EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
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Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
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*hb0075*
HOUSE BILL 75
F2 (4lr0895)
ENROLLED BILL
— Appropriations/Education, Energy, and the Environment —
Introduced by Delegate Ebersole
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
Higher Education – Teacher Development and Retention Program – Definition 2
Alterations 3
FOR the purpose of altering the definition of “institution of initial eligibility” to include 4
community colleges as eligible institutions as part of the criteria for applicants for 5
the Teacher Development and Retention Program; altering certain school years for 6
participation in the Program; altering the evaluation requirements for the Program; 7
authorizing the Teacher Development and Retention Fund to be used for 8
administrative expenses for the Program; altering the termination date of the 9
Program; and generally relating to the Teacher Development and Retention 10
Program. 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Education 13
Section 18–2701, 18–2703(a) and (b)(1), 18–2705, and 18–2706 14 2 HOUSE BILL 75
Annotated Code of Maryland 1
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 2
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 3
Article – Education 4
Section 18–2702(a) through (c) 5
Annotated Code of Maryland 6
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Chapter 627 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2023 9
Section 4 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
18–2701. 14
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 15
(b) “Eligible individual” means an individual who is: 16
(1) Enrolled in the first or second year at an institution of initial eligibility; 17
and 18
(2) Interested in pursuing a career in the teaching profession. 19
(c) “Fund” means the Teacher Development and Retention Fund established 20
under this subtitle. 21
(d) “Institution of initial eligibility” means [an]: 22
(1) AN institution of higher education in the State where at least 40% of 23
the attendees receive federal Pell Grants; OR 24
(2) A COMMUNITY COLLEGE ESTABLI SHED UNDER TITLE 16 OF THIS 25
ARTICLE. 26
(e) “Program” means the Teacher Development and Retention Program 27
established under this subtitle. 28
18–2702. 29
(a) (1) There is a Teacher Development and Retention Program. 30 HOUSE BILL 75 3
(2) The Teacher Development and Retention Program is a pilot program 1
designed to incentivize a cohort of students to pursue a career in the teaching profession. 2
(b) (1) The purpose of the Program is to provide support to eligible individuals 3
who ultimately pledge to fulfill a service obligation as a teacher employed full–time in a 4
high–needs school, grade level, or content area in the State in which there is a shortage of 5
teachers, as identified by the Department. 6
(2) The Program shall provide financial support to eligible individuals 7
interested in pursuing a career in the teaching profession, beginning by offering eligible 8
individuals a one–time stipend for participation in an experiential learning opportunity in 9
a classroom and concluding by placing those individuals in high–needs schools, grade 10
levels, or content areas. 11
(c) The Office shall establish eligibility criteria for the Program, including 12
requirements for an applicant to: 13
(1) Be enrolled in the first or second year at an institution of initial 14
eligibility in an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree program; and 15
(2) Before receiving an educator internship stipend under § 18–2703 of this 16
subtitle, pledge to fulfill a service obligation as a teacher employed full–time in a 17
high–needs school, grade level, or content area in which there is a shortage of teachers, as 18
identified by the Department, for a minimum of 2 years. 19
18–2703. 20
(a) (1) In each school year from the [2023–2024] 2024–2025 school year 21
through the [2025–2026] 2026–2027 school year, a recipient who is selected for support 22
under the Program shall receive an initial stipend to support the recipient’s participation 23
in an experiential learning opportunity in a public school or publicly funded 24
prekindergarten classroom. 25
(2) The experiential learning opportunity shall: 26
(i) Occur within the first or second year of the recipient’s enrollment 27
in an institution of initial eligibility; and 28
(ii) Contribute to the education of the students in the classroom in 29
which the recipient participates. 30
(3) The purpose of the initial stipend awarded under this subsection is to 31
nurture in the recipient a passion for becoming a teacher. 32
(4) If the institution of initial eligibility has a written agreement with a 33
public partner school or publicly funded prekindergarten program for the establishment of 34 4 HOUSE BILL 75
a training practicum under § 6–120 of this article, then the recipient’s experiential learning 1
opportunity shall be in a classroom within the partner school. 2
(5) The Office shall determine the amount of the initial stipends awarded 3
under this subsection. 4
(b) (1) In each school year from the [2026–2027] 2027–2028 school year 5
through the [2028–2029] 2029–2030 school year, a Program recipient shall be eligible for 6
an internship stipend if the Program recipient: 7
(i) Is currently enrolled in a teacher preparation program at an 8
institution of higher education in the State that, through its course of study leads to a 9
Maryland professional teacher’s certificate; 10
(ii) Is currently engaged in an internship or a practicum providing 11
direct experience working with students in a public school or publicly funded 12
prekindergarten program as part of the recipient’s course of study; 13
(iii) Continues to make satisfactory progress toward a degree and 14
maintain the standards of the institution; and 15
(iv) Pledges to fulfill a service obligation for 2 years as a teacher 16
employed full–time in a high–needs school, grade level, or content area in which there is a 17
shortage of teachers, as identified by the Department under paragraph (4) of this 18
subsection. 19
18–2705. 20
(a) On or before July 1, 2028, 2029, the Commission shall [hire an independent 21
consultant to evaluate] CONDUCT AN EVALUATIO N OF the effectiveness of the Program 22
in attracting new teachers to the profession. 23
(b) On or before January 1, 2029, 2030, the Commission shall report the results 24
of the evaluation to the Governor, and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 25
Government Article, the General Assembly. 26
18–2706. 27
(a) There is a Teacher Development and Retention Fund. 28
(b) The purpose of the Fund is to provide support to eligible individuals who are 29
interested in pursuing a career in the teaching profession and who ultimately pledge to 30
fulfill a service obligation as a teacher employed full–time in a high–needs school, grade 31
level, or content area in which there is a shortage of teachers. 32
(c) The Commission shall administer the Fund. 33 HOUSE BILL 75 5
(d) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of 1
the State Finance and Procurement Article. 2
(2) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the 3
Comptroller shall account for the Fund. 4
(e) The Fund consists of: 5
(1) Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; 6
(2) Interest earnings of the Fund; and 7
(3) Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the 8
Fund. 9
(f) (1) The Fund [may] SHALL be used [only] to administer the Program and 10
provide support to recipients under the Program. 11
(2) THE FUND MAY BE USED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPEN SES FOR 12
THE PROGRAM. 13
(g) (1) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same 14
manner as other State money may be invested. 15
(2) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. 16
(h) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State 17
budget. 18
Chapter 627 of the Acts of 2023 19
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 20
1, 2023. Section 2 of this Act shall remain effective for a period of [6] 7 years and, at the end 21
of June 30, [2029] 2030, Section 2 of this Act, with no further action required by the General 22
Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 23
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 24
1, 2024. 25