WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 303
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Chapter 303
(House Bill 821)
AN ACT concerning
Prince George’s County – Student Support – Specialist Networks and Success
Action Plans
(Student Supports and Success Act)
PG 502–24
FOR the purpose of establishing a Student Support Specialist Network consisting of certain
school–based personnel at each public high school in Prince George’s County;
requiring the Prince George’s County Board of Education to develop a certain
template using certain guidelines; requiring each Student Support Specialist
Network in the county to develop, approve, and implement a certain plan subject to
review and approval by the Prince George’s County Board of Education; and
generally relating to Student Support Specialist Networks and Student Support
Success Action Plans in Prince George’s County.
BY adding to
Article – Education
Section 7–452
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
7–452.
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.
(2) “NETWORK” MEANS A STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST
NETWORK.
(3) “PLAN” MEANS A STUDENT SUPPORT SUCCESS ACTION PLAN.
(4) “TEMPLATE” MEANS THE TEMPLATE D EVELOPED BY THE PRINCE
GEORGE’S COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION USED BY A STUDENT SUPPORT
SPECIALIST NETWORK.
Ch. 303 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY.
(C) THERE IS A STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST NETWORK IN EACH PUBLI C
HIGH SCHOOL IN THE C OUNTY.
(D) EACH NETWORK SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING MEMBER S, IF
APPLICABLE:
(1) THE VICE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL;
(2) PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL –BASED COUNSELORS ;
(3) SCHOOL–BASED PSYCHOLOGISTS ;
(4) SCHOOL–BASED NURSES ;
(5) LICENSED CLINICAL SOC IAL WORKERS;
(6) CRISIS INTERVENTION RESOURCE TEACHERS;
(7) CAREER COACHES ;
(8) COMMUNITY SCHOOL COOR DINATORS;
(9) SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFIC ERS; AND
(10) SCHOOL SECURITY EMPLO YEES.
(E) (1) ON OR BEFORE AUGUST DECEMBER 31, 2024, THE PRINCE
GEORGE’S COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL DEVEL OP, APPROVE, AND
DISSEMINATE A TEMPLA TE FOR A STUDENT SUPPORT SUCCESS ACTION PLAN TO
BE USED BY EACH NETWORK.
(2) THE TEMPLATE FOR A PLAN D EVELOPED UNDER THIS
SUBSECTION SHALL INC LUDE METRICS TO MEAS URE AND CONCRETE STE PS TO
ACHIEVE IMPROVEMENTS IN:
(I) THE NUMBER OF STUDENT S WHO HAVE ACCESS TO
BEHAVIORAL AND MENTA L HEALTH SUPPORTS ;
(II) THE RATIO OF LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK ERS,
LICENSED PROFESSIONA L COUNSELORS , CRISIS INTERVENTION RESOURCE
TEACHERS, AND CLINICAL THERAPI STS TO STUDENTS ;
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 303
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(III) REFERRALS OF STUDENTS TO MENTAL HEALTH SER VICES,
NURSES, CAREER COUNSELING , AND FOOD PANTRIES ;
(IV) COMMUNITY SCHOOL ASSESSMENT RESULTS;
(V) THE USE OF RESTORATIV E APPROACHES IN ADDR ESSING
STUDENT MISCONDUCT ;
(VI) THE USE OF TRAUMA –INFORMED APPROACHES TO A
STUDENT IN DISTRESS ;
(VII) THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL –BASED ARRESTS ;
(VIII) THE NUMBER OF STUD ENT DISCIPLINARY REF ERRALS
ISSUED;
(IX) THE NUMBER OF SUSPENS IONS;
(X) REFERRALS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE
SERVICES; AND
(XI) THE NUMBER OF EXPULSI ONS FOR NONVIOLENT B EHAVIOR.
(3) IN ADDITION TO THE ME TRICS REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (2)
OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE TEMPLATE FOR A P LAN DEVELOPED UNDER THIS
SUBSECTION SHALL ALS O ADDRESS:
(I) STRENGTHENING SCHOOL CULTURE, CLIMATE, AND
COMMUNITY ;
(II) FOSTERING COOPERATION AND COORDINATION BET WEEN
NETWORKS;
(III) ENSURING STUDENTS IN CRISIS ARE SUPPORTED ;
(IV) REDUCING OUT –OF–SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS A ND
EXPULSIONS;
(V) INCREASING ACCESS TO AND KNOWLEDGE OF BEH AVIORAL
HEALTH SUPPORTS ;
(VI) REDUCING IN –SCHOOL VIOLENCE , GANG–RELATED
ACTIVITY, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ;
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(VII) CULTIVATING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS OF
UNDERSTANDING BETWEE N SCHOOL PERSONNEL , SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFI CERS,
SECURITY PERSONNEL , AND STUDENTS ; AND
(VIII) STRENGTHENING THE NET WORK OF SERVICES FOR
STUDENTS AND STAFF W HO ARE IN CRISIS.
(F) SUBJECT TO SUBSE CTION (G) OF THIS SECTION, EACH NETWORK SHALL
COLLECTIVELY DEVELOP , COMPLETE, AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN UTILIZING THE
APPROVED COUNTY BOAR D TEMPLATE.
(G) (1) BEFORE IMPLEMENTING A PLAN IN ACCORDANCE W ITH
SUBSECTION (F) OF THIS SECTION , EACH NETWORK SHALL SUB MIT THE PLAN TO
THE COUNTY BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
(2) THE DEADLINE FOR SUBM ISSION SHALL BE DETE RMINED BY THE
COUNTY BOARD .
(H) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2025, AND ON OR BEFORE EAC H JULY 1
THEREAFTER , EACH NETWORK SHALL REPORT THE RESULTS OF THE
IMPLEMENTATI ON OF THE NETWORK’S PLAN TO THE COUNTY BOARD.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, April 25, 2024.