate for reappointment.
(4) (i) In the year a term begins, the County Executive shall select a
County Superintendent between February 1 and June 1, and the county board shall
complete the appointment on or before June 30.
(ii) If the County Executive decides to select the incumbent County
Superintendent, the county board shall complete the reappointment no later than March 1
of that year.
(5) If the county board is unable to appoint a County Superintendent by
July 1 of the year a term begins, the provisions of subsection [(f)] (G) of this section apply.
(e) (1) An individual may not be appointed as County Superintendent unless
the individual:
(i) Is eligible to be issued a certificate for the office by the State
Superintendent;
(ii) Has graduated from an accredited college or university; and
(iii) Has completed 2 years of graduate work at an accredited college
or university, including public school administration, supervision, and methods of teaching. WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 127
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(2) The appointment of the County Superintendent is not valid unless
approved in writing by the State Superintendent.
(3) If the State Superintendent disapproves an appointment, the State
Superintendent shall give the reasons for disapproval in writing to the county board and
the County Executive.
(F) (1) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2024, A CONTRACT OF EMPLOY MENT
EXECUTED BETWEEN THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT AND TH E COUNTY BOARD FOR
THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT ’S INITIAL TERM OF OF FICE SHALL INCLUDE A
PROVISION THAT REQUI RES THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT TO COM PLETE,
DURING THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT , A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COURSE OR
PROGRAM:
(I) OFFERED BY A PUBLIC I NSTITUTION OF HIGHER
EDUCATION IN THE STATE; OR
(II) ESTABLISHED UNDER § 6–124 OF THIS ARTICLE.
(2) A PUBLIC INSTITUTION O F HIGHER EDUCATION T HAT OFFERS A
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COURSE OR PROGRAM IN WHICH THE COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENT ENROLL S SHALL OFFER THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT THE
OPTION TO PARTICIPAT E IN A VIRTUAL FORMA T.
[(f)] (G) If a vacancy occurs in the office of County Superintendent, the County
Executive shall select and the county board shall appoint an interim County
Superintendent to serve until July 1 after the appointment.
[(g)] (H) On notification of pending criminal charges against the County
Superintendent as provided under § 4–206 of this subtitle, the county board may suspend
the County Superintendent with pay until the final disposition of the criminal charges.
4–304.
(a) There is a Chief Executive Officer of the board.
(b) The Chief Executive Officer shall:
(1) Be responsible for the overall administration of the Baltimore City
Public School System;
(2) Report directly to the board;
(3) Be a member of the cabinet of the Mayor; and Ch. 127 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(4) Designate individuals with primary responsibility for each of the
following functions:
(i) Management and administration of the Baltimore City Public
School System;
(ii) Assessment and accountability of the academic performance of
the students in the Baltimore City Public School System;
(iii) Provision of services to students with disabilities in accordance
with federal and State law;
(iv) Development and implementation of initiatives for educational
reform; and
(v) Professional hiring and development.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b)(4) of this section, the Chief
Executive Officer and the board shall be held accountable for the delegated functions.
(d) The board shall employ the Chief Executive Officer and establish the salary
of the Chief Executive Officer at an amount commensurate with the credentials, experience,
and prior positions of responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer.
(e) (1) The employment contract of the Chief Executive Officer shall provide,
at a minimum, that continued employment is contingent on demonstrable improvement in
the academic performance of the students in the Baltimore City Public School System and
the successful management of the Baltimore City public schools.
(2) (I) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2024, AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRA CT
EXECUTED BETWEEN THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND THE BOARD FOR THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S INITIAL TERM OF OF FICE SHALL INCLUDE A
PROVISION THAT REQUI RES THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO COMPLETE ,
DURING THE TERM OF T HE CONTRACT , A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COURSE OR
PROGRAM:
1. OFFERED BY A PUBLIC I NSTITUTION OF HIGHER
EDUCATION IN THE STATE; OR
2. ESTABLISHED UNDER § 6–124 OF THIS ARTICLE.
(II) A PUBLIC INSTITUTION O F HIGHER EDUCATION T HAT
OFFERS A SCHOOL LEAD ERSHIP COURSE OR PRO GRAM IN WHICH THE CHIEF WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 127
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EXECUTIVE OFFICER ENROLLS SHALL OFFER THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER THE
OPTION TO PARTICIPAT E IN A VIRTUAL FORMA T.
(f) The initial contract and any renewal may not exceed 4 years.
6–124.
(a) (1) The Department shall establish, in collaboration with the
Accountability and Implementation Board established under § 5–402 of this article,
[separate] A school leadership training [programs] PROGRAM for[:
(1) The] THE State Superintendent, [local school] COUNTY
superintendents, [and] senior instruction–related staff[; and
(2) Members], MEMBERS OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD, MEMBERS of the State Board, members of county boards,
and school principals.
(2) (I) AN INDIVIDUAL LISTED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS
SUBSECTION THE FOLLOWING INDIVID UALS SHALL COMPLETE THE S CHOOL
LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM AT LEAST ONCE:
1. THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT ;
2. A COUNTY SUPERINTENDEN T; AND
3. THE CHAIR AND VICE CH AIR OF THE STATE BOARD, A
COUNTY BOARD , AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD.
(II) THE INDIVIDUALS DESCR IBED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS
SUBSECTION NOT REQUI RED TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING UNDER SUBPA RAGRAPH
(I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH AR E, TO THE EXTENT PRACTI CABLE, ENCOURAGED TO
COMPLETE THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM.
(b) [Both programs] THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM shall:
(1) Be:
(i) For a duration of 12 to 24 months;
(ii) Cohort–based to encourage collaboration and shared learning,
INCLUDING THROUGH RE GIONAL GATHERINGS OF EDUCATION LEADERS AN D
OTHER MEETINGS WHEN APPROPRIATE ;
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(iii) [Job–embedded] TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE,
JOB–EMBEDDED to allow for application of knowledge and techniques;
(iv) Tailored to program participants using self–diagnostics and
school–level diagnostics; [and]
(v) Evidence–based in accordance with the guidelines for the federal
Every Student Succeeds Act; and
(VI) PROVIDED THROUGH BOTH IN–PERSON AND VIRTUAL
SESSIONS; AND
(2) Include training on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, as defined in
§ 5–401 of this article.
(c) [A] THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TRAINING program [for school
superintendents and senior, instruction–related staff] shall include:
(1) A review of education in the United States relative to countries with top
performing education systems and the implications of high performance for students, the
economic security of the United States, and quality of life;
(2) A model for strategic thinking that will assist education leaders to
transform districts AND REDESIGN SCHOOLS under their leadership;
(3) Training to provide a working knowledge of research on how students
learn and the implications for instructional redesign, curriculum plans, and professional
learning;
(4) A research–based model for coaching school leaders AND
INSTRUCTIONAL COACHE S; [and]
(5) A REVIEW OF RESEARCH R EGARDING:
(I) THE BENEFITS TO STUDE NTS FROM ACCESS TO
HIGH–QUALITY AND DIVERSE TEACHERS;
(II) METHODS TO ATTRACT HI GHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS
FROM DIVERSE BACKGRO UNDS WHO REFLECT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE
STUDENTS THEY TEACH ; AND
(III) BEST PRACTICES FOR TE ACHER RETENTION , INCLUDING
RETENTION OF TEACHER S FROM DIVERSE BACKG ROUNDS;
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[(5)] (6) Lessons in transformational leadership[.];
[(d) A program for board of education members and school principals shall include:
(1)] (7) A method for organizing schools to achieve high performance,
including:
(i) Building instructional leadership teams;
(ii) Implementing career ladders for teachers;
(iii) Overseeing teacher induction and mentoring systems; and
(iv) Identifying, recruiting, and retaining high–quality AND
DIVERSE school leaders;
[(2) A model for strategic thinking that will assist school leaders in driving
redesign efforts in their schools;
(3)] (8) Training to provide a deep understanding of standards–aligned
instructional systems;
[(4) Training to provide a working knowledge of the research on how
students learn and the implications of this research for instructional redesign, curriculum,
and professional learning;
(5) A research–based model for instructional coaching;
(6)] (9) An overview of ethical leadership directly tied to the [school]
EDUCATIONAL leaders’ responsibility to drive equitable learning in their schools; and
(10) A REVIEW OF RESEARCH R EGARDING METHODS TO ATTRACT AND
RETAIN AN INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE .
[(7) Lessons in transformational leadership.]
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June
1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, April 25, 2024.