EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0984*
SENATE BILL 984
F1 4lr0840
By: Senator Lewis Young
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Blueprint for Maryland’s Future – Alterations 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Secretary of Labor to prioritize activities, programs, and 3
services that contribute to meeting a certain statewide goal when administering the 4
business of the Maryland Department of Labor; requiring the State Board of 5
Education, rather than the Accountability and Implementation Board, to approve 6
certain specifications of teachers for spending time outside the classroom and 7
approving when a career ladder has become effective; authorizing a county board of 8
education to set a maximum cap and limit the dates of enrollment in institutions of 9
higher education for certain dually enrolled students; requiring the Accountability 10
and Implementation Board to study and report on certain issues related to publicly 11
provided prekindergarten and the educator career ladder in a certain manner; and 12
generally relating to alterations to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. 13
BY adding to 14
Article – Business Regulation 15
Section 2–104.1 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2015 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 18
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 19
Article – Education 20
Section 6–1002(a) and 7–205.1(a) and (c) 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 23
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 24
Article – Education 25
Section 6–1002(h), 6–1003(a) and (b)(2), 6–1004(b)(4), (c)(4), and (d)(5), 6–1006(b)(3) 26
and (c)(3), 6–1009(a), 7–205.1(g), and 15–127 27
Annotated Code of Maryland 28 2 SENATE BILL 984
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 1
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 2
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 3
Article – Business Regulation 4
2–104.1. 5
IN ESTABLISHING THE PLANNING OF ACTI VITIES, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES 6
OF THE DEPARTMENT , THE SECRETARY SHALL PRIORITIZE ACTIVITIE S, PROGRAMS, 7
AND SERVICES THAT CO NTRIBUTE TO MEETING THE STATEWIDE GOAL , 8
ESTABLISHED IN § 21–204 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE, THAT BY THE 2030–2031 9
SCHOOL YEAR , 45% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDE NTS COMPLETE THE HIGH SCHOOL 10
LEVEL OF A REGISTERE D APPRENTICESHIP OR AN INDUSTRY –RECOGNIZED 11
OCCUPATIONAL CREDENT IAL BEFORE THEY GRAD UATE. 12
Article – Education 13
6–1002. 14
(a) (1) On or before July 1, 2024, each county board shall implement a career 15
ladder that meets the requirements of this subtitle. 16
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the requirements of this 17
subtitle shall become effective in a county on the date the county board adopts a career 18
ladder under paragraph (1) of this subsection. 19
(h) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, teachers at each level or tier 20
of the career ladder shall teach in the classroom for a minimum percentage of their total 21
working time, as specified in this subtitle. 22
(2) The percentages referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall 23
become effective in phases over an 8–year period beginning July 1, 2025, as specified by a 24
county board on approval of the [Accountability and Implementation Board] STATE 25
BOARD. 26
(3) The following teachers shall be given priority for working time outside 27
the classroom as the percentages referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection are phased 28
in: 29
(i) Newly licensed teachers, particularly new teachers in 30
low–performing schools or schools that have a high concentration of students living in 31
poverty; and 32
(ii) Teachers in schools that: 33 SENATE BILL 984 3
1. Are low–performing; 1
2. Have a high concentration of students living in poverty; or 2
3. Have large achievement gaps between subpopulations of 3
students. 4
6–1003. 5
(a) Beginning with teachers listed under [§ 6–1002(f)(3)] § 6–1002(H)(3) of this 6
subtitle, as specified by the [State Board] COUNTY BOARD , a teacher on level one, two, or 7
three of the career ladder shall: 8
(1) Teach in the classroom on average 60% of the teacher’s working time; 9
and 10
(2) Spend the remaining time on other teacher activities, including: 11
(i) Improving instruction; 12
(ii) Identifying, working with, and tutoring students who need 13
additional help; 14
(iii) Working with the most challenging students; 15
(iv) Working with students living in concentrated poverty; and 16
(v) Leading or participating in professional learning. 17
(b) (2) Beginning with teachers listed under [§ 6–1002(f)(3)] § 6–1002(H)(3) 18
of this subtitle, as specified by the [State Board] COUNTY BOARD , an assistant principal 19
shall: 20
(i) Participate in classroom activity involving direct interactions 21
with students for at least 20% of their working hours; and 22
(ii) Spend a portion of the remaining time on other teacher related 23
activities, including: 24
1. Setting priorities for the subject level departments or 25
grade levels of the school; and 26
2. Fulfilling specialized roles, such as head of professional 27
development. 28
6–1004. 29 4 SENATE BILL 984
(b) (4) Beginning with teachers listed under [§ 6–1002(f)(3)] § 6–1002(H)(3) 1
of this subtitle as specified by the [State Board] COUNTY BOARD , a lead teacher shall: 2
(i) Teach in the classroom on average 50% of the teacher’s working 3
time; and 4
(ii) Spend the remaining time on other teacher activities, including: 5
1. Mentoring newer and struggling teachers and teachers 6
who are pursuing NBC; and 7
2. Leading workshops and demonstrations at the school 8
level. 9
(c) (4) Beginning with teachers listed under [§ 6–1002(f)(3)] § 6–1002(H)(3) 10
of this subtitle as specified by the [State Board] COUNTY BOARD , a distinguished teacher 11
shall: 12
(i) Teach in the classroom on average 40% of the teacher’s working 13
time; and 14
(ii) Spend the remaining time on other teacher activities, including: 15
1. Mentoring lead teachers; and 16
2. Leading workshops and demonstrations at the school and 17
district level. 18
(d) (5) Beginning with teachers listed under [§ 6–1002(f)(3)] § 6–1002(H)(3) 19
of this subtitle as specified by the [State Board] COUNTY BOARD , a professor distinguished 20
teacher shall teach in a classroom on average 20% of the teacher’s working time. 21
6–1006. 22
(b) (3) Beginning with teachers listed under [§ 6–1002(f)(3)] § 6–1002(H)(3) 23
of this subtitle as specified by the [State Board] COUNTY BOARD , a licensed principal is 24
encouraged to teach in the classroom for at least 10% of the principal’s working hours. 25
(c) (3) Beginning with teachers listed under [§ 6–1002(f)(3)] § 6–1002(H)(3) 26
of this subtitle as specified by the [State Board] COUNTY BOARD , a distinguished principal 27
is encouraged to teach in a classroom for at least 10% of the principal’s working hours. 28
6–1009. 29
SENATE BILL 984 5
(a) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, beginning on July 1, 2022, 1
teacher salary increases associated with the career ladder shall at a minimum include the 2
following: 3
(i) Becoming an NBC teacher – $10,000 salary increase; 4
(ii) An NBC teacher teaching at a low –performing school as 5
identified by the county board – $7,000 salary increase; 6
(iii) Becoming lead teacher – $5,000 salary increase; 7
(iv) Becoming distinguished teacher – $10,000 salary increase; 8
(v) Becoming professor distinguished teacher – $15,000 salary 9
increase; and 10
(vi) Becoming a distinguished principal – $15,000 salary increase. 11
(2) The teacher salary increases under paragraph (1) of this subsection do 12
not apply to paragraph (1)(iii) through (vi) of this subsection until § 6–1002(a) of this 13
subtitle becomes effective as recommended by the Department and approved by the 14
[Accountability and Implementation Board] STATE BOARD. 15
7–205.1. 16
(a) In this section, “CCR standard” means the college and career readiness 17
standards established under this section. 18
(c) (1) (i) It is the goal of the State that students enrolled in public school 19
shall meet the CCR standard before the end of the 10th grade and no later than the time 20
the student graduates from high school. 21
(ii) It is the goal of the State that each student enrolled in public 22
school, regardless of the student’s race, ethnicity, gender, address, socioeconomic status, or 23
the language spoken in the student’s home, shall have equitable access to college and career 24
readiness and shall meet the CCR standard at an equal rate. 25
(2) A student shall meet the CCR standard when the student meets a 26
standard in English language arts, mathematics, and, when practicable, science that 27
enables the student to be successful in entry level credit bearing courses or postsecondary 28
education training at a State community college. 29
(3) The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and the CCR standard established 30
under this section are not intended to alter the need for high quality programs and content 31
in fine arts, civics, physical education, and other areas that are necessary to provide a 32
holistic education and enable every student to be well–rounded and meet the CCR 33
standard. 34 6 SENATE BILL 984
(4) On or before January 1, 2022, the Department shall develop and begin 1
to implement a communication strategy to inform parents, students, educators, and the 2
wider public about the CCR standard developed under this section. 3
(g) (1) Beginning in the 2023–2024 school year, each county board shall 4
provide all students who meet the CCR standard required under subsection (c) of this 5
section with access to the following post college and career readiness (post–CCR) pathways, 6
at no cost to the student or the student’s parents, including the cost of any fees: 7
(i) A competitive entry college preparatory program, chosen by the 8
county board, consisting of: 9
1. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program; 10
2. The Cambridge AICE Diploma Program; or 11
3. A comparable program consisting of Advanced Placement 12
courses specified by the College Board; 13
(ii) [A] SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A 14
program that allows a student, through an early college program or dual enrollment at a 15
student’s high school and an institution of higher education to earn: 16
1. An associate degree; or 17
2. At least 60 credits toward a bachelor’s degree; and 18
(iii) A robust set of career and technology education programs that 19
are recommended by the CTE Skills Standards Advisory Committee and approved by the 20
CTE Committee and that allow students to complete: 21
1. A credit or noncredit certificate or license program, course, 22
or sequence of courses, including a program, course, or courses taken through dual 23
enrollment under § 15–127 of this article, at a secondary or postsecondary institution, 24
through an Advanced Placement course at a secondary institution, or through an 25
apprenticeship sponsor that leads to an industry recognized occupational–credential or 26
postsecondary certificate; 27
2. A registered apprenticeship program approved by the 28
Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning within the Maryland Department 29
of Labor; or 30
3. A youth apprenticeship program, under Title 18, Subtitle 31
18 of this article. 32
SENATE BILL 984 7
(2) Each public high school shall provide access to the programs described 1
under paragraph (1) of this subsection through that public school or through another public 2
school in the county. 3
(3) (i) Each student who meets the CCR standard required under 4
subsection (c) of this section shall be enrolled in at least one post–CCR pathway described 5
in paragraph (1) of this subsection. 6
(ii) Each student who enrolls in a post–CCR pathway shall remain 7
enrolled in the student’s public high school. 8
(iii) Each public high school shall provide to every student, regardless 9
of whether the student is enrolled in a post–CCR pathway, the full range of services to 10
which the student is entitled, including: 11
1. Personal, career, and academic advising; and 12
2. Counseling, in accordance with § 7–126 of this title, to help 13
the student choose one or more post–CCR pathways, or courses within a post–CCR 14
pathway, that fits with the student’s educational and career goals. 15
(iv) Priority for counseling and advising services described under 16
subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph shall be given to students who have not met the CCR 17
standard by the end of 10th grade. 18
(v) Any high school graduation requirements that a student does not 19
meet by the time the student has completed the assessment required under subsection (d) 20
of this section shall be provided within the post–CCR pathway the student chooses. 21
(4) A COUNTY BOARD MAY LIM IT THE NUMBER OF COURSE S THAT A 22
STUDENT DUALLY ENROL LED AT THE STUDENT ’S HIGH SCHOOL AND AT AN 23
INSTITUTION OF HIGHE R EDUCATION MAY ENROLL IN AT THE INSTITUTION O F 24
HIGHER EDUCATION AS PART OF THE POST–CCR PATHWAY IN ACCORDANC E WITH § 25
15–127 OF THIS ARTICLE. 26
[(4)] (5) (i) The State Board shall adopt regulations to carry out this 27
subsection. 28
(ii) The regulations shall include standards that: 29
1. Guarantee, to the extent practicable, statewide uniformity 30
in the quality of the post–CCR pathways; 31
2. Meet the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection; 32
and 33
8 SENATE BILL 984
3. Require high school graduation credit to be awarded for 1
any programs administered in accordance with this subsection. 2
15–127. 3
(a) (1) In this section, “dually enrolled student” means a student who is dually 4
enrolled in: 5
(i) A secondary school in the State; and 6
(ii) An institution of higher education in the State. 7
(2) “Dually enrolled student” includes a student enrolled in a credit or 8
noncredit certificate or license program, course, or sequence of courses that leads to 9
certification or licensure at an institution of higher education in the State. 10
(b) [A] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (E) OF THIS SECTION, A public 11
institution of higher education may not charge tuition to a dually enrolled student. 12
(c) [Subject] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (E) OF THIS SECTION 13
AND SUBJECT to subsection (d) of this section, for each dually enrolled student who is 14
enrolled in a public school in the county, the county board shall pay 75% of the cost of tuition 15
for a public institution of higher education in the State. 16
(d) (1) If there is an agreement before July 1, 2020, between a public school 17
and a public institution of higher education in which the public institution of higher 18
education charges less than 75% of the cost of tuition to a dually enrolled student, the 19
county board shall pay the cost of tuition under the existing agreement. 20
(2) Every 2 years, a public school and a public institution of higher 21
education may evaluate and modify an agreement made under paragraph (1) of this 22
subsection. 23
(E) (1) A COUNTY BOARD MAY SET A MAXIMUM CAP ON THE NUMBER OF 24
COURSES THAT A DUALL Y ENROLLED STUDENT M AY ENROLL IN AT AN I NSTITUTION 25
OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE. 26
(2) A COUNTY BOARD MAY LIM IT THE DATES DURING WHICH A 27
DUALLY ENROLLED STUD ENT MAY ENROLL IN CO URSES AT AN INSTITUT ION OF 28
HIGHER EDUCATION TO ALIGN WITH THE COUNTY BOAR D’S SCHOOL YEAR . 29
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That : 30
(a) The Accountability and Implementation Board, in consultation with the State 31
Department of Education, shall study the feasibility of providing publicly funded 32
prekindergarten, as currently defined in Title 7, Subtitle 1A of the Education Article. 33 SENATE BILL 984 9
(b) The Accountability and Implementation Board’s study shall include 1
examination of: 2
(1) an increased role for public prekindergarten providers, including: 3
(i) increases in funding for the Interagency Commission on School 4
Construction to local school systems to increase the number of spaces in which local school 5
systems are able to provide prekindergarten classes; and 6
(ii) alterations in the plans, rules, and guidelines adopted by the 7
Interagency Commission on School Construction for public prekindergarten–related 8
projects to increase the number of available spaces in public prekindergarten programs, 9
including plans to lease available spaces within a local school system and to allow converted 10
mobile trailers to serve as public prekindergarten spaces; 11
(2) the role of private prekindergarten providers, including: 12
(i) altering the per pupil allocation received by private 13
prekindergarten providers in § 5–229 of the Education Article; and 14
(ii) altering the requirement that at least 50% of eligible 15
prekindergarten slots be provided by eligible private prekindergarten providers; and 16
(3) any changes to statute, regulation, or guidelines necessary to better 17
provide publicly funded prekindergarten in the State. 18
(c) In conducting its study, the Accountability and Implementation Board’s 19
considerations shall comply with the State’s goal of providing publicly funded 20
prekindergarten to every family with children of eligible age that wishes to utilize 21
prekindergarten. 22
(d) On or before January 1, 2025, the Accountability and Implementation Board 23
shall report the results of its study and any recommendations to the Governor and, in 24
accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 25
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 26
(a) The Accountability and Implementation Board, in consultation with the 27
Maryland State Education Association, shall study the feasibility of the career ladder for 28
educators established under Title 6, Subtitle 10 of the Education Article. 29
(b) The Accountability and Implementation Board’s study shall include 30
examination of: 31
10 SENATE BILL 984
(1) the feasibility of allowing teachers to spend time outside the classroom 1
in the percentages required under Title 6, Subtitle 10 and whether any part of that 2
calculation should include working time that is outside the school year; 3
(2) whether school systems require additional personnel, such as 4
consulting teachers, in order to aid educators on the career ladder; 5
(3) if additional personnel or other methods of professional development 6
are necessary in order to make the career ladder function as intended, how the target per 7
pupil foundation amount required under § 5–212 of the Education Article should be 8
adjusted; and 9
(4) any changes to statute, regulation, or guidelines necessary to ensure 10
that the career ladder for educators works as intended. 11
(c) On or before January 1, 2025, the Accountability and Implementation Board 12
shall report the results of its study and any recommendations to the Governor and, in 13
accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 14
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 15
1, 2024. Sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and 1 month 16
and, at the end of June 30, 2025, Sections 2 and 3 of this Act, with no further action required 17
by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 18