EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0583*
HOUSE BILL 583
F1 5lr2058
By: Delegates Vogel and Miller
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Primary and Secondary Education – Virtual Schools – Alterations 2
FOR the purpose of requiring each county board of education to establish a virtual school; 3
providing a certain standard for the criteria for enrollment in a virtual school 4
established by the State Department of Education or a county board; providing that 5
a certain outreach campaign be conducted equitably; and generally relating to 6
virtual schools. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Education 9
Section 7–1402(a) and 7–1403 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Education 15
7–1402. 16
(a) (1) (I) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and 17
subject to the approval of the Department, a county board [may] SHALL establish one 18
virtual school for the elementary, middle, and high school grade bands. 19
(II) A COUNTY BOARD THAT DETERMINES THAT IT I S UNABLE TO 20
OFFER A VIRTUAL SCHO OL TO STUDENTS IN TH E COUNTY ON ITS OWN IS 21
ENCOURAGED TO COLLAB ORATE WITH ONE OR MO RE OTHER COUNTY BOAR DS TO 22
JOINTLY ESTABLISH A VIRTUAL SCHOOL . 23
2 HOUSE BILL 583
(2) The Department may provide preliminary authorization to a county 1
board to establish one additional virtual school on a showing of just cause, as determined 2
by the Department. 3
(3) The Department may revoke approval of a virtual school if during the 4
previous school year the virtual school fails to meet the standards established by the 5
Department in regulation. 6
(4) (i) A county board may appeal a denial or revocation of approval for 7
the establishment of a virtual school to the State Board for adjudication during a public 8
hearing. 9
(ii) The State Board shall develop an appeals process to carry out the 10
provisions of this paragraph. 11
7–1403. 12
(a) A student who is eligible for enrollment in a public school in the State is 13
eligible to enroll in a virtual school. 14
(b) (1) THE CRITERIA ESTABLIS HED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR A COUNT Y 15
BOARD FOR ENROLLMENT IN A VIRTUAL SCHOOL SHALL BE REASONABLE AND MAY 16
NOT UNDULY INTERFERE WITH AN APPLICANT ’S ABILITY TO ENROLL IN A VIRTUAL 17
SCHOOL. 18
(2) In addition to the criteria established by the Department or a county 19
board, an application for enrollment in a virtual school shall require an applicant to 20
describe why instruction in a virtual learning environment will lead to successful academic 21
outcomes for the applicant. 22
(c) (1) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, not more than 23
10% of the students who would otherwise attend a single public school in the county in any 24
school year may enroll in a virtual school established by a county board. 25
(ii) A sudden decrease in enrollment in a single public school that 26
results in 10% or more of the students who would otherwise attend that public school 27
attending a virtual school established by a county board is not a violation of this paragraph. 28
(2) The Department may authorize a county board to exceed the cap under 29
paragraph (1) of this subsection on a showing of just cause. 30
(d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, if a county board 31
receives more applications than there are available spaces in a virtual school, the county 32
board shall admit all students on a lottery basis. 33
(2) A county board shall give greater weight to a student’s lottery status as 34
a part of a lottery held under paragraph (1) of this subsection based on demographic 35 HOUSE BILL 583 3
diversity under subsection (e) of this section and any other criteria established by the 1
county board. 2
(e) To the extent practicable, the student body of a virtual school shall reflect the 3
socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity of the students enrolled in the 4
public school system in the county. 5
(f) (1) The county board shall develop an EQUITABLE outreach campaign to 6
provide information to the public on the availability of the virtual school option. 7
(2) The EQUITABLE outreach campaign shall be designed to encourage 8
applications from students who meet the intent of subsection (e) of this section, including 9
the production of materials and communications in languages spoken by more than the 10
percentage of the student population in the local school system determined appropriate by 11
the county board. 12
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 13
1, 2025. 14