EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1373*
HOUSE BILL 1373
F1 5lr3231
By: Delegates Ghrist, Roberson, Roberts, and Young
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Education – Virtual Schools – Operation by For–Profit Entities 2
FOR the purpose of repealing a provision of law prohibiting a county board of education 3
from contracting with a for–profit entity to operate or administer a virtual school; 4
and generally relating to the operation or administration of virtual schools. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Education 7
Section 7–1402 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 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
7–1402. 14
(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subject to 15
the approval of the Department, a county board may establish one virtual school for the 16
elementary, middle, and high school grade bands. 17
(2) The Department may provide preliminary authorization to a county 18
board to establish one additional virtual school on a showing of just cause, as determined 19
by the Department. 20
(3) The Department may revoke approval of a virtual school if during the 21
previous school year the virtual school fails to meet the standards established by the 22
Department in regulation. 23
2 HOUSE BILL 1373
(4) (i) A county board may appeal a denial or revocation of approval for 1
the establishment of a virtual school to the State Board for adjudication during a public 2
hearing. 3
(ii) The State Board shall develop an appeals process to carry out the 4
provisions of this paragraph. 5
(b) A virtual school may not include classes for prekindergarten or kindergarten 6
students. 7
(c) A virtual school is subject to all applicable federal and State laws and 8
regulations governing the operation of a public school. 9
(d) Each approved virtual school shall have a unique school code assigned by the 10
Department. 11
(e) [(1)] A county board may [not] contract with a for–profit entity[, but may 12
contract with] OR a nonprofit entity[,] to operate or administer a virtual school for the 13
county board. 14
[(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection may not be construed 15
to prohibit a county board from contracting with a for–profit entity for goods and services 16
for a virtual school.] 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 18
1, 2025. 19