EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0429*
SENATE BILL 429
F1 5lr0454
CF HB 504
By: The President (By Request – Administration) and Senators Charles, Kagan,
King, Lam, and West
Introduced and read first time: January 20, 2025
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation and Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 12, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act 2
FOR the purpose of repealing certain provisions of law relating to the Interstate Agreement 3
on Qualifications of Educational Personnel; altering the definitions of target per 4
pupil foundation amount, collaborative time per pupil amount, and compensatory 5
education per pupil amount, English learner per pupil amount, special education per 6
pupil amount, growth in the target per pupil foundation amount, and change in the 7
per pupil amount for certain fiscal years; altering the source of funds for the 8
Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund to include the interest earnings of the 9
Academic Excellence Fund; directing county boards of education to provide certain 10
funding to local workforce development boards to support the Career Counseling 11
Program for Middle and High School Students; altering a certain reporting 12
requirement of local workforce development boards; requiring the Accountability and 13
Implementation Board to report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the 14
effectiveness of the Career Counseling Program for Middle and High School 15
Students; freezing certain increases in the Concentration of Poverty School Grant 16
Program for certain fiscal years, altering and adding methods for determining a 17
certain limitation on education funding increases under certain circumstances; 18
authorizing certain county boards of education to spend Concentration of Poverty 19
School Grant Program grants on behalf of certain schools subject to certain criteria, 20
and requiring the State Department of Education to conduct a certain evaluation of 21
the Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program; altering certain minimum 22
school funding reporting requirements; requiring the Accountability and 23
Implementation Board to establish a waiver process from compliance with the 24 2 SENATE BILL 429
minimum school funding requirements; establishing the Collaborative Time 1
Innovation Demonstration Grant in the Department; modifying the school 2
leadership training program; authorizing the Department to establish a national 3
teacher recruitment campaign for certain years; establishing the Maryland Teacher 4
Relocation Incentive Grant in the Department; delaying the phase–in of the 5
minimum percentage of time that teachers on a certain career ladder must teach in 6
a classroom beginning on a certain date; altering mandated appropriations to the 7
Coordinated Community Supports Partnership Fund; providing that, for certain 8
school years, certain provisions relating to the procurement and use of certain digital 9
tools do not apply under certain circumstances; altering the definition of wraparound 10
services to include additional services provided by community schools; authorizing a 11
certain office in the Department to hire staff to support the Director of Community 12
Schools; altering the requirements of an implementation plan for community schools; 13
requiring local school systems to develop certain countywide community school 14
implementation plans; establishing the Academic Excellence Program and the 15
Academic Excellence Fund in the Department; altering the purpose and eligibility 16
criteria of the Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program and altering the 17
distribution and use of Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program grants; requiring 18
the Department to consult with a certain entity to support the development and 19
implementation of grow–your–own programs; altering certain plans and 20
requirements that a certain collaborative must develop or provide; prohibiting a local 21
school system from reducing the compensation of certain teacher candidates; 22
providing that certain provisions of law regarding the issuance of an initial teaching 23
certificate do not apply to certain teachers under certain circumstances; entering into 24
the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact for the purpose of authorizing regulated 25
teachers who hold multistate licenses to teach in each member state; establishing 26
requirements for multistate licensure; establishing the Interstate Teacher Mobility 27
Compact Commission and its powers and duties; providing for the withdrawal from 28
the Compact; requiring the Department to contract with an independent entity to 29
conduct a certain study of funding special education by a certain date; and generally 30
relating to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. 31
BY repealing 32
Article – Education 33
Section 6–601 through 6–604 and the subtitle “Subtitle 6. Interstate Agreement on34
Qualifications of Educational Personnel” 35
Annotated Code of Maryland 36
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 37
BY repealing 38
Chapter 36 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2021, as amended by Chapter 39
55 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2021 40
Section 19 41
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 42
Article – Education 43 SENATE BILL 429 3
Section 5–201(a), 5–206(a), 5–222(a)(1), 5–224(a)(1), 6–1002(a)(1), 7–447.1(b)(1) and 1
(p)(1) and (3), 7–910(a)(1) and (2), 8–313(a)(1), 8–3A–09(a)(1), 8–710(a)(1), and 2
18–27A–05 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Education 7
Section 5–201(s), 5–206(f), 5–213, 5–222(a)(3), 5–223, 5–224(a)(3), 5–225, 5–234(b) 8
and (c), 5–406(f), 6–124, 6–126, 6–1002(h), 7–447.1(p)(9), 8–313(a)(3) and (5), 9
8–3A–09(a)(3) and (4), 8–710(a)(2) and (4), 9.9–101 through 9.9–104, 10
18–27A–01 through 18–27A–04, and 18–27A–06 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
BY adding to 14
Article – Education 15
Section 5–210, 5–211, 5–211.1, 6–123.1, 6–130, and 6–131; 6–601 to be under the 16
new subtitle “Subtitle 6. Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact”; and 9.12–101 17
through 9.12–104 6–1101 through 6–1106 to be under the new title subtitle 18
“Title 9.12 Subtitle 11. Academic Excellence Program”; and 7–910(a–1) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 21
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 22
Article – State Finance and Procurement 23
Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 26
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 27
Article – State Finance and Procurement 28
Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)204. and 205. 29
Annotated Code of Maryland 30
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 31
BY adding to 32
Article – State Finance and Procurement 33
Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)206. 34
Annotated Code of Maryland 35
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 36
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 37
Chapter 717 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2024 38
Section 8(85) and (86) 39
BY adding to 40 4 SENATE BILL 429
Chapter 717 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2024 1
Section 8(87) 2
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 3
That Section(s) 6–601 through 6–604 and the subtitle “Subtitle 6. Interstate Agreement on 4
Qualifications of Educational Personnel” of Article – Education of the Annotated Code of 5
Maryland be repealed. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER EN ACTED, That Section(s) 19 of Chapter 36 of 7
the Acts of the General Assembly of 2021, as amended by Chapter 55 of the Acts of the 8
General Assembly of 2021, be repealed. 9
SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 10
as follows: 11
Article – Education 12
5–201. 13
(a) In this subtitle, except as otherwise provided, the following words have the 14
meanings indicated. 15
(s) “Target per pupil foundation amount” means: 16
(1) For fiscal year 2022, $7,991; 17
(2) For fiscal year 2023, $8,310; 18
(3) For fiscal year 2024, $8,642; 19
(4) For fiscal year 2025, $8,789; 20
(5) For fiscal year 2026, [$9,226] $9,063; 21
(6) For fiscal year 2027, [$9,732] $9,398; 22
(7) For fiscal year 2028, [$10,138] $9,626; 23
(8) For fiscal year 2029, [$10,564] $9,866; 24
(9) For fiscal year 2030, [$11,004] $10,276; 25
(10) For fiscal year 2031, [$11,442] $10,683; 26
(11) For fiscal year 2032, [$11,898] $11,104; 27
SENATE BILL 429 5
(12) For fiscal year 2033, [$12,365] $11,536; [and] 1
(13) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2034, $11,946; 2
(14) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2035, $12,369; 3
(15) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2036, $12,808; 4
(16) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2037, $13,259; AND 5
[(13)] (17) For subsequent fiscal years, the target per pupil foundation 6
amount for the prior fiscal year increased by the inflation adjustment rounded to the 7
nearest whole dollar. 8
5–206. 9
(a) In this section, “Fund” means the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund. 10
(f) The Fund consists of: 11
(1) Revenue distributed to the Fund under Title 9, Subtitles 1D and 1E of 12
the State Government Article and §§ 2–4A–02, 2–605.1, and 2–1303 of the Tax – General 13
Article; 14
(2) Money appropriated in the State budget for the Fund; 15
(3) INTEREST EARNED BY TH E ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FUND 16
ESTABLISHED UNDER § 9.12–103 § 6–1105 OF THIS ARTICLE; and 17
[(3)] (4) Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit 18
of the Fund. 19
5–210. 20
(A) IN THIS SECTION, “GENERAL FUND ESTIMATE ” MEANS THE ESTIMATE 21
OF GENERAL FUND REVENUES BY THE BOARD OF REVENUE ESTIMATES AS 22
REQUIRED BY § 6–106 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 23
(B) BEGINNING DECEMBER 1, 2024, AND EACH DECEMBER 1 THEREAFTER 24
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER , IF THE DECEMBER 25
GENERAL FUND ESTIMATE IN THE DECEMBER BOARD OF REVENUE ESTIMATES 26
REPORT FOR THAT FISC AL YEAR IS MORE THAN 3.75% BELOW THE MARCH GENERAL 27
FUND ESTIMATE IN THE MARCH BOARD OF REVENUE ESTIMATES REPORT FOR 28
THAT FISCAL YEAR , NOTWITHSTA NDING ANY OTHER PROV ISION OF LAW: 29
6 SENATE BILL 429
(1) PER PUPIL FORMULA INC REASES IN MAJOR EDUC ATION AID 1
REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE SHALL BE 0%; AND 2
(2) ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDIN G INCREASES REQUIRED UNDER THIS 3
SUBTITLE SHALL BE LI MITED TO 0%. 4
(C) THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUDE THE LIMITATI ON ON INCREASES 5
REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (B) OF THIS SECTION IN T HE ANNUAL BUDGET BIL L 6
IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION IMME DIATELY FOLLOWING TH E DECEMBER 7
BOARD OF REVENUE ESTIMATES REPORT . 8
5–211. 9
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO THE GOVERNOR’S ANNUAL BUDGET BILL FOR 10
FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2029. 11
(B) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER PROVISION OF LA W, IF THE SECRETARY 12
OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT CERTIFIES THAT FEDERAL FUNDS R ECEIVED BY 13
THE STATE ARE REDUCED BY AT LEAST 3.75% DURING THE CURRENT F ISCAL YEAR, 14
THEN: 15
(1) PER PUPIL FORMULA INC REASES IN MAJOR EDUC ATION AID 16
REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE SHALL BE 0%; AND 17
(2) ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDIN G INCREASES REQUIRED UNDER THIS 18
SUBTITLE SHALL BE LI MITED TO 0%. 19
(C) THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E THE LIMIT ATION ON INCREASES 20
REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (B) OF THIS SECTION IN T HE ANNUAL BUDGET BIL L 21
IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION IMME DIATELY FOLLOWING TH E 22
CERTIFICATION OF THE FEDERAL FUND REDUCTI ON. 23
5–211.1. 24
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 25
INDICATED. 26
(2) “FEDERAL FUND REDUCTIO N” MEANS, ON CERTIFICATION BY THE 27
SECRETARY OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT , A CUMULATIVE REDUCTI ON OF 28
FEDERAL FUNDS RECEIV ED BY THE STATE DURING THE CURR ENT FISCAL YEAR . 29
(3) “GENERAL FUND REDUCTION ” MEANS T HE GENERAL FUND 30
ESTIMATE IN THE DECEMBER BOARD OF REVENUE ESTIMATES REPORT FOR THAT 31 SENATE BILL 429 7
FISCAL YEAR IS BELOW THE MARCH GENERAL FUND ESTIMATE IN THE MARCH 1
BOARD OF REVENUE ESTIMATES REPORT FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR . 2
(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO THE GOVERNOR’S ANNUAL BUDGET BILL FOR 3
FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2029. 4
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER PROVISION OF LA W, IF THERE IS A 5
CUMULATIVE GENERAL FUND REDUCTION AND FE DERAL FUND REDUCTION OF AT 6
LEAST 5%, THEN: 7
(1) PER PUPIL FORMULA INC REASES IN MAJOR EDUC ATION AID 8
REQUIRED UNDER THIS S UBTITLE SHALL BE 0%; AND 9
(2) ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDIN G INCREASES REQUIRED UNDER THIS 10
SUBTITLE SHALL BE LI MITED TO 0%. 11
(D) THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E THE LIMITATION ON INCREASES 12
REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (C) OF THIS SECTION IN T HE ANNUAL BUDGET BILL 13
IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION IMME DIATELY FOLLOWING TH E 14
CERTIFICATION OF THE FEDERAL FUND REDUCTI ON. 15
5–213. 16
(a) Each fiscal year, the State shall distribute the State share of the foundation 17
program to each county board. 18
(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, each fiscal year, 19
the county board shall distribute to each school the minimum school funding amount for 20
the foundation program calculated under § 5–234 of this subtitle. 21
(c) (1) Each county board shall distribute to the local workforce development 22
board for the county the following amount multiplied by the enrollment count in the county: 23
(i) For fiscal year 2024, $62; and 24
(ii) For each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026 FISCAL YEARS 2025 25
THROUGH 2028, the prior fiscal year amount increased by the inflation adjustment. 26
(2) The funds distributed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be 27
used to support the Career Counseling Program for Middle and High School Students 28
established under § 7–126 § 7–127 of this article that is provided collaboratively by the 29
workforce development board, the school, any other relevant State or local agencies, and 30
employers. 31
8 SENATE BILL 429
(3) On or before June 30, 2024, and in each of the next 2 4 fiscal years, the 1
local workforce development board, in collaboration with the county board and any other 2
relevant State or local agencies, shall report to the Accountability and Implementation 3
Board established under Subtitle 4 of this title on the use of the funds and the impact of 4
the funds on providing career counseling. 5
(4) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2027, THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND 6
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD SHALL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN 7
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL 8
ASSEMBLY ON THE EFFE CTIVENESS OF THE CAREER COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR 9
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, INCLUDING: 10
(I) WHETHER CAREER COUNSE LING SERVICES HAVE 11
ADEQUATELY PREPARED STUDENTS FOR POST –COLLEGE AND CAREER R EADINESS 12
PATHWAYS, INCLUDING: 13
1. PERCENTAGE OF STUDENT S WHO COMPLETED A 14
CAREER READINESS ASS ESSMENT; 15
2. STUDENT SELF –REPORTED CONFIDENCE LEVELS IN 16
CAREER READINESS ; 17
3. NUMBER OF STUDENTS PA RTICIPATING IN CAREE R 18
COUNSELING SESSIONS AND COMPLETING A 6–YEAR CAREER PLAN BY THE END OF 19
8TH GRADE; 20
4. NUMBER OF STUDENTS WH O PARTICIPATED IN 21
CAREER EXPLORATION A CTIVITIES, INCLUDING FIELD TRIP S, COLLEGE OR 22
TRAINING CENTER VISI TS, CAREER FAIRS , OR REGISTERED APPREN TICESHIP 23
PROGRAMS; 24
5. NUMBER OF STUDENTS WH O IDENTIFIED 25
POST–COLLEGE AND CAREER R EADINESS PATHWAY PREFERENC ES; AND 26
6. PERCENTAGE OF STUDENT S APPLYING TO 27
POSTSECONDARY EDUCAT ION, CAREER TRAINING PROG RAMS, OR REGISTERED 28
APPRENTICESHIPS ; 29
(II) WHETHER STUDENTS HAVE RECEIVED HIGH –QUALITY 30
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A RESULT OF THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING: 31
1. NUMBER OF STUDENTS PA RTICIPATING IN 32
REGISTERED APPRENTIC ESHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, JOB SHADOWING , OR OTHER 33
WORKPLACE OPPORTUNIT IES FACILITATED BY T HE PROGRAM; 34 SENATE BILL 429 9
2. EMPLOYER SATISFACTION RATINGS OF STUDENT 1
PREPAREDNESS AND PER FORMANCE ; 2
3. NUMBER OF STUDENTS SE CURING A REGISTERED 3
APPRENTICESHIP OR PA RT–TIME EMPLOYMENT RELA TED TO THEIR FIELD O F 4
INTEREST AFTER ENGAG ING WITH THE PROGRAM BEFORE GRADUA TION; AND 5
4. NUMBER OF NEW EMPLOYE R COLLABORATIONS EAC H 6
YEAR; AND 7
(III) IDENTIFYING LONG–TERM METRICS FOR THE PROGRAM TO 8
DETERMINE THE PROGRAM’S EFFECTIVENESS IN G UIDING HIGH SCHOOL S TUDENTS 9
TOWARD SATISFACTORY CAREER PATHS AFTER C OMPLETING HIGH SCHOO L, 10
INCLUDING CONSIDERAT ION OF: 11
1. EMPLOYMENT RATE OF PR OGRAM GRADUATES 12
WITHIN 6 TO 12 MONTHS POST GRADUATI ON; 13
2. PERCENTAGE OF STUDENT S EMPLOYED IN THEIR 14
FIELD OF INTEREST OR RELATED INDUSTRY WIT HIN 1 YEAR OF GRADUATION ; 15
3. STUDENT–REPORTED JOB SATISFA CTION AND 16
CAREER ALIGNMENT BAS ED ON FOLLOW –UP SURVEYS; 17
4. COLLEGE PERSIST ENCE AND COMPLETION RATES 18
FOR STUDENTS WHO PAR TICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM; AND 19
5. REDUCTION IN THE NUMB ER OF STUDENTS WHO A RE 20
UNEMPLOYED OR NOT PA RTICIPATING IN A POS TSECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAM 21
COMPARED TO PRE –PROGRAM DATA . 22
(d) (1) In this subsection, “collaborative time per pupil amount” means: 23
(i) For fiscal year [2026] 2030, $163; 24
(ii) For fiscal year [2027] 2031, $334; 25
(iii) For fiscal year [2028] 2032, $512; 26
(iv) For fiscal year [2029] 2033, $698; 27
(v) For fiscal year [2030] 2034, $891; 28
(vi) For fiscal year [2031] 2035, $1,093; 29 10 SENATE BILL 429
(vii) For fiscal year [2032] 2036, $1,306; 1
(viii) For fiscal year [2033] 2037, $1,527; and 2
(ix) For each fiscal year thereafter, the collaborative time per pupil 3
amount in the prior fiscal year increased by the inflation adjustment. 4
(2) The collaborative time per pupil amount multiplied by the enrollment 5
count in each county shall be distributed to and expended by schools in each county in 6
accordance with Title 6, Subtitle 10 of this article and the county’s collaborative time 7
implementation plan approved by the Accountability and Implementation Board. 8
5–222. 9
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 10
(3) (I) [“Compensatory] FOR FISCAL YEARS 2022 THROUGH 2025, 11
“COMPENSATORY education per pupil amount” means the following proportions of the 12
target per pupil foundation amount: 13
[(i)] 1. For fiscal year 2022, 91%; 14
[(ii)] 2. For fiscal year 2023, 89%; 15
[(iii)] 3. For fiscal year 2024, 87%; AND 16
[(iv)] 4. For fiscal year 2025, 86%[;]. 17
(II) BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2026, “COMPENSATORY 18
EDUCATION PER PUPIL AMOUNT” MEANS: 19
[(v)] 1. For fiscal year 2026, [85%] $7,842; 20
[(vi)] 2. For fiscal year 2027, [80%] $7,786; 21
[(vii)] 3. For fiscal year 2028, [78%] $7,908; 22
[(viii)] 4. For fiscal year 2029, [76%] $8,029; 23
[(ix)] 5. For fiscal year 2030, [76%] $8,363; 24
[(x)] 6. For fiscal year 2031, [75%] $8,582; 25
[(xi)] 7. For fiscal year 2032, [71%] $8,448; [and] 26
SENATE BILL 429 11
[(xii)] 8. For fiscal year 2033 [and each fiscal year thereafter, 73%], 1
$9,026; AND 2
9. FOR SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS, THE 3
COMPENSATORY EDUCATI ON PER PUPIL AMOUNT FOR THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR 4
INCREASED BY THE INF LATION ADJUSTMENT RO UNDED TO THE NEAREST WHOLE 5
DOLLAR. 6
5–223. 7
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 8
(2) “Community school” means a community school under Title 9.9 of this 9
article. 10
(3) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, 11
“concentration of poverty level” means the average percentage of eligible students of the 12
school’s enrollment for the 3 prior school years rounded to the nearest whole percent. 13
(ii) If the 3 prior school years includes the 2020–2021 school year, 14
“concentration of poverty level” means: 15
1. The sum of the percentage of eligible students of the 16
school’s enrollment for the 4 prior school years minus the 2020–2021 school year percentage 17
of eligible students; divided by 18
2. Three; and 19
3. Rounded to the nearest whole percent. 20
(4) (i) “Eligible school” means: 21
1. For the personnel grant, a public school, including a public 22
charter school, with a concentration of poverty level of: 23
A. For fiscal year 2020, at least 80%; 24
B. For fiscal year 2021, at least 75%; 25
C. For fiscal year 2022, at least 70%; 26
D. For fiscal year 2023, at least 65%; 27
E. For fiscal year 2024, at least 60%; and 28
12 SENATE BILL 429
F. For fiscal year 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, at 1
least 55%; and 2
2. For the per pupil grant, a public school, including a public 3
charter school, with a concentration of poverty level of: 4
A. For fiscal year 2022, at least 80%; 5
B. For fiscal year 2023, at least 75%; 6
C. For fiscal year 2024, at least 70%; 7
D. For fiscal year 2025, at least 65%; 8
E. For fiscal year 2026, at least 60%; and 9
F. For fiscal year 2027, and each fiscal year thereafter, at 10
least 55%. 11
(ii) “Eligible school” includes an alternative option program in the 12
local school system if the students in the program are not included in the count of eligible 13
students for another program or school to determine eligibility for the concentration of 14
poverty grant. 15
(iii) “Eligible school” does not include a school that is eligible to 16
receive funding under this section but has closed. 17
(5) “Eligible student” means the compensatory education enrollment as 18
defined in § 5–222 of this subtitle in the second prior fiscal year rounded to the nearest 19
whole number. 20
(6) “Locally funded county” means a county board that receives a 21
compensatory education State share under § 5–221(c)(1)(ii) of this subtitle. 22
(7) “Needs assessment” means the assessment completed under § 9.9–104 23
of this article. 24
(8) “Per pupil grant amount” means, for all eligible schools in the county, 25
the per pupil amount for each eligible school calculated under subsection (d) of this section 26
multiplied by the number of eligible students in the school. 27
(9) “Per pupil maximum amount” means: 28
(i) For fiscal year 2022, $3,374.48; and 29
(ii) For each subsequent fiscal year, the prior fiscal year amount 30
increased by the inflation adjustment. 31 SENATE BILL 429 13
(10) “Program” means the Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program 1
established under this section. 2
(11) “Sliding scale adjustment factor” means: 3
(i) For fiscal year 2022, $7,422.33; and 4
(ii) For each subsequent fiscal year, the prior fiscal year amount 5
increased by the inflation adjustment. 6
(12) “Sliding scale upper limit” means: 7
(i) For fiscal year 2022, $13,495.15; and 8
(ii) For each subsequent fiscal year, the prior fiscal year amount 9
increased by the inflation adjustment. 10
(13) “State funded county” means a county that is not a locally funded 11
county. 12
(14) “Wraparound services” includes the wraparound services defined under 13
§ 9.9–101 of this article. 14
(b) (1) There is a Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program in the State. 15
(2) The purpose of the Program is to provide grants to eligible schools with 16
a high concentration of eligible students. 17
(3) The Program consists of the: 18
(i) Personnel grant; and 19
(ii) Per pupil grant. 20
(c) (1) (i) [1.] For fiscal year 2022, the State shall distribute a personnel 21
grant to each county board equal to $248,833 for each eligible school in the county. 22
[2.] (II) In each subsequent fiscal year, the personnel grant 23
equals the personnel grant in the prior fiscal year increased by the inflation adjustment. 24
[(ii)] (III) Except as provided in [subparagraph (iii) of this 25
paragraph] SUBSECTION (G) OF THIS SECTION , each county board shall distribute 26
directly to each eligible school the amount provided under paragraph (1)(i) AND (II) of this 27
subsection. 28
14 SENATE BILL 429
[(iii) 1. Except as provided in subsubparagraph 2 of this 1
subparagraph, if a local school system has at least 40 eligible schools, the county board 2
may, on behalf of eligible schools, expend no more than 50% of the funds distributed by the 3
State under this paragraph, provided that a plan is developed in consultation with the 4
eligible schools that ensures that the requirements of paragraphs (2) through (8) of this 5
subsection are met and the plan is submitted to the Accountability and Implementation 6
Board in accordance with § 5–402 of this title. 7
2. Subsubparagraph 1 of this subparagraph does not apply 8
to a public charter school unless the public charter school chooses to participate in the 9
plan.] 10
(2) (i) Each eligible school shall employ one community school 11
coordinator staff position in the eligible school. 12
(ii) 1. Each eligible school shall provide full–time coverage by at 13
least one professional health care practitioner during school hours, including any extended 14
learning time, who is a licensed physician, a licensed physician’s assistant, or a licensed 15
registered nurse, practicing within the scope of the health care practitioner’s license. 16
2. A health care practitioner providing coverage under this 17
subparagraph may work under a school health services program, a county health 18
department, or a school–based health center. 19
3. This subparagraph may not be construed to: 20
A. Require that an eligible school hire a full–time health care 21
practitioner staff position; or 22
B. Preclude the hiring of any other health care practitioners 23
that meet the needs of the students. 24
(3) Each eligible school shall use the personnel grant to fund the 25
requirements under paragraph (2) of this subsection. 26
(4) If the personnel grant provided to an eligible school exceeds the cost to 27
employ the positions and provide the coverage required under paragraph (2) of this 28
subsection, the eligible school may only use the excess funds to: 29
(i) Provide wraparound services to the students enrolled in the 30
eligible school; 31
(ii) Complete the needs assessment; and 32
(iii) In fiscal years 2021 through 2025, provide the requirements 33
under COMAR Title 13A, Subtitle 04, including 13A.04.16.01. 34
SENATE BILL 429 15
(5) (i) If an eligible school, prior to receiving a personnel grant, employs 1
an individual in a position or has the coverage required under paragraph (2) of this 2
subsection, at least the same amount of funds shall be provided to the eligible school to be 3
used for those positions or coverage after receiving a personnel grant. 4
(ii) If an eligible school satisfies subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, 5
then the school shall use the personnel grant in accordance with paragraph (4) of this 6
subsection. 7
(6) The community school coordinator shall be subject to the requirements 8
under § 9.9–104 of this article. 9
(7) A county that provides a school nurse, school health services, or 10
community school services from funds outside of those made in the fiscal year 2019 local 11
appropriation to the county board shall continue to provide at least the same resources to 12
an eligible school through fiscal year 2030. 13
(8) If an eligible school becomes ineligible, the school shall remain entitled 14
to the personnel grant for two school years after the school loses eligibility but may not 15
receive the per pupil grant. 16
(9) The personnel and per pupil grant may be used through fiscal year 2027 17
to provide the programs required under COMAR Title 13A, Subtitle 04, including 18
13A.04.16.01. 19
(d) (1) (i) 1. Eligible schools with a concentration of poverty level of at 20
least 80% shall receive a per pupil grant beginning in fiscal year 2022. 21
2. All other eligible schools shall receive the per pupil grant 22
1 year after becoming eligible and on completion of the needs assessment required under § 23
9.9–104 of this article. 24
(ii) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, each 25
eligible school shall receive a per pupil grant each fiscal year equal to the product of the 26
total number of eligible students in the school and the per pupil amount based on the sliding 27
scale under paragraph (2) of this subsection. 28
(2) (i) The sliding scale per pupil amount shall be calculated as 29
provided in this paragraph. 30
(ii) For schools with a concentration of poverty level less than or 31
equal to 55%, the per pupil amount is $0. 32
(iii) For schools with a concentration of poverty level greater than 33
55% but less than 80%, the per pupil amount is equal to the product of the concentration of 34
poverty level and the sliding scale upper limit minus the sliding scale adjustment factor. 35
16 SENATE BILL 429
(iv) For schools with a concentration of poverty level equal to or 1
greater than 80% the per pupil amount is the maximum per pupil amount. 2
(3) Except as provided in paragraph [(4)] (5) of this subsection, each 3
eligible school shall receive the following proportion of the per pupil grant calculated under 4
paragraph (2) of this subsection rounded to the nearest whole dollar: 5
(i) For the 1st year of eligibility, 16%; 6
(ii) For the 2nd year of eligibility, 32%; 7
(iii) For the 3rd year of eligibility, 37%; 8
(iv) For the 4th year of eligibility, 55%; 9
(v) For the 5th year of eligibility, 66%; 10
(vi) For the 6th year of eligibility, 75%; and 11
(vii) For the 7th year of eligibility and each year of eligibility 12
thereafter, 100%. 13
(4) (I) FOR FISCAL YEARS 2027 AND 2028, INCREASES IN THE 14
PROPORTION OF THE PE R PUPIL AMOUNT FOR EACH ELIG IBLE SCHOOL 15
CALCULATED UNDER PAR AGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL PAUSE AT THE 16
PROPORTION ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS RECEIVED IN FISCAL YEAR 2026. 17
(II) BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2029, THE INCREASES IN THE 18
PROPORTION OF THE PE R PUPIL AMOUNT F OR EACH ELIGIBLE SCH OOL SHALL 19
RESUME BASED ON THE AMOUNT THE ELIGIBLE SCHOOL WOULD HAVE RE CEIVED IN 20
FISCAL YEAR 2027 AS CALCULATED UNDER PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 21
[(4)] (5) Beginning in fiscal year [2030] 2032, each eligible school shall 22
receive 100% of the per pupil grant calculated under paragraph (2) of this subsection 23
rounded to the nearest whole dollar. 24
(e) (1) For a locally funded county each fiscal year, the State shall distribute 25
the State share of the per pupil grant amount to each county board. 26
(2) For a State funded county: 27
(i) The State shall distribute 100% of the per pupil grant amount to 28
each county board; and 29
(ii) There is no local share of the per pupil grant amount. 30
SENATE BILL 429 17
(3) Each fiscal year, the county board shall distribute to each school the 1
minimum school funding amount for the per pupil grant amount calculated under § 5–234 2
of this subtitle. 3
(f) (1) [Each] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (G) OF THIS 4
SECTION, EACH eligible school shall use the per pupil grant to provide wraparound 5
services and other programs and services identified in the eligible school’s needs 6
assessment plan. 7
(2) [(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, if a 8
local school system has at least 40 eligible schools, the county board may, on behalf of the 9
eligible schools, expend no more than 50% of the funds distributed for the per pupil grant, 10
provided that a plan is developed in consultation with the eligible schools that ensures that 11
the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection are met and the plan is submitted to 12
the Accountability and Implementation Board under § 5–402 of this title. 13
(ii) Subparagraph (i) of this paragraph does not apply to a public 14
charter school unless the public charter school chooses to participate in the plan. 15
(3)] A local school system may request flexibility in distributing funds 16
through [the Accountability and Implementation Board appeal process under § 5–406 of 17
this title] AN APPEALS PROCESS ESTABLISHE D BY THE DEPARTMENT . 18
(g) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , IF 19
A LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTE M HAS AT LEAST 2 10 ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS OR IF AT LEAST 20
35% OF A LOCAL SCHOOL SY STEM’S SCHOOLS ARE ELIGIB LE SCHOOLS: 21
(I) THE COUNTY BOARD MAY , ON BEHALF OF THE ELI GIBLE 22
SCHOOLS, EXPEND NO MORE THAN 50% OF THE FUNDS DISTRIB UTED FOR THE 23
PROGRAM, PROVIDED THAT A PLAN IS DEVELOPED IN CONS ULTATION WITH THE 24
ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS THA T ENSURES THAT THE R EQUIREMENTS OF SUBSE CTIONS 25
(C)(2) THROUGH (8) AND (F)(1) OF THIS SECTION ARE MET AND THE PLAN , 26
CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IN TITLE 9.9 OF THIS ARTICLE , IS 27
SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT ; AND 28
(II) THE COUNTY BOARD MAY EXPEND A PORTION OF THE 29
FUNDS DISTRIBUTED FO R THE PROGRAM ON CENTRAL AD MINISTRATIVE COSTS , 30
INCLUDING TO: 31
1. PROVIDE CENTRAL SUPPO RT TO EFFECTIVELY 32
MANAGE PROGRAM FUNDS ; 33
2. ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH OUTSIDE SERVICE 34
PROVIDERS THAT SUPPO RT AT LEAST 2 ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS ; 35
18 SENATE BILL 429
3. COORDINATE SPENDING O N BEHALF OF ELIGIBLE 1
SCHOOLS UNDER SUBPAR AGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH ; AND 2
4. ANY OTHER ADMINISTRAT IVE COST AS DEFINED BY 3
THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH RE GULATION. 4
(2) PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION D OES NOT APPLY TO A 5
PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOO L UNLESS THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL CHOOSES TO 6
PARTICIPATE IN THE P LAN. 7
(3) A COUNTY BOARD THAT EX PENDS FUNDS ON BEHAL F OF ELIGIBLE 8
SCHOOLS IN THE COUNT Y IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBSECTION SHAL L PROVIDE 9
TO EACH ELIGIBLE SCH OOL: 10
(I) AN ITEMIZED LIST OF S ERVICES PROVIDED FOR STUDENTS 11
AND THEIR FAMILIES TH AT MEET THE NEEDS ID ENTIFIED IN THE NEED S 12
ASSESSMENT OF THE EL IGIBLE SCHOOL; AND 13
(II) THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING SPENT ON EACH SERVIC E. 14
(4) (I) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT POLICIES AND 15
PROCEDURES TO CARRY OUT THIS SUBSECTION . 16
(II) BY JULY 1, 2026, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T 17
REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS SUBSECTION . 18
(H) On or before October 1, 2021, and each October 1 thereafter, the Department 19
shall submit to the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of 20
Legislative Services the percentage and number of students at each school eligible for free 21
or reduced price meals in the prior school year and each public school’s eligibility for a grant 22
under this program in the upcoming fiscal year. 23
[(h)] (I) (1) On or before August 15, 2025, and each August 15 thereafter, 24
each community school coordinator of an eligible school shall submit to the Department 25
[and the Accountability and Implementation Board] an evaluation that provides for the 26
immediately preceding school year for the community school coordinator’s eligible school: 27
(i) How funds provided under this section were allocated at the 28
beginning of the school year compared to how the funds were actually used; 29
(ii) The numbers of: 30
1. Students identified as needing wraparound services; 31
SENATE BILL 429 19
2. Students and families provided with wraparound services, 1
categorized by the type of service as described under § 9.9–101 of this article; and 2
3. Families, organizations, and community members who 3
volunteered at the eligible school; 4
(iii) The rates of: 5
1. Chronic absenteeism; and 6
2. Student disciplinary action; and 7
(iv) Strategies for reducing the rate of chronic absenteeism identified 8
under item (iii) of this paragraph. 9
(2) Each community school coordinator shall use the evaluation form 10
developed by the Director of Community Schools under § 9.9–103 of this article. 11
(3) The Department [and the Accountability and Implementation Board] 12
shall: 13
(i) [Make] TRANSMIT THE FINAL RE PORT TO THE 14
ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD AND MAKE publicly available each 15
evaluation submitted under this subsection; and 16
(ii) On or before December 1, 2024, jointly submit a report to the 17
General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on 18
possible methods for ensuring that funds provided under this section are used 19
appropriately and effectively. 20
(4) (I) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2028, THE DEPARTMENT 21
SHALL CONDUCT A STAT EWIDE EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM. 22
(II) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL TRANSMIT THE FINAL R EPORT 23
SUMMARIZE THE RESULT S OF THE FINDINGS IN A REPORT THAT THE DEPARTMENT 24
SHALL: 25
1. TRANSMIT TO THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND 26
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD AND MAKE THE REPORT ; 27
2. SUBMIT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 28
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE; AND 29
3. MAKE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE . 30
5–224. 31 20 SENATE BILL 429
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 1
(3) (I) FOR FISCAL YEARS 2022 THROUGH 2025, “English learner 2
per pupil amount” means the following proportions of the target per pupil foundation 3
amount: 4
[(i)] 1. For fiscal year 2022, 100%; 5
[(ii)] 2. For fiscal year 2023, 100%; 6
[(iii)] 3. For fiscal year 2024, 100%; AND 7
[(iv)] 4. For fiscal year 2025, 102%[;]. 8
(II) BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2026, “ENGLISH LEARNER PER 9
PUPIL AMOUNT ” MEANS: 10
[(v)] 1. For fiscal year 2026, [98%] $9,041; 11
[(vi)] 2. For fiscal year 2027, [94%] $9,148; 12
[(vii)] 3. For fiscal year 2028, [92%] $9,327; 13
[(viii)] 4. For fiscal year 2029, [91%] $9,613; 14
[(ix)] 5. For fiscal year 2030, [89%] $9,794; 15
[(x)] 6. For fiscal year 2031, [88%] $10,069; 16
[(xi)] 7. For fiscal year 2032, [86%] $10,232; [and] 17
[(xii)] 8. For fiscal year 2033 [and each fiscal year thereafter, 85%], 18
$10,510; AND 19
9. FOR SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS, THE ENGLISH 20
LEARNER PER PUPIL AM OUNT FOR THE PRIOR F ISCAL YEAR INCREASED BY THE 21
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT ROUNDED TO THE NEARE ST WHOLE DOLLAR . 22
5–225. 23
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 24
SENATE BILL 429 21
(2) (i) “Special education enrollment” means the number of students 1
enrolled in a public school in the prior fiscal year who required special education services 2
as defined in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 3
(ii) “Special education enrollment” includes special education 4
students enrolled in a publicly funded prekindergarten program under Title 7, Subtitle 1A 5
of this article. 6
(iii) “Special education enrollment” does not include students who are 7
enrolled in or attend: 8
1. The Maryland School for the Blind; 9
2. The Maryland School for the Deaf; or 10
3. An educational program operated by the State. 11
(3) (I) [“Special] FOR FISCAL YEARS 2022 THROUGH 2025, 12
“SPECIAL education per pupil amount” means the following proportions of the target per 13
pupil foundation amount: 14
[(i)] 1. For fiscal year 2022, 86%; 15
[(ii)] 2. For fiscal year 2023, 86%; 16
[(iii)] 3. For fiscal year 2024, 92%; AND 17
[(iv)] 4. For fiscal year 2025, 99%[;]. 18
(II) BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2026, “SPECIAL EDUCATION 19
PER PUPIL AMOUNT ” MEANS THE FOLLOWING : 20
[(v)] 1. For fiscal year 2026, [103%] $9,503; 21
[(vi)] 2. For fiscal year 2027, [112%] $10,900; 22
[(vii)] 3. For fiscal year 2028, [122%] $12,368; 23
[(viii)] 4. For fiscal year 2029, [136%] $14,367; 24
[(ix)] 5. For fiscal year 2030, [153%] $16,836; 25
[(x)] 6. For fiscal year 2031, [151%] $17,277; 26
[(xi)] 7. For fiscal year 2032, [148%] $17,609; [and] 27
22 SENATE BILL 429
[(xii)] 8. For fiscal year 2033 [and each fiscal year thereafter, 1
146%], $18,424 $18,053; AND 2
9. FOR SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS, THE SPECIAL 3
EDUCATION PER PUPIL AMOUNT FOR THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR INCREASE D BY THE 4
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT ROUNDED TO THE NEARE ST WHOLE DOLLAR. 5
(b) Each school shall use the funds provided under this section to provide the 6
services required by each student’s individualized education program or 504 plans. 7
(c) (1) Each fiscal year, the State shall distribute the State share for special 8
education to each county board. 9
(2) Each fiscal year, the county board shall distribute to each school or 10
publicly funded prekindergarten program the minimum school funding amount for special 11
education calculated under § 5–234 of this subtitle. 12
5–234. 13
(b) (1) For each school, the county board shall distribute the minimum school 14
funding amount for the applicable program multiplied by the school enrollment for the 15
applicable program. 16
(2) On or before July 1, 2024, for fiscal year 2025, and each July 1 17
thereafter, each county board shall report on the county board’s compliance with this 18
section to the Department and the Accountability and Implementation Board established 19
under Subtitle 4 of this title. 20
(3) A county board may request a waiver under § 5–406 of this title from 21
this provision for reasons including: 22
(i) A significant shift in total school–level enrollment between the 23
prior year and the current year; 24
(ii) A significant shift in school–level enrollment of at–promise 25
students between the prior year and the current year; [and] 26
(iii) A significant difference in the amount of funding provided 27
through the formula and the amount of expenditures necessary for a category of at–promise 28
students; 29
(IV) COUNTYWIDE OBLIGATION S OR CONTRACT S FOR GOODS OR 30
SERVICES THAT CANNOT BE ALLOCATED AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL THAT EX CEED 25% 31
OF ANY FUNDING REQUI REMENT; 32
SENATE BILL 429 23
(V) FULL COMPLIANCE WITH ANY REQUIREMENT OF T HE 1
BLUEPRINT BEFORE A RE QUIRED DEADLINE IN L AW OR THE COMPREHENS IVE 2
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT HAS IMPACTED THE COUN TY BOARD’S ABILITY TO 3
MEET THE MINIMUM SCH OOL FUNDING REQUIREM ENT; 4
(VI) A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT OF SCHOOL PERSONNEL FRO M 5
SPECIFIED SCHOOLS TO OTHER SCHOOLS BETWEE N THE PRIOR YEAR AND THE 6
CURRENT YEAR IS NECE SSARY TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT ; OR 7
(VII) ANY OTHER REASON . 8
(4) IF THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD GRANTS 9
A WAIVER UNDER PARAG RAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , IT SHALL DETERMINE T HE 10
DURATION AND CONDITI ONS OF ANY WAIVER GR ANTED. 11
(c) On or before July 1, 2023, the Department shall, in collaboration with the 12
Accountability and Implementation Board established under Subtitle 4 of this title: 13
(1) Implement a financial management system and student data system 14
capable of tracking and analyzing the requirements under this section and integrating local 15
school system data; [and] 16
(2) Update the “Financial Reporting Manual for Maryland Public Schools” 17
to ensure uniformity in reporting expenditures for each school; AND 18
(3) ALLOW REPORTING OF EX PENDITURES IN THE AG GREGATE FOR 19
EACH SCHOOL . 20
5–406. 21
(f) The Board shall develop [an appeals] A WAIVER process through which local 22
school systems may request greater flexibility in meeting this requirement for reasons 23
[including a significant shift in total enrollment or at–promise enrollment between schools 24
from the prior school year to the current school year] DESCRIBED UNDER § 5–234(B) OF 25
THIS TITLE. 26
6–123.1. 27
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “GRANT” MEANS THE COLLABORATIVE TIME 28
INNOVATION DEMONSTRATION GRANT. 29
(B) (1) FOR FISCAL YEARS 2026 THROUGH 2029, THERE IS A 30
COLLABORATIVE TIME INNOVATION DEMONSTRATION GRANT. 31
24 SENATE BILL 429
(2) (I) THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT IS TO PROVI DE FUNDS TO 1
ESTABLISH INNOVATIVE MODELS THAT CAN BE R EPLICATED FOR TEACHE R 2
COLLABORATION AT THE SCHOOL OR LOCAL SCHO OL SYSTEM LEVEL THAT IMPROVE 3
TEACHER RETENTION AN D STUDENT LEARNING . 4
(II) INNOVATIVE MODELS MAY INCLUDE ELEMENTS , IN WHOLE 5
OR IN PART, OF THE FOLLOWING : 6
1. A TEAM–BASED, EXPERT–LED STRUCTURE IN WHI CH 7
EDUCATORS SHARE THE WORK OF PLANNING FOR INSTRUCTION AND THE 8
PROVISION OF STUDENT SUPPORTS, EDUCATING, AND SUPPORTING STUDE NTS; 9
2. REDUCED WORKLOADS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO 10
LEARN AND PRACTICE FOR NEW TEA CHERS, TEACHERS IN LOW –PERFORMING 11
SCHOOLS, AND TEACHERS IN SCHO OLS RECEIVING THE CO NCENTRATION OF 12
POVERTY GRANT , GRADUALLY INCREASING TO FULL TEACHING RES PONSIBILITIES; 13
3. MODIFIED TEACHING SCH EDULES THAT ALLOW TI ME 14
FOR REFLECTION , COLLABORATION , AND STUDENT CONNECTI ONS; 15
4. MEANINGFUL LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR 16
EFFECTIVE, EXPERIENCED TEACHERS TO GROW IN THEIR CAR EERS, EXTEND THEIR 17
IMPACT, AND INCREASE THEIR C OMPENSATION IN ALIGN MENT WITH THE CAREER 18
LADDER; OR 19
5. FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES AND STAFFI NG PLANS THAT 20
ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL TIME O R SMALLER GROUP SETT INGS FOR 21
STUDENTS WHO NEED IT MOST. 22
(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE GRANT. 23
(4) ALLOWABLE USES OF GRANT FUNDS INCLUDE : 24
(I) COMPENSATION FOR ADD ITIONAL STAFF TO SUP PORT 25
TEACHER RELEASE TIME ; 26
(II) PLANNING RELATED TO A NEW MASTER SCHEDULE AND 27
TEACHER STAFFING ASS IGNMENTS; 28
(III) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPM ENT; 29
(IV) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM AN APPROVED VEN DOR; 30
SENATE BILL 429 25
(V) COSTS INVOLVED WITH I NCREASED INTERACTIONS 1
BETWEEN TEACHERS AND OTHER SCHOOL PERSONN EL TO BENEFIT STUDEN TS; AND 2
(VI) ANY OTHER USE APPROVE D BY THE DEPARTMENT . 3
(C) (1) (I) A COUNTY BOARD MAY SUB MIT A PROPOSAL TO TH E 4
DEPARTMENT TO RECEIVE A GRANT TO ESTABLISH AN INNOVATIVE MODEL THAT 5
FURTHERS THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT. 6
(II) TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT, AN APPLICATION MUST BE 7
SUBMITTED WITH A COS IGNED AGREEMENT FROM THE COUNTY BOARD ’S LOCAL 8
EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIO N AS DEFINED UNDER § 6–401 OF THIS TITLE. 9
(III) ONLY APPLICATIONS FOR NEW PROGRAMS NOT ALREADY IN 10
PLACE AT THE SCHOOL OR SYSTEM LEVEL ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FUNDS. 11
(2) AN APPLICATION SHALL INCLUDE: 12
(I) A DESCRIPTION OF THE P ROPOSED INNOVATIVE M ODEL; 13
(II) A FINANCIAL PLAN THAT DETAILS THE ESTIMATE D TOTAL 14
COST, INCLUDING ANY ONE –TIME COSTS, OF IMPLEMENTING THE PROPOSED 15
INNOVATIVE MODEL ; 16
(III) A DESCRIPTION OF THE G OALS AND METRICS USE D TO 17
EVALUATE THE EFFICAC Y OF THE GRANT AND I NNOVATIVE MODEL ; AND 18
(IV) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE 19
DEPARTMENT . 20
(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH PROCESSES AND 21
PROCEDURES FOR ACCEP TING AND EVALUATING APPLICATIONS. 22
(4) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ISSUE PLANNING GRANTS BEFO RE 23
AWARDING DEMONSTRATI ON GRANTS. 24
(5) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENSU RE, TO THE EXTENT 25
PRACTICABLE, DIVERSITY AMONG THE GRANTEES FOR THE FOL LOWING 26
CATEGORIES: 27
(I) GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION I N THE STATE; 28
(II) SIZE OF THE SCHOOL AN D LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTE M; AND 29
26 SENATE BILL 429
(III) SCHOOL GRADE BAND TO INCLUDE A MIX OF ELE MENTARY, 1
MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS . 2
(6) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1, 2026, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE 3
INITIAL GRANT AWARDS . 4
(7) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COND UCT AN EVALUATION OF EACH 5
GRANT AWARD TO DETER MINE WHETHER TO RECO MMEND THAT ONE OR MU LTIPLE 6
INNOVATIVE MODELS BE CONSIDERED AS A BEST PRACTICE TO BE REPLICATED . 7
(D) (1) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2027, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 8
SUBMIT AN INTERIM RE PORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 9
2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON 10
THE IMPLEMENTATION O F THE GRANT AWARDS AND WHICH INNOVATIVE MODELS 11
HAVE DEMONSTRATED TH E MOST SIGNIFICANT S UCCESS IN ACHIEVING THE 12
PURPOSE OF THE GRANT. 13
(2) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 30, 2029, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 14
SUBMIT A FINAL REPOR T TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 15
OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE 16
IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E GRANT AWARDS . 17
6–124. 18
(a) (1) The Department shall establish, in collaboration with the 19
Accountability and Implementation Board established under § 5–402 of this article, a school 20
leadership training program for the State Superintendent, county superintendents, senior 21
instruction–related staff, members of the Accountability and Implementation Board, 22
members of the State Board, members of county boards, and school [principals] LEADERS. 23
(2) THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM CON SISTS OF TWO 24
COMPONENTS : 25
(I) THE SCHOOL SYSTEM LEA DERSHIP TRAINING PRO GRAM; 26
AND 27
(II) THE MARYLAND SCHOOL LEADE RSHIP ACADEMY . 28
[(2) (i)] (B) (1) The following individuals shall complete the school 29
SYSTEM leadership training program: 30
[1.] (I) The State Superintendent; 31
[2.] (II) A county superintendent; and 32
SENATE BILL 429 27
[3.] (III) The chair and vice chair of the State Board, a county 1
board, and the Accountability and Implementation Board. 2
[(ii) The individuals described in paragraph (1) of this subsection not 3
required to complete the training under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph are, to the 4
extent practicable, encouraged to complete the school leadership training program.] 5
[(b)] (2) The school SYSTEM leadership training program shall BE: 6
[(1) Be:] 7
(i) For a duration of 12 months; 8
(ii) Cohort–based to encourage collaboration and shared learning, 9
including through regional gatherings of education leaders and other meetings when 10
appropriate; 11
(iii) To the extent practicable, job–embedded to allow for application 12
of knowledge and techniques; 13
(iv) Tailored to program participants using self–diagnostics and 14
school–level diagnostics; 15
(v) Evidence–based in accordance with the guidelines for the federal 16
Every Student Succeeds Act; [and] 17
(vi) Provided through both in–person and virtual sessions; and 18
[(2)] (VII) Include training on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, as 19
defined in § 5–401 of this article. 20
[(c)] (3) The school SYSTEM leadership training program shall include: 21
[(1)] (I) A review of education in the United States relative to countries 22
with top performing education systems and the implications of high performance for 23
students, the economic security of the United States, and quality of life; 24
[(2)] (II) A model for strategic thinking that will assist education leaders 25
to transform districts and redesign schools under their leadership; 26
[(3)] (III) Training to provide a working knowledge of research on how 27
students learn and the implications for instructional redesign, curriculum plans, and 28
professional learning; 29
[(4)] (IV) A research–based model for coaching school leaders and 30
instructional coaches; 31 28 SENATE BILL 429
[(5)] (V) A review of research regarding: 1
[(i)] 1. The benefits to students from access to high–quality and 2
diverse teachers; 3
[(ii)] 2. Methods to attract highly qualified teachers from diverse 4
backgrounds who reflect the demographics of the students they teach; and 5
[(iii)] 3. Best practices for teacher retention, including retention of 6
teachers from diverse backgrounds; 7
[(6)] (VI) Lessons in transformational leadership; 8
[(7)] (VII) A method for organizing schools to achieve high performance, 9
including: 10
[(i)] 1. Building instructional leadership teams; 11
[(ii)] 2. Implementing career ladders for teachers; 12
[(iii)] 3. Overseeing teacher induction and mentoring systems; and 13
[(iv)] 4. Identifying, recruiting, and retaining high–quality and 14
diverse school leaders; 15
[(8)] (VIII) Training to provide a deep understanding of standards–aligned 16
instructional systems; 17
[(9)] (IX) An overview of ethical leadership directly tied to the educational 18
leaders’ responsibility to drive equitable learning in their schools; and 19
[(10)] (X) A review of research regarding methods to attract and retain an 20
inclusive workforce. 21
(C) (1) (I) THE FOLLOWING INDIVID UALS MAY COMPLETE TH E 22
MARYLAND SCHOOL LEADE RSHIP ACADEMY : 23
1. SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ; 24
2. SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRIN CIPALS; 25
3. SCHOOL–BASED OR COUNTY BOAR D LEADERS 26
INTERESTED IN DEVELO PING THE INSTRUCTION AL LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO BECOME 27
AN EFFECTIVE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OR ASSISTA NT PRINCIPAL; AND 28 SENATE BILL 429 29
4. OTHER INDIVIDUALS THE DEPARTMENT OR COUNTY 1
BOARD DETERMINES COU LD BENEFIT FROM THE ACADEMY . 2
(II) SCHOOL LEADERS WHO WO RK IN OR ARE INTERES TED IN 3
TRANSFERRING TO A CO MMUNITY SCHOOL OR A LOW–PERFORMING SCHOOL SH ALL 4
BE GIVEN PRIORITY IN PARTICIPATING IN THE ACADEMY. 5
(2) THE MARYLAND SCHOOL LEADE RSHIP ACADEMY SHALL BE: 6
(I) SHALL BE: 7
1. FOR A DURATION OF 12 MONTHS; 8
(II) 2. COHORT–BASED TO ENCOURAGE C OLLABORATION 9
AND SHARED LEARNING ; 10
(III) 3. TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE, JOB–EMBEDDED TO 11
ALLOW FOR APPLICATIO N OF KNOWLEDGE AND T ECHNIQUES; 12
(IV) 4. TAILORED TO PARTICIPA NTS USING 13
SELF–DIAGNOSTICS AND SCHO OL–LEVEL DIAGNOSTICS ; 14
(V) 5. EVIDENCE–BASED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 15
GUIDELINES FOR THE F EDERAL EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT; AND 16
(VI) 6. PROVIDED THROUGH BOTH IN–PERSON AND VIRTUAL 17
SESSIONS; AND 18
(VII) (II) INCLUDE SHALL INCLUDE TRAINING ON BEST 19
PRACTICES AND STRATE GIES USED BY HIGHLY EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LEA DERS THAT 20
WILL ENABLE SCHOOL L EADERS TO IMPLEMENT COMPONENTS OF THE BLUEPRINT 21
FOR MARYLAND’S FUTURE, AS DEFINED IN § 5–401 OF THIS ARTICLE. 22
(3) THE MARYLAND SCHOOL LEADE RSHIP ACADEMY SHALL 23
INCLUDE: 24
(I) STRATEGIC PLANNING AN D CHANGE MANAGEMENT TO 25
TRANSFORM AND REDESI GN SCHOOLS; 26
(II) INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS HIP, INCLUDING: 27
1. ALIGNMENT BETWEEN STA NDARDS, ASSESSMENTS , 28
AND INTERNALIZIN G CURRICULUM ; 29
30 SENATE BILL 429
2. LESSON OBSERVATIONS , PROVIDING FEEDBACK , AND 1
TEACHER COACHING ; AND 2
3. DATA–INFORMED INSTRUCTION AND DRIVING 3
EQUITABLE LEARNING O UTCOMES ACROSS STUDE NT GROUPS; 4
(III) BEST PRACTICES FOR FA CILITATING PROFESSIO NAL 5
LEARNING AMONG TEACHERS; 6
(IV) METHODS FOR RECRUITIN G AND RETAINING HIGH LY 7
QUALIFIED TEACHERS A ND TEACHERS FROM DIV ERSE BACKGROUNDS WHO 8
REFLECT THE DEMOGRAP HICS OF THE STUDENTS THEY TEACH; 9
(V) A METHOD FOR ORGANIZIN G SCHOOLS TO ACHIEVE HIGH 10
PERFORMANCE , INCLUDING: 11
1. BUILDING INSTRUCTIONA L LEADERSHIP TEAMS ; 12
2. UTILIZING TEACHERS ON THE CAREER LADDER ; AND 13
3. MASTER SCHEDULING ; AND 14
(VI) STRATEGIES FOR EFFECT IVE PEER MENTORSHIP . 15
(4) (I) THE MARYLAND SCHOOL LEADE RSHIP ACADEMY MAY 16
INCLUDE A MENTORSHIP COMPONENT FOR PARTICIPANTS . 17
(II) EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LEAD ERS SHALL BE SELECTE D TO 18
SERVE AS MENTORS . 19
(III) MENTORS MAY BE PAID A STIPEND TO PARTICIPA TE IN THE 20
ACADEMY. 21
6–130. 22
(A) (1) THE DEPARTMENT IS AUTHORI ZED TO ESTABLISH A N ATIONAL 23
TEACHER RECRUITMENT CA MPAIGN TO BRING LICE NSED AND PROSPECTIVE 24
TEACHERS TO THE STATE. 25
(2) THE CAMPAIGN SHALL EN D ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2029. 26
(3) THE PURPOSE OF THE CA MPAIGN IS TO BRING L ICENSED AND 27
PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS TO THE STATE TO REDUCE THE N UMBER OF 28 SENATE BILL 429 31
CONDITIONALLY LICENS ED TEACHERS AND MEET THE STATE’S TEACHER 1
WORKFORCE NEEDS TO I MPLEMENT COLLABORATI VE TIME. 2
(B) (1) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2025, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONS ULT 3
WITH A NATIONAL EDUC ATION NONPROFIT THAT HAS EXPERIENCE IN GU IDING 4
OTHER STATE E DUCATION AGENCIES IN TARGETED, STATE–BASED RECRUITMENT 5
CAMPAIGNS. 6
(2) THE ENTITY SELECTED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 7
SUBSECTION SHALL SUP PORT THE DEPARTMENT IN THE DES IGN, 8
IMPLEMENTATION , AND EVALUATION OF TH E CAMPAIGN , INCLUDING THE 9
DEVELOPMENT OF MAR KETING MATERIALS AND PROCESSES TO HELP IN TERESTED 10
TEACHER CANDIDATES T O BECOME A TEACHER I N THE STATE. 11
(3) THE ENTITY SHALL PROV IDE ONE–TO–ONE MENTORING AND 12
SUPPORT SERVICES TO PROSPECTIVE CANDIDAT ES AT NO COST TO THE CANDIDATE. 13
(4) THE CAMPAIGN SHAL L INCLUDE PUBLIC SER VICE 14
ANNOUNCEMENT ADVERTI SING, DIGITAL MARKETING , AND DIRECT OUTREACH TO 15
ENCOURAGE CANDIDATES TO TEACH IN THE STATE. 16
6–131. 17
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “GRANT” MEANS THE MARYLAND TEACHER 18
RELOCATION INCENTIVE GRANT. 19
(B) (1) THERE IS A MARYLAND TEACHER RELOCATION INCENTIVE 20
GRANT. 21
(2) THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT IS TO PROVIDE U P TO $2,000 IN 22
REIMBURSEMENT TO PAR TIALLY OFFSET THE CO ST FOR TO INCENTIVIZE AN 23
OUT–OF–STATE LICENSED TEACH ER TO MOVE TO THE STATE TO ADDRESS IN ORDER 24
TO: 25
(I) ADDRESS THE STATE’S TEACHER WORKFORCE SHORTAGE 26
AND REDUCE ; AND 27
(II) REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CONDIT IONALLY LICENSED 28
TEACHERS IN CLASSROO MS. 29
(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE GRANT. 30
(4) GRANTS MAY NOT BE AWA RDED AFTER JUNE 30, 2029. 31
32 SENATE BILL 429
(C) (1) (I) A COUNTY BOARD MAY SUB MIT A PROPOSAL TO TH E 1
DEPARTMENT TO RECEIVE A GRANT FOR A CANDID ATE. 2
(II) TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT, A CANDIDATE SHALL : 3
1. HAVE A SIGNED CONTRAC T TO TEACH IN A PUBL IC 4
SCHOOL IN THE STATE; 5
2. BE RECOGNIZED AS A LI CENSED TEACHER IN A 6
PUBLIC KINDERGARTEN , ELEMENTARY , MIDDLE, OR HIGH SCHOOL IN AN OTHER 7
STATE TO PROVIDE INS TRUCTION IN A SPECIF IC SUBJECT AREA , GRADE LEVEL , OR 8
FOR A SPECIFIC STUDE NT POPULATION ; 9
3. HOLD AN UNENCUMBERED LICENSE THAT IS NOT 10
RESTRICTED, PROBATIONARY, PROVISIONAL, TEMPORARY , OR IN ANY WAY SERVES 11
AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR FULLY LICENSED TEACH ERS IN ANOTHER STATE ; AND 12
4. AGREE TO TEACH IN A S CHOOL THAT HAS RECEI VED 13
FUNDING UNDER § 5–223 OF THIS ARTICLE FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS AFTER RECEIVIN G 14
THE GRANT. 15
(2) AN APPLICATION SHALL INCLUDE: 16
(I) ITEMIZED RECORDS OF E XPENSES THE CANDIDAT E 17
INCURRED DURING THE MOVE; 18
(II) (I) A COPY OF THE TEACHER ’S LICENSE HELD BY TH E 19
CANDIDATE; 20
(III) (II) A COPY OF THE SIGNED C ONTRACT BETWEEN THE 21
CANDIDATE AND THE COUNTY BOARD ; AND 22
(IV) (III) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE 23
DEPARTMENT . 24
(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH PROCESSES AND 25
PROCEDURES FOR ACCEP TING AND EVALUATING APPLICATIONS. 26
(4) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2025, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 27
MAKE INITIAL GRANT AW ARDS. 28
(D) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 30, 2029, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBM IT 29
A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 30 SENATE BILL 429 33
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE IMPLE MENTATION OF 1
THE GRANT AWARDS , INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING INFORM ATION: 2
(1) THE NUMBER OF GRANT A PPLICATIONS RECEIVED ; 3
(2) THE NUMBER OF GRANTS AWARDED; AND 4
(3) THE NUMBER OF OUT –OF–STATE TEACHERS RECRU ITED TO THE 5
STATE AFTER THE IMPLE MENTATION OF THE GRANT. 6
6–1002. 7
(a) (1) On or before July 1, 2024, each county board shall implement a career 8
ladder that meets the requirements of this subtitle. 9
(h) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, teachers at each level or tier 10
of the career ladder shall teach in the classroom for a minimum percentage of their total 11
working time, as specified in this subtitle. 12
(2) The percentages referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall 13
become effective in phases over an 8–year period beginning July 1, [2025] 2029, as 14
specified by a county board on approval of the State Board. 15
(3) The following teachers shall be given priority for working time outside 16
the classroom as the percentages referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection are phased 17
in: 18
(i) Newly licensed teachers, particularly new teachers in 19
low–performing schools or schools that have a high concentration of students living in 20
poverty; and 21
(ii) Teachers in schools that: 22
1. Are low–performing; 23
2. Have a high concentration of students living in poverty; or 24
3. Have large achievement gaps between subpopulations of 25
students. 26
SUBTITLE 11. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PROGRAM. 27
6–1101. 28
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 29
INDICATED. 30 34 SENATE BILL 429
(B) “COORDINATOR OF PROFES SIONAL LEARNING ” MEANS AN EMPLOYEE 1
OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO : 2
(1) IS A LICENSED EDUCATO R; 3
(2) DEVELOPS AND FACILITA TES PROFESSIONAL LEA RNING 4
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ED UCATORS AND ADMINIST RATORS IN THE STATE; AND 5
(3) ASSISTS ADMINISTRATOR S IN IMPLEMENTING EV IDENCE–BASED 6
INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTI CES. 7
(C) “FUND” MEANS THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FUND. 8
(D) “INSTRUCTIONAL COACH ” MEANS AN EMPLOYEE OF A LOCAL SCHOOL 9
SYSTEM WHO : 10
(1) IS A LICENSED EDUCATO R; 11
(2) PROVIDES COACHING TO TEACHERS AND OTHER E DUCATION 12
PROFESSIONALS TO IMPROVE INSTRUCTION ; AND 13
(3) HELPS EDUCATORS INTEG RATE EVIDENCE –BASED PRACTICES 14
INTO THEIR PEDAGOGY . 15
(E) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PROGRAM. 16
(F) “REGIONAL PROGRAM MANA GER” MEANS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE 17
DEPARTMENT WHO OVERSE ES INSTRUCTIONAL COA CHES AND COORDINATOR S OF 18
PROFESSIONAL LEARNIN G IN A DESIGNATED RE GION. 19
6–1102. 20
(A) THERE IS AN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT . 21
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ADDRE SS CRITICAL ACADEMIC 22
NEEDS IN PUBLIC SCHO OLS AND ENSURE THAT MARYLAND STUDENTS HAV E 23
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH–QUALITY INSTRUCTION AND TARGETED ACADEMI C 24
SUPPORT BY: 25
(1) PROVIDING DIRECT COAC HING SUPPORT TO TEAC HERS AND 26
ADMINISTRATORS ; 27
SENATE BILL 429 35
(2) ENSURING THAT THE COACHING SUPPORT IS CONSISTENTLY 1
CONDUCTED IN A MANNE R THAT RESEARCH HAS SHOWN IS LIKELY TO R ESULT IN 2
POSITIVE STUDENT OUT COMES; AND 3
(3) DELIVERING TARGETED P ROFESSIONAL LEARNING 4
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ED UCATORS AND ADMINIST RATORS TO IMPLEMENT 5
EVIDENCE–BASED INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES. 6
(C) (1) UNDER THE PROGRAM, INSTRUCTIONAL COACHE S AND 7
COORDINATORS OF PROF ESSIONAL LEARNING SH ALL PROVIDE EDUCATOR S IN 8
SELECTED SCHOOLS WIT H: 9
(I) COACHING TO IMPROVE I NSTRUCTION AND THE 10
INTEGRATION OF EVIDE NCE–BASED INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES INTO THE 11
CLASSROOM ; AND 12
(II) ACCESS TO HIGH –QUALITY, JOB–EMBEDDED , AND 13
TARGETED PROFESSIONA L LEARNING OPPORTUNI TIES. 14
(2) UNDER THE PROGRAM, REGIONAL PROGRAM MAN AGERS SHALL 15
OVERSEE AND COORDINA TE THE ACTIVITY OF INSTRUCTIONAL COACHE S AND 16
COORDINATORS OF PROF ESSIONAL LEARNING IN A DESIGNATED REGION TO 17
ENSURE THAT LOCAL NE EDS ARE CONSIDERED A ND MET. 18
(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENTE R INTO A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT 19
WITH A COUNTY BOARD THAT ELECTS TO PARTI CIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. 20
(E) (1) USING ACCOUNTABILITY DATA, THE DEPARTMENT , IN 21
COLLABORATION WITH P ARTICIPATING LOCAL S CHOOL SYSTEMS , SHALL IDENTIFY 22
THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE MOST IN NEED OF SUPP ORT FROM THE PROGRAM. 23
(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PRIO RITIZE SELECTING SCH OOLS 24
WITH: 25
(I) LOW PROFICIENCY RATES ; AND 26
(II) DECLINING ACHIEVEMENT RESULTS IN RECENT YE ARS. 27
(3) WITHIN A SELECTED SCH OOL, ADMINISTRATORS SHALL WORK 28
WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIF Y THE TEACHERS AND O THER EDUCATORS WHO 29
WILL BENEFIT MOST FR OM THE COACHI NG AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 30
OPPORTUNITIES PROVID ED BY INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES. 31
36 SENATE BILL 429
(F) (1) DURING FISCAL YEARS 2026 AND 2027, THE PROGRAM SHALL 1
FOCUS ON EARLY LITER ACY INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT OF ELEMENTAR Y SCHOOL 2
EDUCATORS . 3
(2) IN SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS, THE PROGRAM SHALL EXPAND 4
ITS FOCUS TO INCORPO RATE OTHER ACADEMIC TOPICS AND GRADE LEV ELS, WITH 5
PARTICULAR ATTENTION PAID TO FOUNDATIONAL MATHEMATICS INSTRUCT ION. 6
6–1103. 7
(A) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVE LOP CRITERIA FOR THE 8
SELECTION OF INSTRUC TIONAL COACHES . 9
(2) AT A MINIMUM THE SELE CTION CRITERIA UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) 10
OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL INCLUDE : 11
(I) METHODS TO IDENTIFY H IGHLY QUALIFIED EDUC ATORS 12
WITH EXPERTISE IN TH E INSTRUCTIONAL TOPIC AND AT THE GRADE LEV EL FOR 13
WHICH THE EDUCATOR W ILL BE PROVIDING COA CHING; AND 14
(II) A MEANS TO ASSESS THE POTENTIAL OF AN EDUC ATOR FOR 15
LEADERSHIP AND PROFE SSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COACHING . 16
(3) A REGIONAL PROGRAM MAN AGER, IN COORDINATION WITH A 17
PARTICIPATING LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM , SHALL USE THE DEPARTMENT ’S CRITERIA 18
TO SELECT INSTRUCTIO NAL COACHES . 19
(B) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH A TRAINING PLA N FOR 20
INSTRUCTIONAL COACHE S THAT PROVIDES EACH INSTRUCTIONAL COACH WITH THE 21
TOOLS TO SUPPORT EDUC ATORS USING RESEARCH –BASED STRATEGIES TAI LORED 22
TO THE NEEDS OF EACH EDUCATOR AND THE EDU CATOR’S STUDENTS. 23
(2) EACH INSTRUCTIONAL CO ACH SHALL BE TRAINED USING THE 24
DEPARTMENT ’S TRAINING PLAN. 25
(C) AN INSTRUCTIONAL COAC H SHALL OVERSEE EDUCATORS AT TWO TO 26
FOUR DIFFERENT PUBLI C SCHOOLS IN THE LOC AL SCHOOL SYSTEM IN WHICH THE 27
COACH WORKS . 28
(D) AN INSTRUCTIONAL COAC H SHALL SUPPORT EDUC ATORS BY 29
PROVIDING JOB –EMBEDDED FEEDBACK DE SIGNED TO: 30
(1) LEAD TO LONG–TERM INSTRUCTIONAL I MPROVEMENT ; 31
SENATE BILL 429 37
(2) ASSIST AN EDUCATOR IN CREATING A PEDAGOGY THAT IS 1
INDIVIDUALLY TAILORE D TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT , REGARDLESS OF 2
THE STUDENT ’S LINGUISTIC STATUS , DISABILITY STATUS , OR BACKGROUND ; AND 3
(3) CLOSE STUDENT ACHIEVE MENT GAPS. 4
6–1104. 5
(A) (1) UNDER THE PROGRAM, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL EMPL OY 6
REGIONAL PROGRAM MAN AGERS TO OVERSEE THE WORK OF INSTRUCTIONA L 7
COACHES IN A DESIGNA TED REGION. 8
(2) EACH REGIONAL PROGRAM MANAGER SHALL ENSURE THAT 9
INSTRUCTIONAL COACHE S ARE MEETING LOCAL EDUCATOR AND ST UDENT NEEDS 10
AND WORKING IN ALIGN MENT WITH STATE PRIORITIES , INCLUDING THE 11
PRINCIPLES OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND’S FUTURE. 12
(3) REGIONAL PROGRAM MANA GERS SHALL SUPPORT 13
INSTRUCTIONAL COACHE S BY PROVIDING: 14
(I) EVIDENCE–BASED TOOLS AND STRA TEGIES AND 15
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP MENT MATERIALS ; 16
(II) AN ANALYSIS OF EDUCAT OR PRACTICES AND STU DENT 17
OUTCOMES TO ENSURE T HAT INSTRUCTIONAL CO ACHES PROVIDE SUPPOR T IN A 18
TARGETED MANNER ; 19
(III) ASSISTANCE WITH FAMIL Y AND COMMUNITY ENGA GEMENT; 20
AND 21
(IV) GUIDANCE TO ENSURE PROFESSION AL DEVELOPMENT IS 22
RESEARCH–BASED AND DESIGNED T O REFLECT THE DIVERS E LINGUISTIC AND 23
CULTURAL NEEDS OF ST UDENTS IN THE STATE. 24
(B) (1) BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2028, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 25
EMPLOY COORDINATORS OF PROFESSIONAL LEAR NING THROUGH THE PROGRAM. 26
(2) A COORDINATOR OF PROFE SSIONAL LEARNING SHA LL: 27
(I) PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO EDUCA TORS 28
AND ADMINISTRATORS I N A LOCAL SCHOOL SYS TEM BY ESTABLISHING LEARNING 29
MODULES AND THROUGH THE USE OF APPROPRIA TE TOOLS AND PLATFOR MS; AND 30
38 SENATE BILL 429
(II) COLLABORATE WITH ADMI NISTRATORS TO COLLEC T DATA 1
TO CREATE A PROFESSI ONAL LEARNING PLAN T HAT ALIGNS WITH THE NEEDS OF A 2
SCHOOL. 3
6–1105. 4
(A) (1) THERE IS AN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FUND. 5
(2) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO PROVIDE GR ANTS TO ADDRESS 6
CRITICAL ACADEMIC NE EDS IN SCHOOLS , PARTICULARLY THOSE I DENTIFIED AS 7
LOW–PERFORMING . 8
(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE FUND. 9
(4) (I) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL, NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 10
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 11
(II) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND 12
SEPARATELY, AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND. 13
(5) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 14
(I) MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE 15
FUND; AND 16
(II) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACCEPTE D 17
FOR THE BENEFIT OF T HE FUND. 18
(6) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR GRANTS TO COUNTY BOARDS, 19
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGH ER EDUCATION , NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ONS, OR OTHER 20
ENTITIES FOR THE FOL LOWING PURPOSES : 21
(I) CONTRACTS WITH VENDOR S TO PROVIDE SERVICES; 22
(II) TRAINING AND WORKSHOP S; 23
(III) PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATIO N; 24
(IV) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF THE PROGRAM; 25
(V) PROGRAM EVALUATION AN D REPORTING; AND 26
(VI) ANY OTHER COSTS APPRO VED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 27
SENATE BILL 429 39
(7) (I) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T THE MONEY OF THE 1
FUND IN THE SAME MANN ER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE IN VESTED. 2
(II) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE 3
CREDITED TO THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND’S FUTURE FUND UNDER § 5–206 OF 4
THIS ARTICLE. 5
(8) EXPENDITURE S FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN 6
ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET . 7
(B) EACH YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COLL ECT THE FOLLOWING DA TA: 8
(1) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF M ONEY DISBURSED FROM THE FUND, 9
DISAGGREGATED BY COU NTY; AND 10
(2) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF S CHOOLS SERVED BY THE FUND. 11
6–1106. 12
THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT POLICIES, PROCEDURES , AND REGULATIONS 13
TO CARRY OUT THIS TI TLE. 14
7–447.1. 15
(b) (1) There is a Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports 16
in the Commission. 17
(p) (1) In this subsection, “Fund” means the Coordinated Community Supports 18
Partnership Fund. 19
(3) The purpose of the Fund is to support the delivery of services and 20
supports provided to students to meet their holistic behavioral health needs and address 21
other related challenges. 22
(9) The Governor shall include in the annual budget bill the following 23
appropriations for the Fund: 24
(i) $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2022; 25
(ii) $50,000,000 in fiscal year 2023; 26
(iii) $85,000,000 in fiscal year 2024; 27
(iv) [$110,000,000] $40,000,000 in fiscal year 2025; [and] 28
(v) [$130,000,000] $70,000,000 in fiscal year 2026; AND 29 40 SENATE BILL 429
(VI) $100,000,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 2027 and each fiscal year 1
thereafter. 2
8–313. 3
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 4
(3) “Growth in the target per pupil foundation amount” means: 5
(I) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, 4.97%; 6
(II) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, 5.48%; 7
(III) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2028, 4.17%; 8
(IV) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2029, 4.20%; 9
(V) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2030, 4.17%; 10
(VI) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2031, 3.98%; 11
(VII) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2032, 3.99%; 12
(VIII) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2033, 3.93%; AND 13
(IX) FOR SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS, the change in the per pupil 14
amount from the prior fiscal year to the current fiscal year divided by the per pupil amount 15
from the prior fiscal year. 16
(5) “Target per pupil foundation amount” means the figure calculated for 17
each fiscal year by the Department in accordance with [§ 5–202] § 5–201 of this article. 18
8–3A–09. 19
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 20
(3) “Growth in the target per pupil foundation amount” means: 21
(I) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, 4.97%; 22
(II) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, 5.48%; 23
(III) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2028, 4.17%; 24
(IV) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2029, 4.20%; 25 SENATE BILL 429 41
(V) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2030, 4.17%; 1
(VI) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2031, 3.98%; 2
(VII) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2032, 3.99%; 3
(VIII) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2033, 3.93%; AND 4
(IX) FOR SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS, the change in the per pupil 5
amount from the prior fiscal year to the current fiscal year divided by the per pupil amount 6
from the prior fiscal year. 7
(4) “Target per pupil foundation amount” means the figure calculated for 8
each fiscal year by the Department in accordance with [§ 5–202] § 5–201 of this article. 9
8–710. 10
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 11
(2) “Change in the per pupil amount” means: 12
(I) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, 4.97%; 13
(II) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, 5.48%; 14
(III) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2028, 4.17%; 15
(IV) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2029, 4.20%; 16
(V) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2030, 4.17%; 17
(VI) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2031, 3.98%; 18
(VII) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2032, 3.99%; 19
(VIII) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2033, 3.93%; AND 20
(IX) FOR SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS, the change in the per pupil 21
foundation amount from the prior fiscal year to the current fiscal year divided by the per 22
pupil foundation amount from the prior fiscal year. 23
(4) “Per pupil foundation amount” means the figure calculated for each 24
fiscal year by the Department in accordance with [§ 5–202] § 5–201 of this article. 25
9.9–101. 26 42 SENATE BILL 429
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 1
(b) “Community school” means a public school that establishes a set of strategic 2
partnerships between the school and other community resources that leverage shared 3
accountability, collaborative leadership, capacity building, and authentic family and 4
community engagement, using a student–centered framework to promote inclusive student 5
achievement, positive learning conditions, and the well–being of students, families, 6
educators, and the community through a variety of engaging practices including the 7
provision of wraparound services. 8
(c) “School–community partnership” means a partnership between a local school 9
system or an existing public school and a community–based organization or agency for the 10
purpose of planning and implementing a community school. 11
(d) “Trauma–informed intervention” means a method for understanding and 12
responding to an individual with symptoms of chronic interpersonal trauma or traumatic 13
stress. 14
(e) “Wraparound services” [means] INCLUDES: 15
(1) Extended learning time, including before and after school, weekends, 16
summer school, and an extended school year; 17
(2) Safe transportation to and from school and off –site learning 18
opportunities, including apprenticeship programs; 19
(3) Vision, hearing, and dental care services; 20
(4) Establishing or expanding school–based health center services; 21
(5) Additional social workers, mentors, counselors, therapists, 22
psychologists, and restorative practice coaches; 23
(6) Enhancing physical wellness, including providing healthy food for 24
in–school and out–of–school time and linkages to community providers; 25
(7) Enhancing behavioral health services, including access to mental 26
health practitioners and providing professional development to school staff to provide 27
trauma–informed interventions; 28
(8) Providing family and community engagement and supports, including 29
informing parents of academic course offerings, language classes, workforce development 30
training, opportunities for children, and available social services as well as educating 31
families on how to monitor a child’s learning; 32
SENATE BILL 429 43
(9) Establishing and enhancing linkages to Judy Centers and other early 1
education programs that feed into the school; 2
(10) Enhancing student enrichment experiences, including educational field 3
trips, partnerships, and programs with museums, arts organizations, and cultural 4
institutions; 5
(11) OFFERING EVIDENCE –BASED IN–SCHOOL AND IN –PERSON 6
TUTORING, PROVIDED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY; 7
(12) Improving student attendance AND CHRONIC ABSENTEE ISM; 8
(12) (13) Improving the learning environment AND NUMBER OF HIGHLY 9
QUALIFIED TEACHERS at the school; [and] 10
(13) (14) Any professional development for teachers and school staff to 11
quickly identify students who are in need of these resources; AND 12
(14) OTHER SERVICES AS DEF INED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN 13
GUIDANCE OR REGULATI ON. 14
9.9–102. 15
The purpose of a community school is to help students and families overcome the 16
in–school and out–of–school barriers that prevent [children] STUDENTS from learning and 17
succeeding over the course of their lives by having an integrated focus on academics, health 18
and social services, youth and community development, and authentic family and 19
community engagement. 20
9.9–103. 21
(a) There are community schools in the State. 22
(b) A community school shall: 23
(1) Promote active family and community engagement, including 24
educational opportunities for adults and family members of students at the school who live 25
in the neighborhood of the school; 26
(2) Have at least one community school coordinator, as described under § 27
9.9–104 of this title; 28
(3) Implement, in a manner responsive to the needs assessment required 29
under § 9.9–104 of this title, expanded and enriched learning time and opportunities 30
provided after school, during weekends, and in the summer that emphasize mastering 31 44 SENATE BILL 429
21st–century skills through practical learning opportunities and community 1
problem–solving; 2
(4) Implement collaborative leadership and accountability practices that 3
empower parents, students, teachers, principals, and community partners to build a culture 4
of professional learning, collective trust, and shared responsibility using strategies such as 5
site–based leadership teams and teacher learning communities; 6
(5) Have a parent teacher organization or a school family council; and 7
(6) Have a community school leadership team, including members who 8
represent students, families, and educators. 9
(c) (1) There shall be a Director of Community Schools WITHIN THE OFFICE 10
OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND EXPANDED LEARNING TIME in the Department. 11
(2) The Director of Community Schools in the Department shall coordinate 12
professional development for community school coordinators at each community school. 13
(3) The Director of Community Schools shall support the outreach and 14
implementation of State programs for children in community schools. 15
(4) (i) The Director of Community Schools shall create a common needs 16
assessment tool that each community school coordinator shall use in order to complete the 17
needs assessment required under § 9.9–104 of this title. 18
(ii) The Director of Community Schools shall consult with local 19
school systems and members of the community schools’ leadership teams in order to 20
determine the correct content to include in the common needs assessment tool. 21
(5) The Director of Community Schools shall develop an evaluation form to 22
be used by [community school coordinators] LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS to complete the 23
evaluation required under § 5–223 of this article. 24
(6) In addition to the funding provided for the Director of Community 25
Schools position in the Department, the Governor may include in the annual budget bill an 26
appropriation [of at least $100,000] to the Department for the Director of Community 27
Schools to provide training and technical assistance to community schools and for 28
additional staff. 29
(7) THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND EXPANDED 30
LEARNING TIME MAY HIRE STAFF T O SUPPORT THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY 31
SCHOOLS IN PROVIDING DIRECT GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION TO LOCAL S CHOOL 32
SYSTEMS AND COMMUNIT Y SCHOOL COORD INATORS. 33
9.9–104. 34 SENATE BILL 429 45
(a) (1) A community school shall have an experienced and qualified 1
community school coordinator who: 2
(i) Is hired at the appropriate administrative level; 3
(ii) Understands, respects, and demonstrates a high degree of 4
cultural awareness of and competency in the diversity in the community and in 5
cross–cultural practice with stakeholders; and 6
(iii) May be employed by the school district. 7
(2) A community school coordinator may be a social worker. 8
(b) (1) A community school coordinator shall be responsible for: 9
(i) Establishing a community school; 10
(ii) Completing an assessment of the needs of the students in the 11
school for appropriate wraparound services to enhance the success of all students in the 12
school; 13
(iii) Developing an implementation plan based on the assessment of 14
needs for the community school, in cooperation with other interested stakeholders; and 15
(iv) Coordinating support programs that address out–of–school 16
learning barriers for students and families, including: 17
1. Wraparound services; and 18
2. As appropriate: 19
A. Tutoring; 20
B. [English language] MULTILINGUAL learner courses; 21
C. Early childhood development and parenting classes; 22
D. College and career advising; 23
E. Employment opportunities; 24
F. Citizenship education; 25
G. Food pantries; 26
46 SENATE BILL 429
H. Rental assistance, in accordance with § 9.9–104.1 of this 1
subtitle; and 2
I. School–based behavioral and physical health services. 3
(2) The needs assessment completed under this subsection shall: 4
(i) Be completed in collaboration with: 5
1. The principal; 6
2. A school health care practitioner; 7
3. A parent teacher organization or a school council; and 8
4. Members of the community schools’ leadership teams; 9
(ii) Include an assessment of the physical, behavioral, mental, social, 10
and emotional health needs and wraparound service needs of students, their families, and 11
their communities; 12
(iii) Be completed using the common needs assessment tool developed 13
by the Director of Community Schools under § 9.9–103 of this title, when the tool is 14
available; 15
(iv) Be submitted to the Department and the local school system 16
within 1 year of receiving a personnel grant under § 5–223 of this article or within 1 year 17
of becoming a community school; and 18
(v) Be published online. 19
(3) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ESTABL ISH REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL 20
IMPLEMENTATION PLANS AND COUNTYWIDE COMMU NITY SCHOOL 21
IMPLEMENTATION PLANS . 22
[(3)] (4) The implementation plan completed under this subsection shall 23
include: 24
(i) A strategy for providing wraparound services to address the 25
needs of the students, their families, and their communities, building on and strengthening 26
community resources near the school; 27
(II) A SET OF MEASURABLE GOA LS TIED TO THE PRIOR ITIES 28
IDENTIFIED IN THE NE EDS ASSESSMENT THAT WILL BE MEASURED ANNUALLY AT 29
LEAST ONCE EVERY 2 YEARS BY THE COMMUNITY SCH OOL COORDINATOR AND 30
PRINCIPAL TO DETERMI NE PROGRESS TOWARD M EETING THE GOALS ; 31 SENATE BILL 429 47
[(ii)] (III) Inclusion, if possible and practicable, of community 1
partners in geographic proximity to the school that can assist in meeting the needs 2
identified in the assessment; 3
[(iii)] (IV) Ensure that time is made available to train staff on the 4
supports available, the need for the supports, and how to engage with the community 5
schools coordinator to access these supports; and 6
[(iv)] (V) Develop strategies to maximize external non–State or 7
non–local education funding. 8
[(4) (i)] (5) The implementation plan shall be submitted to the local 9
school system for approval within 1 year of completion of the needs assessment. 10
[(ii) After the implementation plan is approved by the local school 11
system it shall be submitted to the Department for review. 12
(iii) The Department may provide comments to the community school 13
coordinator on the implementation plan.] 14
[(5)] (6) (i) A community school coordinator shall review the 15
implementation plan [at least once every 3 2 years] ANNUALLY to determine whether the 16
community school is meeting students’ needs AND MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD THE 17
MEASURABLE GOALS EST ABLISHED UNDER PARAG RAPH (4)(II) OF THIS 18
SUBSECTION . 19
(ii) A community school coordinator shall alter the implementation 20
plan, using the common needs assessment tool, and the provision of wraparound services 21
to address changes in students’ needs. 22
(iii) An updated implementation plan shall be submitted to the local 23
school system for approval. 24
[(iv) After an updated implementation plan is approved, it shall be 25
submitted to the Department for review. 26
(v) The Department may provide comments to the community school 27
coordinator on the updated implementation plan.] 28
(7) (I) LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS SHALL DEVELOP COUNTY WIDE 29
COMMUNITY S CHOOL IMPLEMENTATION PLANS THAT INCORPORA TE 30
SCHOOL–LEVEL IMPLEMENTATION PLANS. 31
48 SENATE BILL 429
(II) THE COUNTYWIDE IMPLEM ENTATION PLAN SHALL INCLUDE 1
A SET OF MEASURABLE GOALS TIED TO THE PR IORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE NEEDS 2
ASSESSMENT THAT WILL BE MEASURED ANNUALLY AT LEAST EVERY 2 YEARS BY THE 3
COMMUNITY SCHOOL COO RDINATOR TO DETERMIN E PROGRESS TOWARD ME ETING 4
THE GOALS. 5
(III) IF THE LOCAL SCHOOL S YSTEM FAILS TO PROVI DE THE 6
DEPARTMENT WITH A COU NTYWIDE COMMUNITY SC HOOL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 7
THAT MEETS THE REQUI REMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT ’S GUIDANCE AND 8
REGULATIONS , THE DEPARTMENT MAY WITHHO LD FUNDS OR TAKE OTH ER 9
COMPLIANCE ACTIONS A S NECESSARY. 10
TITLE 9.12. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PROGRAM. 11
9.12–101. 12
(A) IN THIS TITLE THE FOL LOWING WORDS HAVE TH E MEANINGS 13
INDICATED. 14
(B) “COORDINATOR OF PROFES SIONAL LEARNING ” MEANS A CERTIFIED 15
EDUCATOR WHO DEVELOP S AND FACILITATES PR OFESSIONAL LEARNING 16
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ED UCATORS AND ADMINIST RATORS IN THE STATE TO 17
IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE –BASED INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES IN EARLY C HILDHOOD 18
EDUCATION, LITERACY, MATHEMATICS , SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES , AND SPECIAL 19
EDUCATION. 20
(C) “FUND” MEANS THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FUND. 21
(D) “INSTRUCTIONAL COACH ” MEANS A CERTIFIED ED UCATOR WHO 22
PROVIDES COACHING TO EDUCATORS , ADMINISTRATORS , AND OTHER EDUCATION 23
PROFESSIONALS TO IMP ROVE INSTRUCTION AND INTEGRATE EVIDENCE –BASED 24
PRACTICES. 25
(E) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PROGRAM. 26
9.12–102. 27
(A) THERE IS AN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT . 28
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ADDRESS CRITICAL ACADEMIC 29
NEEDS IN SCHOOLS TO ENSURE MARYLAND STUDENTS HAV E EQUITABLE ACCESS T O 30
HIGH–QUALITY INSTRUCTION AND TARGETED ACADEMI C SUPPORT. 31
SENATE BILL 429 49
(C) (1) THE PROGRAM SHALL ESTABLI SH SYSTEMS THAT ENSU RE 1
EDUCATORS HAVE CONSI STENT ACCESS TO HIGH –QUALITY, JOB–EMBEDDED, AND 2
SUSTAINED PROFESSION AL LEARNING OPPORTUN ITIES. 3
(2) THE PROGRAM SHALL USE COO RDINATORS OF PROFESS IONAL 4
LEARNING AND INSTRUC TIONAL COACHES TO EN HANCE INSTRUCTIONAL 5
PRACTICES AND COLLAB ORATE WITH SCHOOLS A ND COUNTY BOARDS TO 6
STRENGTHEN SYSTEMS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVE LOPMENT. 7
(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 8
(1) PROMOTE THE PROGRAM TO COUNTY BOA RDS; 9
(2) ESTABLISH CRITERIA FO R HIRING QUALIFIED E DUCATORS AND 10
ADMINISTRATORS INTER ESTED IN BECOMING CO ORDINATORS OF PROFES SIONAL 11
LEARNING OR INSTRUCT IONAL COACHES; 12
(3) IDENTIFY SCHOOLS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM BASED 13
ON THE SCHOOL ’S ACCOUNTABILITY DAT A; AND 14
(4) DEVELOP TRAINING FOR ALL COORDINATORS OF PROFESSIONAL 15
LEARNING AND INSTRUC TIONAL COACHES . 16
9.12–103. 17
(A) (1) THERE IS AN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FUND. 18
(2) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO PROVIDE GR ANTS TO ADDRESS 19
CRITICAL ACADEMIC NE EDS IN SCHOOLS , PARTICULARLY THOSE I DENTIFIED AS 20
LOW–PERFORMING . 21
(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE FUND. 22
(4) (I) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL, NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 23
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 24
(II) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND 25
SEPARATELY, AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND. 26
(5) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 27
(I) MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE 28
FUND; AND 29
50 SENATE BILL 429
(II) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED 1
FOR THE BENEFIT OF T HE FUND. 2
(6) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR GRANTS TO COUNTY BOARDS, 3
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGH ER EDUCATION , NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ONS, OR OTHER 4
ENTITIES FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOS ES: 5
(I) CONTRACTS WITH VENDOR S TO PROVIDE SERVICE S; 6
(II) TRAINING AND WORKSHOP S; 7
(III) PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATIO N; 8
(IV) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF THE PROGRAM; 9
(V) PROGRAM EVALUATION AN D REPORTING; AND 10
(VI) ANY OTHER COSTS APPROVED BY TH E DEPARTMENT . 11
(7) (I) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T THE MONEY OF THE 12
FUND IN THE SAME MANN ER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE IN VESTED. 13
(II) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE 14
CREDITED TO THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND’S FUTURE FUND UNDER § 5–206 OF 15
THIS ARTICLE. 16
(8) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN 17
ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET . 18
(B) EACH YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COLL ECT THE FOLLOWING DA TA: 19
(1) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF M ONEY DISBURSED FROM THE FUND, 20
DISAGGREGATED BY COU NTY; AND 21
(2) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF S CHOOLS SERVED BY THE FUND. 22
9.12–104. 23
THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT POLICIES, PROCEDURES , AND REGULATIONS 24
TO CARRY OUT THIS TI TLE. 25
18–27A–01. 26
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 27
SENATE BILL 429 51
(b) “Collaborative” means an agreement outlining commitments of a partnership 1
among: 2
(1) At least one local school system; 3
(2) At least one employee organization representing employees of a local 4
school system in accordance with Title 6, Subtitle 4 or Subtitle 5 of this article; and 5
(3) At EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN § 18–27A–04(E) OF THIS SUBTITLE , 6
AT least one institution of higher education [with a teacher preparation program approved 7
by the Department] IN THE STATE. 8
(c) [“Noncertified education support professional” means a noncertified public 9
school employee designated as part of a bargaining unit under Title 6, Subtitle 5 of this 10
article PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOY EE WHO IS NOT: 11
(1) A CERTIFICATED EMPLOYE E DESIGNATED AS PART OF A 12
BARGAINING UNIT UNDE R TITLE 6, SUBTITLE 4 OF THIS ARTICLE; 13
(2) A MANAGERIAL EMPLOYEE ; OR 14
(3) A CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYE E. 15
(d)] “Program” means the Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program established 16
under this subtitle. 17
(D) “TEACHER CANDIDATE ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL PA RTICIPATING IN THE 18
PROGRAM. 19
[(e) “Provisional teacher” means an individual employed by a local school system 20
through a provisional contract as a conditional teacher.] 21
18–27A–02. 22
(a) There is a Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program. 23
(b) (1) The purpose of the Program is to provide support to COLLABORATIVES 24
THAT PRIORITIZE OFFER TEACHER LICENSURE PR OGRAMS THAT EMPHASIZE WITH 25
ON–THE–JOB EXPERIENTIAL LEA RNING FOR eligible individuals who: 26
(i) Are interested in pursuing a career in the teaching profession; 27
[and] 28
(ii) ARE HIRED EMPLOYED BY A LOCAL SCHOOL SY STEM IN THE 29
STATE AS A SCHOOL –BASED PART–TIME OR FULL–TIME EMPLOYEE ; AND 30 52 SENATE BILL 429
(III) Ultimately pledge to fulfill a 3–YEAR service obligation as a 1
teacher employed full–time in a high–needs school, grade level, or content area in the [State 2
in which there is a shortage of teachers, as identified by the Department] LOCAL SCHOOL 3
SYSTEM IN WHICH THEY ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOY ED. 4
(2) The Department shall administer the Program. 5
(c) [(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, to] TO be eligible for the 6
Program, a teacher candidate applicant shall: 7
(1) MEET ONE OF THE FOLLO WING REQUIREMENTS : 8
(i) Be employed [as a noncertified education support professional or 9
provisional teacher] by a participating local school system [on the effective date of the 10
Program] IN A SCHOOL–BASED POSITION ; [and] OR 11
(ii) (2) [Meet the educational requirements determined by a 12
collaborative] HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DI PLOMA OR ITS EQUIVAL ENT; AND 13
(2) (3) PURSUE A TEACHER LICE NSURE PATHWAY APPROV ED BY 14
THE DEPARTMENT . 15
[(2) Not more than one quarter of the funds used to support teaching 16
candidate applicants may be used to support teaching candidate applicants who are 17
provisional teachers.] 18
18–27A–03. 19
(a) A collaborative shall negotiate an agreement that meets the requirements of 20
subsection (b) of this section. 21
(b) A collaborative shall develop and submit to the Department: 22
(1) A plan [to] THAT INCLUDES : 23
(i) [Select] IDENTIFICATION OF THE COLLABORATIVE 24
MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH MEMBER ; 25
(II) SCHOOL–BASED PART –TIME OR FULL –TIME POSITIONS 26
THAT ALLOW THE A TEACHER CANDIDATE TO SYSTEMATICALLY DEVELOP THE 27
SKILLS OF A TEACH–THROUGH–EXPERIENTIAL –LEARNING AND DEMONSTRATION 28
OF DEVELOP TEACHING SKI LLS THROUGH EXPERIEN TIAL LEARNING AND 29
ULTIMATELY DEMONSTRA TE TEACHING COMPETENCIES ; 30
SENATE BILL 429 53
(III) IDENTIFICATION OF at least one content area in the local school 1
system in which there is a shortage of teachers, as identified by the Department; 2
[(ii) Select at least one teacher preparation program at an institution 3
of higher education that satisfies the training requirements for teacher candidates; and 4
(iii) Designate an individual from a collaborative to assist teacher 5
candidates and provide Program guidance;] 6
(IV) A MINIMUM RATIO OF ONE MENTOR WHO IS A REGULARLY 7
EMPLOYED PER ONE TEACHER IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM ASSIGN ED FOR THE 8
ENTIRETY OF THE PROGRAM TO A TEACHER CANDIDATE , CONSISTENT WITH 9
PROPER SUPERVISI ON, TRAINING, AND CONTINUITY OF EM PLOYMENT AND 10
APPLICABLE PROVISION S IN COLLECTIVE BARG AINING AGREEMENTS ; 11
(V) A SYSTEMIC PROGRAM OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNIN G THAT 12
RESULTS IN CREDITS F ROM THE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IF CREDITS 13
ARE REQUIRED FOR COMPLETION , INCLUDING CREDITS TO WARD THE PRACTICUM ; 14
AND 15
(VI) THE DESIGNATION OF A PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR FROM 16
THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYS TEM TO ASSIST TEACHE R CANDIDATES , EVALUATE THE 17
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM, AND MANAGE THE ADMIN ISTRATION 18
ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM; 19
(2) An estimate, BASED ON APPROPRIATE DATA, of the [numbers of: 20
(i) Teacher applicants likely to complete the Program who are 21
noncertificated education support professionals; 22
(ii) Teacher applicants likely to complete the Program who are 23
provisional teachers; and 24
(iii) Mentor teachers necessary to support teacher candidates in the 25
Program] NUMBER OF PROJECTED PARTICIPANTS TO INCL UDE IN THE PROGRAM; 26
and 27
(3) Evidence of a written billing agreement with an institution of higher 28
education that includes: 29
(i) The total cost to the collaborative for the cohort of teacher 30
candidates; 31
(ii) Prorated tuition cost the collaborative shall pay the institution of 32
higher education if a candidate does not complete the Program; and 33 54 SENATE BILL 429
(iii) A provision that no teacher candidate shall be required to pay 1
tuition, books, or fees as part of the teacher candidate’s course of study. 2
(c) A collaborative shall develop and submit to the Department: 3
(1) An outreach plan to recruit teacher candidates and mentor teachers 4
that: 5
(i) Prioritizes candidates and mentor teachers with linguistic 6
diversity and from racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in the teaching 7
profession; AND 8
(ii) [Estimates Program expenses by category, keeping program 9
expenses related to provisional teachers at or below one quarter of total expenses; and 10
(iii) Identifies at least one source of long–term funding for the 11
Program, including the process and timeline for obtaining long–term funding] INCLUDES 12
RECRUITMENT INITIATI VES THAT TARGET HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES , ASSOCIATE 13
OF ARTS AND TEACHING DEGREE CANDIDATES , CAREER CHANGERS , AND 14
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN TERESTED IN THE TEAC HING PROFESSION ; AND 15
(III) IDENTIFIES A SUSTAINA BILITY PLAN TO CONTI NUE 16
RECRUITING, PREPARING, AND MENTORING TEACHE R CANDIDATES AFTER 17
COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM; and 18
(2) Any other materials required by the Department. 19
18–27A–04. 20
(A) (1) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2025, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONS ULT 21
WITH A NATIONAL NONP ROFIT ENTITY THAT HAS SUCCESSFULL Y GUIDED OTHER 22
STATE EDUCATION AGEN CIES OR LOCAL EDUCAT ION AGENCIES THAT HA VE 23
INCREASED THE NUMBER OF LICENSED TEACHERS BY: 24
(I) LAUNCHING SUSTAINABLE , COST–EFFECTIVE 25
GROW–YOUR–OWN TEACHER PREPARAT ION PROGRAMS ; 26
(II) IMPLEMENTING REGISTERED TEACHER A PPRENTICESHIPS ; 27
AND 28
(III) IMPLEMENTING TEACHER RESIDENCIES. 29
(2) THE ENTITY SELECTED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 30
SUBSECTION SHALL SUP PORT THE DEPARTMENT IN THE DES IGN, 31 SENATE BILL 429 55
IMPLEMENTATION , AND EVALUATION OF TH E PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE 1
DEVELOPMENT OF METRIC S FOR ESTABLISHING H IGH–QUALITY TEACHER 2
PREPARATION AND LICE NSURE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST LIK ELIHOOD 3
OF INCREASING AIDING THE STATE BY: 4
(I) INCREASING THE TEACHER WORKFORC E IN THE STATE; 5
AND 6
(II) IMPROVING TEACHER RETENTION AND DIVERS ITY. 7
(3) THE ENTITY SELECTED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 8
SUBSECTION MAY WORK DIRECTLY WITH COLLAB ORATIVES TO SUPPORT THE 9
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPL EMENTATION OF GROW –YOUR–OWN TEACHER 10
PREPARATION PROGRAMS . 11
[(a) (1)] (B) [The] BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2026, THE Department shall 12
award a grant to a local school system OR INSTITUTION OF HI GHER EDUCATION that is 13
part of a collaborative for employees of the local school system to complete a [teacher 14
preparation program at an institution of higher education] PATHWAY TO TEACHER 15
LICENSURE under the agreement described in § 18–27A–03 of this subtitle. 16
[(2)] (C) The Department shall award a grant TO A LOCAL SCHOOL 17
SYSTEM for: 18
[(i)] (1) Tuition, books, and fees for teacher candidates; 19
[(ii)] (2) Stipends for mentor teachers; and 20
[(iii)] (3) Costs associated with the administration of the Program. 21
(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL AWAR D A GRANT TO AN INST ITUTION OF 22
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR : 23
(1) CURRICULAR DEVELOPMEN T; 24
(2) DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETENCY –BASED COURSEWORK AND 25
ASSESSMENTS ; AND 26
(3) COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DELIVERY AND EVA LUATION OF 27
ON–THE–JOB EXPERIENTIAL LEA RNING. 28
(E) (1) GRANTS SHALL BE AWARD ED ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. 29
56 SENATE BILL 429
[(3)] (F) (2) In awarding a grant, the Department shall [take 1
necessary steps to ensure that not more than one quarter of expenses awarded in the grant 2
go to supporting provisional teacher participants in the Program ] PRIORITIZE 3
COLLABORATIVES THAT PARTNER WITH INSTITU TIONS OF HIGHER EDUCA TION 4
OFFERING TO NEGOTIAT E A LOWER TUITION CO ST FOR TEACHER CANDI DATES. 5
(E) (1) THIS SUBSECTION APPLI ES ONLY TO COLLABORA TIVES THAT 6
IMPLEMENT A REGISTER ED TEACHER APPRENTIC ESHIP PROGRAM MODEL UNDER 7
THE PROGRAM. 8
(2) IN AWARDING A GRANT UNDER THIS SUB SECTION, THE 9
DEPARTMENT SHALL PRIO RITIZE COLLABORATIVE S THAT: 10
(I) ARE COMPOSED OF A GRO UP OF MORE THAN ONE LOCAL 11
SCHOOL SYSTEM AND MO RE THAN ONE EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION REPRESE NTING 12
EMPLOYEES OF A LOCAL SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 6, SUBTITLE 4 OR 13
SUBTITLE 5 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 14
(II) IMPLEMENT A REGISTERE D TEACHER APPRENTICE SHIP 15
PROGRAM TO BE ADMINI STERED BY THE DEPARTMENT WITH A STA NDARDIZED 16
CURRICULUM THAT PROM OTES ON–THE–JOB EXPERIENTIAL LEA RNING TO BE 17
LEVERAGED ACROSS THE STATE. 18
(3) AN INSTITUTION OF HIG HER EDUCATION IN THE STATE MAY 19
PROVIDE RELATED INST RUCTION FOR A REGIST ERED TEACHER APPRENT ICESHIP 20
PROGRAM UNDER THIS S UBSECTION THROUGH A COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS. 21
[(4) The Department, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of 22
Labor, shall, on request, provide technical assistance to a collaborative in obtaining State, 23
federal, or other funding for the operation of the Program. 24
(b) (F) (1) A teacher candidate shall be paid a rate of pay and offered 25
benefits that are at least equal to the rate of pay received by and benefits offered to a 26
noncertified education support professional or provisional teacher of the equivalent 27
classification and tenure in the local school system provided in the collective bargaining 28
agreement. 29
(c) (1) A collaborative shall provide each teacher candidate a mentor teacher 30
for the entirety of the Program. 31
(2) (I) THIS PARAGRAPH DOES N OT APPLY TO A PROVIS IONAL 32
TEACHER. 33
SENATE BILL 429 57
(II) A EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS 1
PARAGRAPH , A teacher candidate may not serve as a teacher of record or a substitute 2
teacher for any teacher other than the mentor teacher assigned to the teacher candidate.] 3
(III) A TEACHER CANDIDATE MA Y SERVE AS A DAILY SUBSTITUTE 4
TEACHER IF: 5
1. THE TEACHER CANDIDATE DOES SO IN ACCORDANC E 6
WITH THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM; 7
2. THE TEACHER CANDIDATE AGREES TO THE 8
ASSIGNMENT ; 9
3. THE TEACHER CANDIDATE ’S MENTOR APPROVES OF 10
THE ASSIGNMENT ; AND 11
4. THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL IN WHICH THE 12
TEACHER CANDIDATE IS EMPLOYED APPROVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT . 13
(G) A LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM MAY NOT REDUCE THE C OMPENSATION OR 14
BENEFITS OF A TEACHE R CANDIDATE. 15
[(d)] (H) A local school system and an employee organization that represents the 16
teacher candidates shall negotiate a gradual release model that allows teacher candidates 17
to focus primarily on internship and practicum requirements, IF APPLICABLE. 18
[(e)] (I) A teacher candidate shall perform a service obligation to teach full–time 19
in the State in a public school or a public prekindergarten program in a [high–needs school, 20
as identified by the Department, or in a grade level or] content area in which there is a 21
shortage of qualified educators, as identified by the Department for a minimum of 2 years. 22
18–27A–05. 23
The Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation for the 24
Program. 25
18–27A–06. 26
(a) Each year, the Department shall collect [and publish on its website]: 27
(1) Data on teacher candidate race, gender, and linguistic status; 28
(2) Data on teacher candidate status and retention; 29
(3) Spending by category; 30 58 SENATE BILL 429
(4) A summary of teacher candidate recruitment methods; and 1
(5) If applicable, the hiring status and retention data of Program 2
graduates. 3
(b) (1) [In reporting] WHEN COLLECTING ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2026, 4
AND EACH JULY 1 THEREAFTER , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REPO RT ON the data 5
COLLECTED under subsection (a) of this section TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN 6
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 7
(2) IN ISSUING REPORTS UN DER THIS SECTION , the Department shall 8
make reasonable efforts to anonymize the data to protect the privacy of teacher candidates. 9
SECTION 3. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 10
as follows: 11
Article – Education 12
6–126. 13
(a) (1) This subsection applies to individuals who have graduated from a 14
teacher preparation program or an alternative teacher preparation program. 15
(2) Beginning on July 1, 2025, to qualify for an initial certificate an 16
individual shall: 17
(i) Pass the subject–specific examinations under § 6–125 of this 18
subtitle; 19
(ii) Meet one of the following qualifications: 20
1. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, pass a 21
nationally recognized, portfolio–based assessment of teaching ability; or 22
2. Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, complete a 23
rigorous local school system teacher induction program that lasts for the lesser of: 24
A. 3 years; or 25
B. The amount of time a teacher may hold a conditional 26
teacher certificate; 27
(iii) Meet one of the following qualifications: 28
1. Pass a basic literacy skills assessment approved by the 29
Department under § 6–125 of this subtitle; 30 SENATE BILL 429 59
2. Hold a degree from a regionally accredited educational 1
institution and have earned a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 2
4.0 scale or its equivalent on the most recently earned degree; or 3
3. Submit documentation to the Departmen t of having 4
received effective evaluations from a local school system for 3 years; 5
(iv) Pass a rigorous State–specific examination of mastery of reading 6
instruction and content for the grade level the individual will be teaching; and 7
(v) Satisfactorily complete any other requirements established by 8
the State Board. 9
(3) An individual who graduates from a teacher preparation program in 10
the State who passed a nationally recognized, portfolio–based assessment may not be 11
required to take the assessment more than one time. 12
(4) (i) In order to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (2)(ii)2 of this 13
subsection, a candidate for an initial teacher certificate shall submit documentation to the 14
Department that the candidate has completed a rigorous comprehensive induction 15
program, established in accordance with § 6–117 of this subtitle, that meets the 16
requirements of this paragraph. 17
(ii) The comprehensive induction program shall be developed by a 18
local school system, either independently or collaboratively with other local school systems. 19
(iii) Before establishing a comprehensive induction program, one or 20
more local school systems shall submit a plan for the program to the Department and the 21
Accountability and Implementation Board. 22
(iv) The comprehensive induction program shall include a locally 23
developed portfolio component that is aligned with the Interstate Teacher Assessment and 24
Support Consortium Standards. 25
(v) A teacher preparation program or an alternative teacher 26
preparation program may use the locally developed portfolio component under 27
subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph as meeting a portion of the coursework requirements 28
of the program. 29
(vi) A candidate who satisfactorily completes a comprehensive 30
induction program established in accordance with this paragraph may not be required to 31
pass a nationally recognized, portfolio–based assessment of teaching ability. 32
(b) (1) THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A TEACH ER WHO HOLDS A 33
PROFESSIONAL LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE FROM A STATE FOR WHICH THE LICENSE 34 60 SENATE BILL 429
OR CERTIFICATE IS AC CEPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERSTATE TEACHER 1
MOBILITY COMPACT UNDER SUBTITLE 6 OF THIS TITLE. 2
(2) In addition to any other requirements established by the State Board, 3
to qualify for a certificate in the State, a teacher who graduated from an institution of 4
higher education in another state or holds a professional license or certificate from another 5
state shall: 6
[(1)] (I) Pass an examination of teaching ability within 18 months of 7
being hired by a local school system; 8
[(2)] (II) Hold an active National Board Certification from the National 9
Board for Professional Teaching Standards; or 10
[(3)] (III) Complete a comprehensive induction program in accordance with 11
subsection (a)(4) of this section. 12
(c) (1) The Department, after a reasonable period of review and assessment, 13
shall determine whether one of the assessments of teaching skill approved for initial 14
teacher certification under this section more adequately measures the skills and knowledge 15
required of a highly qualified teacher. 16
(2) If the Department makes a determination under paragraph (1) of this 17
subsection that requires a revision to the statutory requirements for initial teacher 18
certification, the Department shall, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 19
Article, submit a report to the General Assembly on or before the next September 1 on its 20
recommendations for revising the qualifications for initial teacher certification. 21
(d) (1) The Department shall actively monitor and assess, during their 22
implementation and development, new teacher standards and assessments produced under 23
this section for any negative impact on the diversity of teacher candidates passing the 24
initial teacher certification assessments. 25
(2) The Department shall report the results of its monitoring and 26
assessment to the Accountability and Implementation Board established under § 5–402 of 27
this article. 28
SUBTITLE 6. INTERSTATE TEACHER MOBILITY COMPACT. 29
6–601. 30
THE INTERSTATE TEACHER MOBILITY COMPACT IS HEREBY ENA CTED AND 31
ENTERED INTO WITH AL L OTHER JURISDICTION S THAT LEGALLY JOIN IN THIS 32
COMPACT IN THE FORM S UBSTANTIALLY AS THE COMPACT APPEARS IN TH IS 33
SECTION AS FOLLOWS : 34
SENATE BILL 429 61
ARTICLE I. PURPOSE. 1
THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMPACT IS TO FACILIT ATE THE MOBILITY OF 2
TEACHERS A CROSS THE MEMBER STATES, WITH THE GOAL OF SUP PORTING 3
TEACHERS THROUGH A NE W PATHWAY TO LICENSU RE. THROUGH THIS COMPACT, 4
THE MEMBER STATES SEEK TO ESTABL ISH A COLLECTIVE REG ULATORY 5
FRAMEWORK THAT EXPED ITES AND ENHANCES TH E ABILITY OF TEACHERS TO MOVE 6
ACROSS STATE LINES. 7
THIS COMPACT IS INTENDED T O ACHIEVE THE FOLLOW ING OBJECTIVES AND 8
SHOULD BE INTERPRETE D ACCORDINGLY . THE MEMBER STATES HEREBY RATIFY 9
THE SAME INTENTIONS BY SUBSCRIBING HERET O. 10
A. CREATE A STREAMLINED PATHWAY TO LICENSURE MOBILITY FOR 11
TEACHERS; 12
B. SUPPORT THE RELOCATIO N OF ELIGIBLE MILITARY SPOUSES; 13
C. FACILITATE AND ENHANC E THE EXCHANGE OF LI CENSURE, 14
INVESTIGATIVE, AND DISCIPLINARY INF ORMATION BETWEEN THE MEMBER 15
STATES; 16
D. ENHANCE THE POWER OF STATE AND DISTRICT LE VEL EDUCATION 17
OFFICIALS TO HIRE QUALIFIE D, COMPETENT TEACHERS BY REMOVING BARRIERS 18
TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF OUT–OF–STATE TEACHERS; 19
E. SUPPORT THE RETENTION OF TEACHERS IN THE PROFE SSION BY 20
REMOVING BARRIERS TO RE–LICENSURE IN A NEW STATE; AND 21
F. MAINTAIN STATE SOVEREIGNTY IN THE REGULATION OF TH E TEACHING 22
PROFESSION. 23
ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS. 24
AS USED IN THIS COMPACT, AND EXCEPT AS OTHERW ISE PROVIDED, THE 25
FOLLOWING DEFINITION S SHALL GOVERN THE T ERMS HEREIN: 26
A. “ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBER” MEANS ANY PERSON WIT H FULL–TIME 27
DUTY STATUS IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING 28
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE. 29
B. “ADVERSE ACTION” MEANS ANY LIMITATION OR RESTRICTION IMPOS ED 30
BY A MEMBER STATE’S LICENSING AUTHORITY, SUCH AS REVOCATION , 31 62 SENATE BILL 429
SUSPENSION, REPRIMAND , PROBATION, OR LIMITATION ON THE LICENSEE’S 1
ABILITY TO WORK AS A TEACHER. 2
C. “BYLAWS” MEANS THOSE BYLAWS E STABLISHED BY THE COMMISSION. 3
D. “CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION LICENSE” MEANS A CURRENT , 4
VALID AUTHORIZATION ISSUED BY A MEMBER STATE’S LICENSING AUTHORITY 5
ALLOWING AN INDIVIDU AL TO SERVE AS A TEACHER IN P–12 PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL 6
SETTINGS IN A SPECIF IC CAREER AND TECHNI CAL EDUCATION AREA . 7
E. “CHARTER MEMBER STATE” MEANS A MEMBER STATE THAT HAS 8
ENACTED LEGISLATION TO ADOPT THIS COMPACT WHERE SUCH LE GISLATION 9
PREDATES THE INITIAL MEETING OF THE COMMISSION AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE 10
OF THE COMPACT. 11
F. “COMMISSION” MEANS THE INTERSTATE ADMINISTRATIVE BODY 12
WHOSE MEMBERSHIP CON SISTS OF DELEGATES O F ALL STATES THAT HAVE 13
ENACTED THIS COMPACT, AND WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE INTERSTATE TEACHER 14
MOBILITY COMPACT COMMISSION. 15
G. “COMMISSIONER ” MEANS THE DELEGATE O F A MEMBER STATE. 16
H. “ELIGIBLE LICENSE” MEANS A LICENSE TO E NGAGE IN THE TEACHIN G 17
PROFESSION THAT REQU IRES AT LEAST A BACH ELOR’S DEGREE AND THE 18
COMPLETION OF A STATE APPROVED PRO GRAM FOR TEACHER LICENSURE . 19
I. “ELIGIBLE MILITARY SPOUSE” MEANS THE SPOUSE OF ANY INDIVIDUAL 20
IN FULL–TIME DUTY STATUS IN THE ACTIVE ARMED FOR CES OF THE UNITED STATES 21
INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE MOVING AS A 22
RESULT OF A MILITARY MIS SION OR MILITARY CAR EER PROGRESSION 23
REQUIREMENTS OR ON M EMBER’S TERMINAL MOVE AS A RESULT OF SEPARATION 24
OR RETIREMENT (TO INCLUDE SURVIVING SPOUSES OF DECEASED MILITARY 25
MEMBERS). 26
J. “EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE” MEANS A GROUP OF COMMISSIONERS 27
ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO ACT ON BEHALF OF , AND WITHIN THE POWER S 28
GRANTED TO THEM BY , THE COMMISSION AS PROVIDE D FOR HEREIN. 29
K. “LICENSING AUTHORITY” MEANS AN OFFICIAL , AGENCY, BOARD, OR 30
OTHER ENTITY OF A STATE THAT IS RESPONS IBLE FOR THE LICENSI NG AND 31
REGULATION OF TEACHERS AUTHORIZED T O TEACH IN P–12 PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL 32
SETTINGS. 33
SENATE BILL 429 63
L. “MEMBER STATE” MEANS ANY STATE THAT HAS ADOPTE D THIS 1
COMPACT, INCLUDING ALL AGENCI ES AND OFFICIALS OF SUCH A STATE. 2
M. “RECEIVING STATE” MEANS ANY STATE WHERE A TEACHER HAS 3
APPLIED FOR LICENSUR E UNDER THIS COMPACT. 4
N. “RULE” MEANS ANY REGULATION PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSION 5
UNDER THIS COMPACT, WHICH SHALL HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW IN EACH MEMBER 6
STATE. 7
O. “STATE” MEANS A STATE , TERRITORY, OR POSSESSION OF THE UNITED 8
STATES, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 9
P. “STATE PRACTICE LAWS” MEANS A MEMBER STATE’S LAWS, RULES, 10
AND REGULATIONS THAT GOVERN THE TEACHING PROFESSION, DEFINE THE SCOPE 11
OF SUCH PROFESSION , AND CREATE THE METHO DS AND GROUNDS FOR I MPOSING 12
DISCIPLINE. 13
Q. “STATE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT ” MEANS A REQUIREMENT FOR 14
LICENSURE COVERED IN COURSEWORK OR EXAMIN ATION THAT INCLUDES CONTENT 15
OF UNIQUE INTEREST T O THE STATE. 16
R. “TEACHER” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CURRENTLY HOLDS AN 17
AUTHORIZATION FROM A MEMBER STATE THAT FORMS TH E BASIS FOR 18
EMPLOYMENT IN THE P–12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF TH E STATE TO PROVIDE 19
INSTRUCTION IN A SPE CIFIC SUBJECT AREA , GRADE LEVEL , OR STUDENT 20
POPULATION . 21
S. “UNENCUMBERED LICENSE” MEANS A CURRENT , VALID 22
AUTHORIZATION ISSUED BY A MEMBER STATE’S LICENSING AUTHORITY ALLOWING 23
AN INDIVIDUAL TO SER VE AS A TEACHER IN P–12 PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL S ETTINGS. 24
AN UNENCUMBERED LICENSE IS NOT A REST RICTED, PROBATIONARY , 25
PROVISIONAL, SUBSTITUTE, OR TEMPORARY CREDENT IAL. 26
ARTICLE III. LICENSURE UNDER THE COMPACT. 27
A. LICENSURE UNDER THIS COMPACT PERTAINS ONLY TO THE INITIAL 28
GRANT OF A LICENSE B Y THE RECEIVING STATE. NOTHING HEREIN APPLIE S TO ANY 29
SUBSEQUENT OR ONGOIN G COMPLIANCE REQUIRE MENTS THAT A RECEIVING STATE 30
MIGHT REQUIRE FOR TEACHERS. 31
B. EACH MEMBER STATE SHALL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF 32
THE COMMISSION, DEFINE, COMPILE, AND UPDATE AS NECESS ARY A LIST OF 33
ELIGIBLE LICENSES AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION LICENSES THAT 34 64 SENATE BILL 429
THE MEMBER STATE IS WILLING TO C ONSIDER FOR EQUIVALE NCY UNDER THIS 1
COMPACT AND PROVIDE T HE LIST TO THE COMMISSION. THE LIST SHALL INCLUD E 2
THOSE LICENSES THAT A RECEIVING STATE IS WILLING TO G RANT TO TEACHERS 3
FROM OTHER MEMBER STATES, PENDING A DETERMINAT ION OF EQUIVALENCY B Y 4
THE RECEIVING STATE’S LICENSING AUTHORITY. 5
C. UPON THE RECEIPT OF A N APPLICATION FOR LICENSUR E BY A 6
TEACHER HOLDING AN UNENCUMBERED ELIGIBLE LICENSE, THE RECEIVING 7
STATE SHALL DETERMINE WHICH OF THE RECEIVING STATE’S ELIGIBLE LICENSES 8
THE TEACHER IS QUALIFIED TO HOLD AND SHALL GR ANT SUCH A LICENSE O R 9
LICENSES TO THE APPL ICANT. SUCH A DETERMINATION SHALL BE MADE IN THE 10
SOLE DISCRETION OF T HE RECEIVING STATE’S LICENSING AUTHORITY AND MAY 11
INCLUDE A DETERMINAT ION THAT THE APPLICA NT IS NOT ELIGIBLE F OR ANY OF 12
THE RECEIVING STATE’S ELIGIBLE LICENSES. FOR ALL TEACHERS WHO HOLD AN 13
UNENCUMBERED LICENSE, THE RECEIVING STATE SHALL GRANT ONE OR MORE 14
UNENCUMBERED LICENSE(S) THAT, IN THE RECEIVING STATE’S SOLE DISCRETION , 15
ARE EQUIVALENT TO TH E LICENSE(S) HELD BY THE TEACHER IN ANY OTHER 16
MEMBER STATE. 17
D. FOR ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS AND ELIGIBLE MILITARY SPOUSES 18
WHO HOLD A LICENSE T HAT IS NOT UNENCUMBERED , THE RECEIVING STATE SHALL 19
GRANT AN EQUIVALENT LICENSE OR LICENSES THAT, IN THE RECEIVING STATE’S 20
SOLE DISCRETION , IS EQUIVALENT TO THE LICENSE OR LICENSES HELD BY THE 21
TEACHER IN ANY OTH ER MEMBER STATE, EXCEPT WHERE THE RECEIVING STATE 22
DOES NOT HAVE AN EQU IVALENT LICENSE . 23
E. FOR A TEACHER HOLDING AN UNENCUMBERED CAREER AND 24
TECHNICAL EDUCATION LICENSE, THE RECEIVING STATE SHALL GRANT AN 25
UNENCUMBERED LICENSE EQUIVALENT TO THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL 26
EDUCATION LICENSE HELD BY THE A PPLYING TEACHER AND ISSUED BY ANOTHER 27
MEMBER STATE, AS DETERMINED BY THE RECEIVING STATE IN ITS SOLE 28
DISCRETION, EXCEPT WHERE A CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION TEACHER 29
DOES NOT HOLD A BACH ELOR’S DEGREE AND THE RECEIVING STATE REQUIRES A 30
BACHELOR’S DEGREE FOR LICENSE S TO TEACH CAREER AND TECHNICAL 31
EDUCATION. A RECEIVING STATE MAY REQUIRE CAREER AND TECHNICAL 32
EDUCATION TEACHERS TO MEET STATE INDUSTRY RECOGN IZED REQUIREMENTS , 33
IF REQUIRED BY LAW I N THE RECEIVING STATE. 34
ARTICLE IV. LICENSURE NOT UNDER T HE COMPACT. 35
A. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN ARTICLE III ABOVE, NOTHING IN THIS 36
COMPACT SHALL BE CONS TRUED TO LIMIT OR IN HIBIT THE POWER OF A MEMBER 37
STATE TO REGULATE LIC ENSURE OR ENDORSEMEN TS OVERSEEN BY THE MEMBER 38
STATE’S LICENSING AUTHORITY. 39 SENATE BILL 429 65
B. WHEN A TEACHER IS REQUIRED T O RENEW A LICENSE RE CEIVED 1
PURSUANT TO THIS COMPACT, THE STATE GRANTING SUCH A LICENSE MAY 2
REQUIRE THE TEACHER TO COMPLETE STATE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS AS A 3
CONDITION OF LICENSU RE RENEWAL OR ADVANC EMENT IN THAT STATE. 4
C. FOR THE PURPOSES OF D ETERMINING COMPENSAT ION, A RECEIVING 5
STATE MAY REQUIRE ADD ITIONAL INFORMATION FROM TEACHERS RECEIVING A 6
LICENSE UNDER THE PR OVISIONS OF THIS COMPACT. 7
D. NOTHING IN THIS COMPACT SHALL BE CONS TRUED TO LIMIT THE 8
POWER OF A MEMBER STATE TO CONTROL AND MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP O F ITS 9
INFORMATION PERTAINI NG TO TEACHERS, OR LIMIT THE APPLICA TION OF A 10
MEMBER STATE’S LAWS OR REGULATION S GOVERNING THE OWNE RSHIP, USE, OR 11
DISSEMINATION OF INF ORMATION PERTAINING TO TEACHERS. 12
E. NOTHING IN THIS COMPACT SHALL BE CONS TRUED TO INVALIDATE OR 13
ALTER ANY EXISTING A GREEMENT OR OTHER CO OPERATIVE ARRANGEMEN T THAT A 14
MEMBER STATE MAY ALREADY BE A PARTY TO, OR LIMIT THE ABILITY OF A MEMBER 15
STATE TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY FUTURE AGREEM ENT OR OTHER COOPERA TIVE 16
ARRANGEMENT TO : 17
1. AWARD TEACHING LICENS ES OR OTHER BENEFITS BASED ON 18
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIO NAL CREDENTIALS INCL UDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO , 19
NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION; 20
2. PARTICIPATE IN THE EX CHANGE OF NAMES OF TEACHERS WHOSE 21
LICENSE HAS BEEN SUB JECT TO AN ADVERSE ACTION BY A MEMBER STATE; OR 22
3. PARTICIPATE IN ANY AG REEMENT OR COOPERATI VE 23
ARRANGEMENT WITH A N ON–MEMBER STATE. 24
ARTICLE V. TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE 25
UNDER THE COMPACT. 26
A. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FO R ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS OR ELIGIBLE 27
MILITARY SPOUSES IN ARTICLE III.D ABOVE, A TEACHER MAY ONLY BE E LIGIBLE 28
TO RECEIVE A LICENSE UNDER THIS COMPACT WHERE THAT TEACHER HOLDS AN 29
UNENCUMBERED LICENSE IN A MEMBER STATE. 30
B. A TEACHER ELIGIBLE TO R ECEIVE A LICENSE UND ER THIS COMPACT 31
SHALL, UNLESS OTHERWISE PRO VIDED FOR HEREIN : 32
66 SENATE BILL 429
1. UPON THE TEACHER’S APPLICATION TO REC EIVE A LICENSE 1
UNDER THIS COMPACT, UNDERGO A CRIMINAL H ISTORY BACKGROUND CH ECK IN 2
THE RECEIVING STATE IN ACCORDANCE W ITH THE LAWS AND REG ULATIONS OF THE 3
RECEIVING STATE; AND 4
2. PROVIDE THE RECEIVING STATE WITH INFORMATIO N IN 5
ADDITION TO THE INFO RMATION REQUIRED FOR LICENSURE FOR THE PU RPOSES OF 6
DETERMINING COMPENSA TION, IF APPLICABLE. 7
ARTICLE VI. DISCIPLINE AND ADVERSE ACTIONS. 8
A. NOTHING IN THIS COMPACT SHALL BE DEEM ED OR CONSTRUED TO 9
LIMIT THE AUTHORITY OF A MEMBER STATE TO INVESTIGATE OR IMPOSE 10
DISCIPLINARY MEASURE S ON TEACHERS ACCORDING TO THE STATE PRACTICE 11
LAWS THEREOF . 12
B. MEMBER STATES SHALL BE AUTHO RIZED TO RECEIVE , AND SHALL 13
PROVIDE, FILES AND INFORMATION R EGARDING THE INVESTI GATION AND 14
DISCIPLINE, IF ANY, OF TEACHERS IN OTHER MEMBER STATES UPON REQUEST . ANY 15
MEMBER STATE RECEIVING SUCH INFORMATION OR FILES SHALL PROTECT AND 16
MAINTAIN THE SECURIT Y AND CONFIDENTIALIT Y THEREOF, IN AT LEAST THE SAME 17
MANNER THAT IT MAINT AINS ITS OWN INVESTI GATORY OR DISCIPLINA RY FILES AND 18
INFORMATION . PRIOR TO DISCLOSING A NY DISCIPLINARY OR I NVESTIGATORY 19
INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM ANOTHER MEMBER STATE, THE DISCLOSING STATE 20
SHALL COMMUNICATE IT S INTENTION AND PURP OSE FOR SUCH DISCLOS URE TO THE 21
MEMBER STATE THAT ORIGINALLY PROVIDED THAT INFORM ATION. 22
ARTICLE VII. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTERSTATE TEACHER MOBILITY 23
COMPACT COMMISSION. 24
A. THE INTERSTATE COMPAC T MEMBER STATES HEREBY CREATE AND 25
ESTABLISH A JOINT PU BLIC AGENCY KNOWN AS THE INTERSTATE TEACHER 26
MOBILITY COMPACT COMMISSION: 27
1. THE COMMISSION IS A JOINT INTERSTATE GOVERNMEN TAL 28
AGENCY COMPRISED OF STATES THAT HAVE ENAC TED THE INTERSTATE TEACHER 29
MOBILITY COMPACT. 30
2. NOTHING IN THIS INTER STATE COMPACT SHALL BE CONSTRUED 31
TO BE A WAIVER OF SO VEREIGN IMMUNITY . 32
B. MEMBERSHIP, VOTING, AND MEETINGS. 33
SENATE BILL 429 67
1. EACH MEMBER STATE SHALL HAVE AND BE LIMITED TO ONE (1) 1
DELEGATE TO THE COMMISSION, WHO SHALL BE GIVEN T HE TITLE OF 2
COMMISSIONER . 3
2. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BE THE PRIMARY ADMINIST RATIVE 4
OFFICER OF THE STATE LICENSING AUTHORITY OR THEIR DE SIGNEE. 5
3. ANY COMMISSIONER MAY BE R EMOVED OR SUSPENDED FROM 6
OFFICE AS PROVIDED B Y THE LAW OF THE STA TE FROM WHICH THE COMMISSIONER 7
IS APPOINTED. 8
4. THE MEMBER STATE SHALL FILL ANY VACAN CY OCCURRING IN 9
THE COMMISSION WITHIN 90 DAYS. 10
5. EACH COMMISSIONER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO ONE (1) VOTE 11
ABOUT THE PROMULGATI ON OF RULES AND CREATION OF BYLAWS AND SHALL 12
OTHERWISE HAVE AN OP PORTUNITY TO PARTICI PATE IN THE BUSINESS AND 13
AFFAIRS OF THE COMMISSION. A COMMISSIONER SHALL VO TE IN PERSON OR BY 14
SUCH OTHER MEANS AS PROVIDED IN THE BYLAWS. THE BYLAWS MAY PROVIDE FO R 15
COMMISSIONERS ’ PARTICIPATION IN MEE TINGS BY TELEPHONE O R OTHER MEANS 16
OF COMMUNICATION . 17
6. THE COMMISSION SHALL MEE T AT LEAST ONCE DURI NG EACH 18
CALENDAR YEAR . ADDITIONAL MEETINGS S HALL BE HELD AS SET FORTH IN THE 19
BYLAWS. 20
7. THE COMMISSION SHALL ESTA BLISH BY RULE A TERM OF OFFICE 21
FOR COMMISSIONERS . 22
C. THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERS AND DUTIES. 23
1. ESTABLISH A CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE COMMISSION. 24
2. ESTABLISH THE FISCAL YEAR OF THE COMMISSION. 25
3. ESTABLISH BYLAWS FOR THE COMMISSION. 26
4. MAINTAIN ITS FINANCIA L RECORDS IN ACCORDA NCE WITH THE 27
BYLAWS OF THE COMMISSION. 28
5. MEET AND TAKE SUCH ACTIONS AS ARE CONSI STENT WITH THE 29
PROVISIONS OF THIS I NTERSTATE COMPACT , THE BYLAWS, AND RULES OF THE 30
COMMISSION. 31
68 SENATE BILL 429
6. PROMULGATE UNIFORM RULES TO IMPLEMENT AN D ADMINISTER 1
THIS INTERSTATE COMP ACT. THE RULES SHALL HAVE THE FORCE AND EFFECT OF 2
LAW AND SHAL L BE BINDING IN ALL MEMBER STATES. IN THE EVENT THE 3
COMMISSION EXERCISES ITS RULEMAKING AUTHORITY IN A MANNER THAT IS 4
BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE PURPOSES OF THE COMPACT, OR THE POWERS 5
GRANTED HEREUNDER , THEN SUCH AN ACTION BY THE COMMISSION SHALL BE 6
INVALID AND HAVE NO FORCE AND EFFECT OF LAW . 7
7. BRING AND PROSECUTE L EGAL PROCEEDINGS OR ACTIONS IN 8
THE NAME OF THE COMMISSION, PROVIDED THAT THE ST ANDING OF ANY MEMBER 9
STATE LICENSING AUTHORITY TO SUE OR B E SUED UNDER APPLICA BLE LAW MAY 10
NOT BE AFFECTED . 11
8. PURCHASE AND MAINTAIN INSURANCE AND BONDS . 12
9. BORROW, ACCEPT, OR CONTRACT FOR SERV ICES OF PERSONNEL , 13
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO , EMPLOYEES OF A MEMBER STATE, OR AN 14
ASSOCIATED NONGOVERN MENTAL ORGANIZATION THAT IS OPEN TO MEMB ERSHIP 15
BY ALL STATES. 16
10. HIRE EMPLOYEES , ELECT OR APPOINT OFF ICERS, FIX 17
COMPENSATION , DEFINE DUTIES , GRANT SUCH INDIVIDUA LS APPROPRIATE 18
AUTHORITY TO CARRY O UT THE PURPOSES OF T HE COMPACT , AND ESTABLISH THE 19
COMMISSION’S PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROGRAMS RELATIN G TO CONFLICTS OF 20
INTEREST, QUALIFICATIONS OF PE RSONNEL, AND OTHER RELATED PE RSONNEL 21
MATTERS. 22
11. LEASE, PURCHASE, ACCEPT APPROPRIATE G IFTS OR DONATIONS 23
OF, OR OTHERWISE OWN , HOLD, IMPROVE, OR USE, ANY PROPERTY , REAL, 24
PERSONAL OR MIXED , PROVIDED THAT AT ALL TIMES THE COMMISSION SHALL 25
AVOID ANY APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY . 26
12. SELL, CONVEY, MORTGAGE , PLEDGE, LEASE, EXCHANGE, 27
ABANDON, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF ANY PROPERTY REAL , PERSONAL, OR MIXED. 28
13. ESTABLISH A BUDGET AN D MAKE EXPENDITURES . 29
14. BORROW MONEY . 30
15. APPOINT COMMITTEES , INCLUDING STANDING C OMMITTEES 31
COMPOSED OF MEMBERS AND SUCH OTHER INTER ESTED PERSONS AS MAY BE 32
DESIGNATED IN THIS I NTERSTATE COMPACT , RULES, OR BYLAWS. 33
SENATE BILL 429 69
16. PROVIDE AND RECEIVE I NFORMATION FROM , AND COOPERATE 1
WITH, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN CIES. 2
17. ESTABLISH AND ELECT A N EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 3
18. ESTABLISH AND DEVELOP A CHARTER FOR AN EXECUTIVE 4
INFORMATION GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE TO ADVISE O N FACILITATING EXCHA NGE 5
OF INFORMATION , USE OF INFORMATION , DATA PRIVACY, AND TECHNICAL SUPPOR T 6
NEEDS, AND PROVIDE REPORTS AS NEEDED. 7
19. PERFORM SUCH OTHER FU NCTIONS AS MAY BE NE CESSARY OR 8
APPROPRIATE TO ACHIE VE THE PURPOSES OF T HIS INTERSTATE COMPA CT 9
CONSISTENT WITH THE STATE REGULATION OF TEACHER LICENSURE . 10
20. DETERMINE WHETHER A STATE’S ADOPTE D LANGUAGE IS 11
MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE MODEL COMPA CT LANGUAGE SUCH THA T THE 12
STATE WOULD NOT QUALI FY FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPACT. 13
D. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE INTERSTATE TEACHER MOBILITY 14
COMPACT COMMISSION. 15
1. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO ACT ON 16
BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THIS INTERSTATE 17
COMPACT. 18
2. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL BE CO MPOSED OF EIGHT 19
VOTING MEMBERS : 20
A. THE COMMISSION CHAIR , VICE CHAIR, AND TREASURER ; 21
AND 22
B. FIVE MEMBERS WHO ARE ELECTED BY THE COMMISSION 23
FROM THE CURRENT MEM BERSHIP: 24
I. FOUR VOTING MEMBERS R EPRESENTING 25
GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS I N ACCORDANCE WITH COMMISSION RULES; AND 26
II. ONE AT LARGE VOTING M EMBER IN ACCORDANCE 27
WITH COMMISSION RULES. 28
3. THE COMMISSION MAY ADD OR REM OVE MEMBERS OF THE 29
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AS PROVIDED IN COMMISSION RULES. 30
70 SENATE BILL 429
4. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL MEET AT LEAST ONCE 1
ANNUALLY. 2
5. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING 3
DUTIES AND RESPONSIB ILITIES: 4
A. RECOMMEN D TO THE ENTIRE COMMISSION CHANGES TO 5
THE RULES OR BYLAWS, CHANGES TO THE COMPA CT LEGISLATION , FEES PAID BY 6
INTERSTATE COMPACT MEMBER STATES SUCH AS ANNUAL DUES, AND ANY 7
COMPACT FEE CHARGED BY THE MEMBER STATES ON BEHALF OF T HE COMMISSION. 8
B. ENSURE COMMISSION ADMINISTRAT ION SERVICES ARE 9
APPROPRIATELY PROVID ED, CONTRACTUAL OR OTHER WISE. 10
C. PREPARE AND RECOMMEND THE BUDGET. 11
D. MAINTAIN FINANCIAL RE CORDS ON BEHALF OF T HE 12
COMMISSION. 13
E. MONITOR COMPLIANCE OF MEMBER STATES AND PROVIDE 14
REPORTS TO THE COMMISSION. 15
F. PERFORM OTHER DUTIES AS PROVIDED IN RULES OR 16
BYLAWS. 17
6. MEETINGS OF THE COMMISSION. 18
A. ALL MEETINGS SHALL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC , AND 19
PUBLIC NOTICE OF MEE TINGS SHALL BE GIVEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMMISSION 20
BYLAWS. 21
B. THE COMMISSION OR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OR 22
OTHER COMMITTEES OF THE COMMISSION MAY CONVEN E IN A CLOSED , 23
NON–PUBLIC MEETING IF TH E COMMISSION OR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OR OTHER 24
COMMITTEES OF THE COMMISSION MUST DISCU SS: 25
I. NONCOMPLIANCE OF A MEMBER STATE WITH ITS 26
OBLIGATIONS UNDER TH E COMPACT. 27
II. THE EMPLOYMENT , COMPENSATION , DISCIPLINE OR 28
OTHER MATTERS , PRACTICES OR PROCEDU RES RELATED TO SPECI FIC EMPLOYEES 29
OR OTHER MATTERS REL ATED TO THE COMMISSION’S INTERNAL PERSONNEL 30
PRACTICES AND PROCED URES. 31
SENATE BILL 429 71
III. CURRENT, THREATENED , OR REASONABLY 1
ANTICIPATED LITIGATI ON. 2
IV. NEGOTIATION OF CONTRA CTS FOR THE PURCHASE , 3
LEASE, OR SALE OF GOODS , SERVICES, OR REAL ESTATE . 4
V. ACCUSING ANY PERSON O F A CRIME OR FORMALL Y 5
CENSURING ANY PERSON . 6
VI. DISCLOSURE OF TRADE S ECRETS OR COMMERCIAL 7
OR FINANCIAL INFORMA TION THAT IS PRIVILE GED OR CONFIDENTIAL . 8
VII. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMA TION OF A PERSONAL 9
NATURE WHERE DISCLOS URE WOULD CONSTITUTE A CLEARLY UNWARRANTE D 10
INVASION OF PERSONAL PRIVACY. 11
VIII. DISCLOSURE OF INVESTI GATIVE RECORDS COMPI LED 12
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES. 13
IX. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMA TION RELATED TO ANY 14
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT S PREPARED BY OR ON BEHALF OF OR FOR USE OF THE 15
COMMISSION OR OTHER C OMMITTEE CHARGED WIT H RESPONSIBILITY OF 16
INVESTIGATION OR DETE RMINATION OF COMPLIA NCE ISSUES PURSUANT TO THE 17
COMPACT. 18
X. MATTERS SPECIFICALLY EXEMPTED FROM 19
DISCLOSURE BY FEDERA L OR MEMBER STATE STATUTE. 20
XI. OTHER MATTERS AS SET FORTH BY COMMISSION 21
BYLAWS AND RULES. 22
C. IF A MEETING , OR PORTION OF A MEET ING, IS CLOSED 23
PURSUANT TO THIS PRO VISION, THE COMMISSION’S LEGAL COUNSEL OR D ESIGNEE 24
SHALL CERTIFY THAT T HE MEETING MAY BE CL OSED AND SHALL REFER ENCE EACH 25
RELEVANT EXEMPTING P ROVISION. 26
D. THE COMMISSION SHALL KEEP MINUTES OF COMMISSION 27
MEETINGS AND SHALL P ROVIDE A FULL AND AC CURATE SUMMARY OF AC TIONS 28
TAKEN, AND THE REASONS THER EFOR, INCLUDING A DESCRIPT ION OF THE VIEWS 29
EXPRESSED. ALL DOCUMENTS CONSIDE RED IN CONNECTION WI TH AN ACTION 30
SHALL BE IDENTIFIED IN SUCH MINUTES . ALL MINUTES A ND DOCUMENTS OF A 31
CLOSED MEETING SHALL REMAIN UNDER SEAL , SUBJECT TO RELEASE B Y A 32
MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COMMISSION OR ORDER O F A COURT OF COMPETE NT 33
JURISDICTION. 34 72 SENATE BILL 429
7. FINANCING OF THE COMMISSION. 1
A. THE COMMISSION SHALL PAY , OR PROVIDE FOR THE 2
PAYMENT OF, THE REASONABLE EXPEN SES OF ITS ESTABLISH MENT, ORGANIZATION , 3
AND ONGOING ACTIVITI ES. 4
B. THE COMMISSION MAY ACCEPT ALL APPROPRIATE 5
DONATIONS AND GRANTS OF MONEY, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, AND 6
SERVICES, AND RECEIVE, UTILIZE, AND DISPOSE OF THE S AME, PROVIDED THAT AT 7
ALL TIMES THE COMMISSION SHALL AVOI D ANY APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY OR 8
CONFLICT OF INTEREST . 9
C. THE COMMISSION MAY LEVY O N AND COLLECT AN ANN UAL 10
ASSESSMENT FROM EACH MEMBER STATE OR IMPOSE FEES ON OTHER PARTIES TO 11
COVER THE COST OF THE OPERATIONS AND A CTIVITIES OF THE COMMISSION, IN 12
ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSION RULES. 13
D. THE COMMISSION MAY NOT IN CUR OBLIGATIONS OF A NY 14
KIND PRIOR TO SECURI NG THE FUNDS ADEQUAT E TO MEET THE SAME ; NOR SHALL 15
THE COMMISSION PLEDGE THE CREDIT OF ANY OF THE MEMBER STATES, EXCEPT 16
BY AND WITH THE AUTH ORITY OF THE MEMBER STATE. 17
E. THE COMMISSION SHALL KEEP ACCURATE ACCOUNTS OF 18
ALL RECEIPTS AND DIS BURSEMENTS . THE RECEIPTS AND DISB URSEMENTS OF THE 19
COMMISSION SHALL BE S UBJECT TO ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES EST ABLISHED 20
UNDER COMMISSION BYLAWS. ALL RECEIPTS AND DISB URSEMENTS OF FUNDS O F 21
THE COMMISSION SHALL BE R EVIEWED ANNUALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH 22
COMMISSION BYLAWS, AND A REPORT OF THE REVIEW SHALL BE INCL UDED IN AND 23
BECOME PART OF THE A NNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSION. 24
8. QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, DEFENSE, AND INDEMNIFICATION . 25
A. THE MEMBERS , OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR , 26
EMPLOYEES AND REPRES ENTATIVES OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE I MMUNE FROM 27
SUIT AND LIABILITY , EITHER PERSONALLY OR IN THEIR OFFICIAL CA PACITY, FOR 28
ANY CLAIM FOR DAMAGE TO OR LOSS OF PROPERTY OR PERSONAL INJURY O R 29
OTHER CIVIL LIABILIT Y CAUSED BY OR ARISI NG OUT OF ANY ACTUAL OR ALLEGED 30
ACT, ERROR OR OMISSION TH AT OCCURRED , OR THAT THE PERSON A GAINST WHOM 31
THE CLAIM IS MADE HA D A REASONABLE BASIS FOR BELIEVING OCCURRED WITHIN 32
THE SCOPE OF COMMISSION EMPLOYMENT , DUTIES OR RESPONSIBI LITIES; 33
PROVIDED THAT NOTHIN G IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE CONSTRUED T O PROTECT 34
ANY SUCH PERSON FROM SUIT OR LIABILITY FO R ANY DAMAGE , LOSS, INJURY, OR 35 SENATE BILL 429 73
LIABILITY CAUSED BY THE INTENTIONAL OR WILLFUL OR WANTON MISCONDUCT OF 1
THAT PERSON . 2
B. THE COMMISSION SHALL DEFE ND ANY MEMBER , OFFICER, 3
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR , EMPLOYEE, OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMISSION IN 4
ANY CIVIL ACTION SEE KING TO IMPOSE LIABI LITY ARISING OUT OF ANY ACTUAL OR 5
ALLEGED ACT, ERROR, OR OMISSION THAT OCC URRED WITHIN THE SCO PE OF 6
COMMISSION EMPLOYMENT , DUTIES, OR RESPONSIBILITIES , OR THAT THE PERSON 7
AGAINST WHOM THE CLA IM IS MADE HAD A REA SONABLE BASIS FOR BE LIEVING 8
OCCURRED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF COMMISSION EMPLOYMENT , DUTIES, OR 9
RESPONSIBILITIES ; PROVIDED THAT NOTHIN G HEREIN SHALL BE CO NSTRUED TO 10
PROHIBIT THAT PERSON FROM RETAINING HIS O R HER OWN COUNSEL ; AND 11
PROVIDED FURTHER , THAT THE ACTUAL OR A LLEGED ACT, ERROR, OR OMISSION 12
DID NOT RESULT FROM THAT PERSON ’S INTENTIONAL OR WILLFUL OR WANTON 13
MISCONDUCT . 14
C. THE COMMISSION SHALL INDE MNIFY AND HOLD HARML ESS 15
ANY MEMBER , OFFICER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR , EMPLOYEE, OR REPRESENTATIVE 16
OF THE COMMISSION FOR THE AM OUNT OF ANY SETTLEME NT OR JUDGMENT 17
OBTAINED AGAINST THA T PERSON ARISI NG OUT OF ANY ACTUAL OR ALLEGED ACT , 18
ERROR OR OMISSION TH AT OCCURRED WITHIN T HE SCOPE OF COMMISSION 19
EMPLOYMENT , DUTIES, OR RESPONSIBILITIES , OR THAT SUCH PERSON HAD A 20
REASONABLE BASIS FOR BELIEVING OCCURRED W ITHIN THE SCOPE OF 21
COMMISSION EMPLOYMENT , DUTIES, OR RESPONSIBILITIES , PROVIDED THAT THE 22
ACTUAL OR ALLEGED AC T, ERROR, OR OMISSION DID NOT RESULT FROM THE 23
INTENTIONAL OR WILLF UL OR WANTON MISCOND UCT OF THAT PERSON . 24
ARTICLE VIII. RULEMAKING . 25
A. THE COMMISSION SHALL EXER CISE ITS RULEMAKING POWERS 26
PURSUANT TO THE CRIT ERIA SET FORTH IN TH IS INTERSTATE COMPAC T AND THE 27
RULES ADOPTED THEREUN DER. RULES AND AMENDMENTS SHALL BECOME 28
BINDING AS OF THE DA TE SPECIFIED IN EACH RULE OR AMENDMENT . 29
B. THE COMMISSION SHALL PROM ULGATE REASONABLE RULES TO 30
ACHIEVE THE INTENT AND PURPOS E OF THIS INTERSTATE COMPACT. IN THE EVENT 31
THE COMMISSION EXERCISES ITS RULEMAKING AUTHORITY IN A MANNER THAT IS 32
BEYOND PURPOSE AND I NTENT OF THIS INTERS TATE COMPACT , OR THE POWERS 33
GRANTED HEREUNDER , THEN SUCH AN ACTION BY THE COMMISSION SHALL BE 34
INVALID AND HAVE NO FORCE AND EFFECT OF LAW IN THE MEMBER STATES. 35
C. IF A MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATURES OF THE MEMBER STATES 36
REJECTS A RULE, BY ENACTMENT OF A ST ATUTE OR RESOLUTION IN THE SAME 37
MANNER USED TO ADOPT THE COMPACT WITHIN F OUR (4) YEARS OF THE DATE OF 38 74 SENATE BILL 429
ADOPTION OF THE RULE, THEN SUCH RULE SHALL HAVE NO FU RTHER FORCE AND 1
EFFECT IN ANY MEMBER STATE. 2
D. RULES OR AMENDMENTS T O THE RULES SHALL BE ADOPTE D OR 3
RATIFIED AT A REGULA R OR SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMISSION IN 4
ACCORDANCE WITH COMMISSION RULES AND BYLAWS. 5
E. UPON DETERMINATION TH AT AN EMERGENCY EXIS TS, THE 6
COMMISSION MAY CONSID ER AND ADOPT AN EMER GENCY RULE WITH 48 HOURS’ 7
NOTICE, WITH OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT, PROVIDED THAT THE US UAL 8
RULEMAKING PROCEDURES SHALL BE RETROACTIVE LY APPLIED TO THE RULE AS 9
SOON AS REASONABLY P OSSIBLE, IN NO EVENT LATER TH AN NINETY (90) DAYS 10
AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE RULE. FOR THE PURPOSES OF T HIS 11
PROVISION, AN EMERGENCY RULE IS ONE THAT MUST BE ADOPTED IMMEDIATE LY 12
IN ORDER TO: 13
1. MEET AN IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC HEA LTH, SAFETY, OR 14
WELFARE; 15
2. PREVENT A LOSS OF COMMISSION OR MEMBER STATE FUNDS; 16
3. MEET A DEADLINE FOR T HE PROMULGATION OF A N 17
ADMINISTRATIVE RULE THAT IS ESTABLIS HED BY FEDERAL LAW O R RULE; OR 18
4. PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. 19
ARTICLE IX. FACILITATING INFORMATION EXCHANGE. 20
A. THE COMMISSION SHALL PROV IDE FOR FACILITATING THE EXCHANGE 21
OF INFORMATION TO AD MINISTER AND IMPLEME NT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS 22
COMPACT IN ACCORDANC E WITH THE RULES OF THE COMMISSION, CONSISTENT 23
WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED DATA PROTECTION PRINCIPLE S. 24
B. NOTHING IN THIS COMPA CT SHALL BE DEEMED O R CONSTRUED TO 25
ALTER, LIMIT, OR INHIBIT THE POWER OF A MEMBER STATE TO CONTROL AND 26
MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP O F ITS LICENSEE INFOR MATION OR ALTER , LIMIT, OR 27
INHIBIT THE LAWS OR REGULATIONS GOVER NING LICENSEE INFORM ATION IN THE 28
MEMBER STATE. 29
ARTICLE X. OVERSIGHT, DISPUTE RESOLUTION, AND ENFORCEMENT . 30
A. OVERSIGHT. 31
SENATE BILL 429 75
1. THE EXECUTIVE AND JUD ICIAL BRANCHES OF STATE 1
GOVERNMENT IN EACH MEMBER STATE SHALL ENFORCE T HIS COMPACT AND TAKE 2
ALL ACTIONS NECESSAR Y AND APPROPRIATE TO EFFECTUATE THE COMPACT’S 3
PURPOSES AND INTENT . THE PROVISIONS OF THI S COMPACT SHALL HAVE 4
STANDING AS STATUTOR Y LAW. 5
2. VENUE IS PROPER AND J UDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BY OR AGAINST 6
THE COMMISSION SHALL BE BROUGHT SOLELY AND E XCLUSIVELY IN A COUR T OF 7
COMPETENT JURISDICTI ON WHERE THE PRINCIP AL OFFICE OF THE COMMISSION IS 8
LOCATED. THE COMMISSION MAY WAIVE VENUE AND JURISDICTI ONAL DEFENSES 9
TO THE EXTENT IT ADO PTS OR CONSENTS TO P ARTICIPATE IN ALTERN ATIVE 10
DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEED INGS. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT OR LIMIT 11
THE SELECTION OR PRO PRIETY OF VENUE IN A NY ACTION AGAINST A LICENSEE FOR 12
PROFESSIONAL MALPRAC TICE, MISCONDUCT OR ANY SU CH SIMILAR MATTER . 13
3. ALL COURTS AND ALL AD MINISTRATIVE AGENCIE S SHALL TAKE 14
JUDICIAL NOTICE OF T HE COMPACT, THE RULES OF THE COMMISSION, AND ANY 15
INFORMATION PROVIDED TO A MEMBER STATE PURSUANT THERET O IN ANY 16
JUDICIAL OR QUASI –JUDICIAL PROCEEDING IN A MEMBER STATE PERTAINING TO 17
THE SUBJECT MATTER O F THIS COMPACT, OR WHICH MAY AFFECT THE POWERS , 18
RESPONSIBILITIES , OR ACTIONS OF THE COMMISSION. 19
4. THE COMMISSION SHALL BE E NTITLED TO RECEIVE S ERVICE OF 20
PROCESS IN ANY PROCE EDING REGARDING THE ENFORCEMENT OR 21
INTERPRETATION OF TH E COMPACT AND SHALL HAV E STANDING TO INTERV ENE IN 22
SUCH A PROCEEDING FOR A LL PURPOSES. FAILURE TO PROVIDE TH E COMMISSION 23
SERVICE OF PROCESS S HALL RENDER A JUDGME NT OR ORDER VOID AS TO THE 24
COMMISSION, THIS COMPACT, OR PROMULGATED RULES. 25
B. DEFAULT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND TERMINATION. 26
1. IF THE COMMISSION DETERMINES THAT A MEMBER STATE HAS 27
DEFAULTED IN THE PER FORMANCE OF ITS OBLI GATIONS OR RESPONSIB ILITIES 28
UNDER THIS COMPACT OR THE PROMUL GATED RULES, THE COMMISSION SHALL : 29
A. PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTIC E TO THE DEFAULTING STATE 30
AND OTHER MEMBER STATES OF TH E NATURE OF THE DEFA ULT, THE PROPOSED 31
MEANS OF CURING THE DEFAULT OR ANY OTHER ACTION TO BE TAKEN B Y THE 32
COMMISSION; AND 33
B. PROVIDE REMEDIAL TRAI NING AND SPECIFIC TE CHNICAL 34
ASSISTANCE REGARDING THE DEFAULT . 35
76 SENATE BILL 429
C. IF A STATE IN DEFAULT FAIL S TO CURE THE DEFAULT, THE DEFAULTING 1
STATE MAY BE TERMINAT ED FROM THE COMPACT UPON AN AFFIR MATIVE VOTE OF 2
A MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE MEMBER STATES, AND ALL RIGHTS , 3
PRIVILEGES AND BENEF ITS CONFERRED ON THA T STATE BY THIS COMPACT MAY BE 4
TERMINATED ON THE EF FECTIVE DATE OF TERMIN ATION. A CURE OF THE DEFAULT 5
DOES NOT RELIEVE THE OFFENDING STATE OF OBLIGATIONS OR LIABILITIES 6
INCURRED DURING THE PERIOD OF DEFAULT . 7
D. TERMINATION OF MEMBER SHIP IN THE COMPACT SHALL BE IMPO SED 8
ONLY AFTER ALL OTHER MEANS OF SECURING COMPLIANCE HAVE BEEN 9
EXHAUSTED. NOTICE OF INTENT TO S USPEND OR TERMINATE SHALL BE GIVEN BY 10
THE COMMISSION TO THE GOV ERNOR, THE MAJORITY AND MIN ORITY LEADERS OF 11
THE DEFAULTING STATE’S LEGISLATURE , THE STATE LICENSING AUTHORITY AND 12
EACH OF THE MEMBER STATES. 13
E. A STATE THAT HAS BEEN T ERMINATED IS RESPONS IBLE FOR ALL 14
ASSESSMENTS , OBLIGATIONS, AND LIABILITIES INCU RRED THROUGH THE 15
EFFECTIVE DATE OF TE RMINATION, INCLUDING OBLIGATION S THAT EXTEND 16
BEYOND THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF TERMINATION . 17
F. THE COMMISSION MAY NOT BEAR ANY COSTS R ELATED TO A STATE 18
THAT IS FOUND TO BE IN DEFAULT OR THAT H AS BEEN TERMINATED F ROM THE 19
COMPACT, UNLESS AGREED UPON I N WRITING BETWEEN TH E COMMISSION AND THE 20
DEFAULTING STATE. 21
G. THE DEFAULTING STATE MAY APPEAL THE ACTION OF THE 22
COMMISSION BY PETITIONING THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF 23
COLUMBIA OR THE FEDER AL DISTRICT WHERE TH E COMMISSION HAS ITS 24
PRINCIPAL OFFICES . THE PREVAILING PARTY SHALL BE AWARDED ALL COSTS OF 25
SUCH LITIGATION , INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES. 26
H. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. 27
1. UPON REQUEST BY A MEMBER STATE, THE COMMISSION SHALL 28
ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE D ISPUTES RELATED TO T HE COMPACT THAT ARISE AM ONG 29
MEMBER STATES AND BETWEEN MEMBER AND NON –MEMBER STATES. 30
2. THE COMMISSION SHALL PROM ULGATE A RULE PROVIDIN G FOR 31
BOTH BINDING AND NON –BINDING ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION F OR 32
DISPUTES AS APPROPRI ATE. 33
I. ENFORCEMENT . 34
SENATE BILL 429 77
1. THE COMMISSION, IN THE REASONABLE EX ERCISE OF ITS 1
DISCRETION, SHALL ENFORCE THE PR OVISIONS AND RULES OF THIS COMPACT. 2
2. BY MAJORITY V OTE, THE COMMISSION MAY INITIA TE LEGAL 3
ACTION IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 4
OR THE FEDERAL DISTR ICT WHERE THE COMMISSION HAS ITS PR INCIPAL OFFICES 5
AGAINST A MEMBER STATE IN DEFAULT TO E NFORCE COMPLIANCE WI TH THE 6
PROVISIONS OF THE COMPACT AND ITS PROMU LGATED RULES AND BYLAWS. THE 7
RELIEF SOUGHT MAY IN CLUDE BOTH INJUNCTIV E RELIEF AND DAMAGES . IN THE 8
EVENT JUDICIAL ENFOR CEMENT IS NECESSARY , THE PREVAILING PARTY SHALL BE 9
AWARDED ALL COSTS OF SUCH LITIGATION , INCLUDING REASONABL E ATTORNEY’S 10
FEES. THE REMEDIES HEREIN M AY NOT BE THE EXCLUS IVE REMEDIES OF THE 11
COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION MAY PURSUE ANY OTHER REMEDIES A VAILABLE 12
UNDER FEDERAL OR STATE LAW. 13
ARTICLE XI. EFFECTUATION , WITHDRAWAL, AND AMENDMENT . 14
A. THE COMPACT SHALL COME INTO EFFECT ON THE D ATE ON WHICH THE 15
COMPACT STATUTE IS EN ACTED INTO LAW IN TH E TENTH MEMBER STATE. 16
1. ON OR AFTER THE EFFEC TIVE DATE OF THE COMPACT, THE 17
COMMISSION SHALL CONV ENE AND REVIEW THE E NACTMENT OF EACH OF THE 18
CHARTER MEMBER STATES TO DETERMIN E IF THE STATUTE ENA CTED BY EACH 19
SUCH CHARTER MEMBER STATE IS MATERIALLY D IFFERENT FROM THE MO DEL 20
COMPACT STATUTE . 21
2. A CHARTER MEMBER STATE WHOSE ENACTMENT IS FOUND TO BE 22
MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE MODEL COMPACT STATUTE SHALL BE 23
ENTITLED TO THE DEFA ULT PROCESS SET FORT H IN ARTICLE X. 24
3. MEMBER STATES ENACTING THE COMPACT SUBSEQUENT TO THE 25
CHARTER MEMBER STATES SHALL BE SUBJE CT TO THE PROCESS SE T FORTH IN 26
ARTICLE VII.C.20 TO DETERMINE IF THEI R ENACTMENTS ARE MAT ERIALLY 27
DIFFERENT FROM THE M ODEL COMPACT STATUTE AND WHET HER THEY QUALIFY 28
FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPACT. 29
B. IF ANY MEMBER STATE IS LATER FOUND TO BE IN DEFAULT , OR IS 30
TERMINATED OR WITHDR AWS FROM THE COMPACT, THE COMMISSION SHALL 31
REMAIN IN EXISTENCE AND THE COMPACT SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT EVEN IF THE 32
NUMBER OF MEMBER STATES SHOULD BE LESS THAN TEN. 33
C. ANY STATE THAT JOINS THE COMPACT AFTER THE COMMISSION’S 34
INITIAL ADOPTION OF THE RULES AND BYLAWS SHALL BE SUBJE CT TO THE RULES 35
AND BYLAWS AS THEY EXIST ON THE DATE ON WHICH THE COMPACT BECO MES LAW 36 78 SENATE BILL 429
IN THAT STATE. ANY RULE THAT HAS BEEN PR EVIOUSLY ADOPTED BY THE 1
COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE FULL FORCE AND E FFECT OF LAW ON THE DAY THE 2
COMPACT BECOMES LAW I N THAT STATE, AS THE RULES AND BYLAWS MAY BE 3
AMENDED AS PROVIDED IN THIS COMPACT. 4
D. ANY MEMBER STATE MAY WITHDRAW FR OM THIS COMPACT BY 5
ENACTING A STATUTE R EPEALING THE SAME . 6
1. A MEMBER STATE’S WITHDRAWAL MAY NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL 7
SIX (6) MONTHS AFTER ENACTME NT OF THE REPEALING STATUTE. 8
2. WITHDRAWAL MAY NOT AF FECT THE CONTINUING REQUIREM ENT 9
OF THE WITHDRAWING STATE’S LICENSING AUTHORITY TO COMPLY W ITH THE 10
INVESTIGATIVE AND ADVERSE ACTION REPORTING REQU IREMENTS OF THIS ACT 11
PRIOR TO THE EFFECTI VE DATE OF WITHDRAWA L. 12
E. THIS COMPACT MAY BE AMENDE D BY THE MEMBER STATES. NO 13
AMENDMENT TO THIS COMPACT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE AND BINDIN G UPON 14
ANY MEMBER STATE UNTIL IT IS ENACTED INTO THE LAWS O F ALL MEMBER STATES. 15
ARTICLE XII. CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY. 16
THIS COMPACT SHALL BE LIBE RALLY CONSTRUED TO E FFECTUATE THE 17
PURPOSES THEREOF . THE PROVISIONS OF THIS COMPACT SHALL BE SEVE RABLE 18
AND IF ANY PHRASE , CLAUSE, SENTENCE, OR PROVISION OF THIS COMPACT IS 19
DECLARED TO BE CONTR ARY TO THE CONSTITUT ION OF ANY MEMBER STATE OR A 20
STATE SEEKING MEMBERS HIP IN THE COMPACT , OR OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE 21
APPLICABILITY THEREOF TO ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT , AGENCY, PERSON OR 22
CIRCUMSTANCE IS HELD INVALID, THE VALIDITY OF THE REMAINDER OF THIS 23
COMPACT AND THE APPLI CABILITY THEREOF TO ANY GOVERNMENT , AGENCY, 24
PERSON, OR CIRCUMSTANCE MAY NOT BE AFFECTED THER EBY. IF THIS COMPACT 25
SHALL BE HELD CONTRA RY TO THE CONSTITUTI ON OF ANY MEMBER STATE, THE 26
COMPACT SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EF FECT AS TO THE REMAI NING 27
MEMBER STATES AND IN FULL FO RCE AND EFFECT AS TO THE MEMBER STATE 28
AFFECTED AS TO ALL S EVERABLE MATTERS . 29
ARTICLE XIII. CONSISTENT EFFECT AND CONFLICT WITH OTHER STATE LAWS. 30
A. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL PREVENT OR INHIBIT T HE ENFORCEMENT OF 31
ANY OTHER LAW OF A MEMBER STATE THAT IS NOT INC ONSISTENT WITH THE 32
COMPACT. 33
SENATE BILL 429 79
B. ANY LAWS , STATUTES, REGULATIONS , OR OTHER LEGAL 1
REQUIREMENTS IN A MEMBER STATE IN CONFLICT WIT H THE COMPACT ARE 2
SUPERSEDED TO THE EX TENT OF THE CONFLICT . 3
C. ALL PERMISSIBLE AGREE MENTS BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND THE 4
MEMBER STATES ARE BINDING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEI R TERMS. 5
Article – State Finance and Procurement 6
6–226. 7
(a) (2) (i) 1. This subparagraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 8
through 2028. 9
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 10
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 11
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 12
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 13
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 14
Fund of the State. 15
(ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not apply 16
to the following funds: 17
204. the Victims of Domestic Violence Program Grant Fund; 18
[and] 19
205. the Proposed Programs Collaborative Grant Fund; AND 20
206. THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FUND. 21
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 22
as follows: 23
Article – State Finance and Procurement 24
6–226. 25
(a) (2) (i) 1. This subparagraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 26
through 2028. 27
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 28
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 29
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 30
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 31 80 SENATE BILL 429
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 1
Fund of the State. 2
(ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not apply 3
to the following funds: 4
204. the Victims of Domestic Violence Program Grant Fund; 5
[and] 6
205. the Proposed Programs Collaborative Grant Fund; AND 7
206. THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FUND. 8
Chapter 717 of the Acts of 2024 9
SECTION 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding any other 10
provision of law, and unless inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other 11
federal requirement, or with the terms of a gift or settlement agreement, for fiscal years 12
2024 through 2028, net interest on all State money allocated by the State Treasurer under 13
§ 6–226 of the State Finance and Procurement Article to special funds or accounts, and 14
otherwise entitled to receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall 15
accrue to the General Fund of the State, with the exception of the following funds: 16
(85) the Bus Rapid Transit Fund; [and] 17
(86) the Transit–Oriented Development Capital Grant and Revolving Loan 18
Fund; AND 19
(87) THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FUND. 20
SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 21
as follows: 22
Article – Education 23
7–910. 24
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 25
(2) “Digital tool” means: 26
(i) An online platform; 27
(ii) An online course; 28
SENATE BILL 429 81
(iii) Information and communication technology services, including 1
software and operating systems, that are directly connected to student instruction; 2
(iv) Digital content; or 3
(v) Other digital technologies not requiring sight in an equally 4
effective and integrated manner. 5
(A–1) BEGINNING WITH THE 2025–2026 SCHOOL YEAR THROUGH THE 6
2027–2028 SCHOOL YEAR , THIS SECTION DOES NO T APPLY TO THE PROCU REMENT 7
AND USE OF A DIGITAL TOOL THAT UTILIZES A RTIFICIAL INTELLIGEN CE, AS 8
DEFINED IN § 3.5–801 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE, TO 9
SUPPORT STUDENT LEAR NING. 10
SECTION 4. 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 11
(a) (1) On or before January 1, 2026, the State Department of Education, in 12
consultation with the Accountability and Implementation Board, shall contract with an 13
independent public or private entity to conduct a study of funding for special education in 14
the State. 15
(2) At a minimum, the study shall review and make recommendations on 16
the following: 17
(i) the costs of special education in the State the report “Study of the 18
Individualized Education Program and Adequate Funding Level for Students with 19
Disabilities in Maryland, A Research Study by WestEd” published in December 2019 in 20
accordance with Chapter 715 of 2017; 21
(ii) the rising costs of special education for prekindergarten students 22
and the appropriate funding formula for those students assumed to be covered in the 23
prekindergarten per pupil funding allocation under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future; 24
(iii) the implications of the design assumptions in the existing special 25
education funding structure related to long–term spending and costs; and 26
(iv) (iii) the establishment of a system of multiple lower weights 27
for special education funding based on disability and that requires a lower level of services 28
and support needed; and 29
(v) the feasibility of complying with the minimum school funding 30
requirement under § 5–234 of the Education Article as it relates to special education 31
funding. 32
(b) The entity conducting the study shall seek input from county boards of 33
education, nonpublic special education schools, special education advocates, and special 34
education organizations. 35 82 SENATE BILL 429
(c) The Governor shall include sufficient funds in the State budget for the 1
appropriate fiscal years for the State Department of Education to cover the costs of the 2
study. 3
(d) On or before December 15, 2026, the State Department of Education shall 4
report the findings and recommendations of the study to the General Assembly in 5
accordance with § § 2–1257 of the State Government Article. 6
SECTION 5. 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 3 4 of this Act is 7
contingent on the enactment of substantially similar legislation in 10 other states. The 8
State Department of Education shall notify the Department of Legislative Services within 9
10 days after 10 states have enacted legislation that is substantially similar to Section 3 4 10
of this Act. 11
SECTION 9. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, Tha t it is the intent of the General 12
Assembly that the State Department of Education, after consulting with institutions of 13
higher education in the State with programs that conduct research regarding community 14
schools, shall: 15
(1) evaluate the Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program in 16
accordance with § 5–223(i)(4) of the Education Article, as enacted by Section 3 of this Act; 17
and 18
(2) establish requirements for community school implementation plans in 19
accordance with § 9.9–104(b)(3) of the Education Article, as enacted by Section 3 of this Act. 20
SECTION 6. 10. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in 21
Section 5 8 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2025. Section 6 of this Act shall 22
remain effective for a period of 3 years and, at the end of June 30, 2028, Section 6 of this 23
Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no 24
further force and effect. 25
Approved:
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Governor.
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President of the Senate.
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Speaker of the House of Delegates.