EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0916*
SENATE BILL 916
F1 5lr1381
SB 1058/24 – EEE
By: Senator Kramer
Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Education – Curriculum Standards – Requirements 2
(Educate to Stop the Hate Act) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring that certain curriculum guides and courses of study 4
established by county boards of education be aligned with certain content standards, 5
curriculum standards, and curriculum resources and authorizing the State 6
Superintendent of Schools to withhold certain funds from county boards that fail to 7
do so; requiring the State Department of Education to develop certain content 8
standards; establishing certain requirements for the Department’s process for 9
developing, reviewing, and adopting certain content standards, curriculum 10
standards, and curriculum resources; requiring the State Board of Education to 11
review, revise, and adopt certain content standards, curriculum standards, and 12
curriculum resources and review, revise, and enhance certain history and social 13
studies frameworks; encouraging certain nonpublic schools in the State to include in 14
the school’s curriculum at least a unit of instruction on certain topics; and generally 15
relating to curriculum standards. 16
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17
Article – Education 18
Section 4–111(a) and 7–202.1 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 21
Preamble 22
WHEREAS, Hate, bigotry, and prejudice undermine the very fabric of our society, 23
jeopardizing the fundamental principles of equity, dignity, and respect for all individuals; 24
and 25
2 SENATE BILL 916
WHEREAS, Hateful sentiment is reaching unprecedented levels in contemporary 1
society and is reaching a critical mass that threatens both the physical and psychological 2
well–being of our residents; and 3
WHEREAS, Social media and technology are being used to disseminate false and 4
inaccurate information leading to the rising tide of hate crimes, discrimination, and 5
intolerance that threatens the harmonious coexistence of diverse communities; and 6
WHEREAS, Understanding American and world history can be critical in addressing 7
the dramatic rise in hate rhetoric and hate–related actions and crimes; and 8
WHEREAS, Education will help students understand the roots and ramifications of 9
prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, develop an awareness of the value of pluralism and 10
diversity, explore the dangers of remaining silent, apathetic, and indifferent to the 11
oppression of others, and learn how the abuse of power can lead to the implementation of 12
destructive, government–sponsored policies ranging from social engineering to genocide; 13
and 14
WHEREAS, It is a policy of the General Assembly to avoid legislating the instruction 15
of the public school system, but the unprecedented expressions of hate, bigotry, and 16
prejudice have reached a critical and alarming mass requiring that the General Assembly 17
take unprecedented policy action to best achieve outcomes for the people of the State; now, 18
therefore, 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
Article – Education 22
4–111. 23
(a) Subject to the applicable provisions of this article and the bylaws, basic 24
policies, and guidelines established by the State Board, each county board, on the written 25
recommendation of the county superintendent, shall: 26
(1) Establish curriculum guides and courses of study ALIGNED WITH THE 27
CONTENT STANDARDS , CURRICULUM STANDARDS , AND CURRICULUM RESOU RCES 28
DEVELOPED UNDER § 7–202.1 OF THIS ARTICLE for the schools under its jurisdiction, 29
including appropriate programs of instruction or training for mentally or physically 30
handicapped children; and 31
(2) Supply printed copies of these materials to any teacher or interested 32
[citizen] INDIVIDUAL. 33
7–202.1. 34
SENATE BILL 916 3
(a) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 1
INDICATED. 2
(2) “CONTENT STANDARDS ” MEANS THE STATEMENTS FOR THE 3
PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTI ON THAT DESCRIBE T HE KNOWLEDGE AND SKI LLS 4
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTE D TO ATTAIN FOR EACH SUBJECT AND GRADE LEVEL . 5
(3) “CURRICULUM RESOURCES ” MEANS GUIDANCE DOCUM ENTS AND 6
FRAMEWORKS USED BY A COUNTY BOARD TO DEVE LOP CURRICULA TO IMP LEMENT 7
CONTENT STANDARDS . 8
(4) “CURRICULUM STANDARDS ” MEANS THE STATEMENTS THAT 9
OUTLINE APPROACHES T O LEARNING FOR EACH SUBJECT ACROSS GRADE LEVELS . 10
(B) (1) The Department shall, in consultation with experienced and highly 11
effective teachers, including teachers on the career ladder under Title 6, Subtitle 10 of this 12
article, develop CONTENT STANDARDS , curriculum standards, and curriculum resources 13
for each subject at each grade level, that build on one another in logical sequence, in core 14
subjects that may be used by local school systems and public school teachers. 15
(2) THE CONTENT STANDARDS , CURRICULUM STANDARDS , AND 16
CURRICULUM RESOURCES DEVELOPED UNDER PARA GRAPH (1) OF THIS 17
SUBSECTION SHALL : 18
(I) INCLUDE EVIDENCE –BASED PRACTICES AND THE SCIENCE 19
OF INSTRUCTION TO EN SURE THAT ALL S TUDENTS MEET THEIR F ULL POTENTIAL ; 20
(II) CONSIDER THE IMPACT O N ALL STUDENTS WITH A 21
STRATEGIC FOCUS ON M ARGINALIZED STUDENT GROUPS; AND 22
(III) REFLECT THE HISTORY O F MARGINALIZED GROUP S WITH 23
PARTICULAR CONSIDERA TION OF THE ASSOCIAT ED HISTORICAL CONTE XT AND 24
ROOT CAUSES OF MARGINALIZATION . 25
(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REVI EW THE CONTENT STAND ARDS, 26
CURRICULUM STANDARDS , AND CURRICULUM RESOU RCES AT LEAST EVERY 8 27
YEARS. 28
(4) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH A PROCESS FOR 29
MAINTAINING STAKEHOL DER ENGAGEMENT DURING THE PROCESSES OF 30
DEVELOPING AND REVIE WING CONTENT STANDAR DS, CURRICULUM STANDARDS , 31
AND CURRICULUM RESOU RCES. 32
4 SENATE BILL 916
(5) IF A COUNTY BOARD FAI LS TO ESTABLISH CURRICULA AND 1
COURSES OF STUDY ALI GNED WITH THE CONTEN T STANDARDS , CURRICULUM 2
STANDARDS, AND CURRICULUM RESOURCES DEVELOPED UNDER PARA GRAPH (1) OF 3
THIS SUBSECTION , THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT MAY WI THHOLD STATE FUNDS IN 4
ACCORDANCE WITH §§ 2–303 AND 5–205 OF THIS ARTICLE. 5
[(b)] (C) (1) The purpose of the CONTENT STANDARDS , curriculum 6
standards, and curriculum resources developed under this section is to provide county 7
boards with technical assistance to inform high–quality instruction that will ultimately 8
result in students meeting the college and career readiness standards in the manner 9
described under § 7–205.1 of this subtitle. 10
(2) The curriculum resources developed under this section shall include, 11
for each core subject at each grade level: 12
(i) Course syllabi; 13
(ii) Sample lessons for teachers to use as models; 14
(iii) Examples of student work that meet standards for proficiency; 15
(iv) Explanations of why student work examples meet proficiency 16
standards so that teachers know what student knowledge is required; and 17
(v) Curriculum units aligned with the course syllabi. 18
(3) In developing the curriculum resources under this subsection, the 19
Department: 20
(i) May use as a model a course or unit developed by a teacher in or 21
out of the State; but 22
(ii) Shall review each model course and unit for quality, using 23
accepted benchmarks such as approval by EdReports or Tier 1 and Tier 2 evidence–based 24
standards established by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. 25
(4) The Department shall compile curriculum units in such a manner that: 26
(i) Complete courses are formed; and 27
(ii) When taken by a student in sequence, the student can achieve 28
the college and career readiness standard adopted under § 7–205.1 of this subtitle by the 29
end of grade 10. 30
SENATE BILL 916 5
[(c)] (D) The Department shall submit CONTENT STANDARDS , CURRICULUM 1
STANDARDS, AND curriculum resources [and curriculum standards] developed under this 2
section to the State Board for adoption. 3
[(d)] (E) The State Board shall establish a system of assessments to ensure that 4
students are acquiring the knowledge contained in the CONTENT STANDARDS AND 5
curriculum standards in English, Mathematics, Science, and History or Social Studies. 6
[(e)] (F) (1) Using the assessments established under subsection [(d)] (E) of 7
this section, the Department shall identify low–performing schools. 8
(2) An Expert Review Team established under § 5–411 of this article, under 9
the supervision of the Department, shall visit schools identified under paragraph (1) of this 10
subsection according to the criteria established under § 5–411 of this article. 11
(3) If the Department, based on a recommendation of an Expert Review 12
Team, determines that a school’s low performance on assessments is, largely, due to 13
curricular problems, the school shall adopt the curriculum resources developed under this 14
section. 15
(4) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, this section does 16
not require a public school or county board to adopt the Department’s CONTENT 17
STANDARDS, curriculum standards, and curriculum resources and may not be construed 18
to restrict a county board’s authority to adopt curricula under § 4–111 of this article. 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 20
(a) On or before January 1, 2026, the State Board of Education shall: 21
(1) (i) review, revise, and adopt the curriculum standards for the State 22
comprehensive instructional program in social studies to include comprehensive antihate 23
education using associated historical contexts that have led to racism and prejudice in 24
society; and 25
(ii) develop and adopt interdisciplinary curriculum resources to 26
promote antihate education using associated historical contexts that have led to racism and 27
prejudice in society; 28
(2) (i) develop or revise and adopt content standards for high school 29
history to include instruction on: 30
1. the history and contributions of historically disadvantaged 31
groups; 32
2. the topics of genocide, torture, war crimes, crimes against 33
humanity, and the treatment of ethnic and religious minorities; and 34 6 SENATE BILL 916
3. the transatlantic slave trade; 1
(ii) revise and enhance the high school history frameworks to 2
incorporate the content standards adopted in accordance with item (i) of this item; and 3
(iii) review, revise, and adopt curriculum standards to incorporate 4
the history of genocide, including the Holocaust; and 5
(3) (i) 1. adopt content standards for elementary school social 6
studies for grades 4 and 5 to include instruction on the Holocaust within the grade 5 unit; 7
2. adopt content standards for middle school social studies to 8
include a study of the roots of antisemitism that led to the Holocaust so that students may 9
contextualize the study of the Holocaust in high school; and 10
3. adopt content standards for high school Modern World 11
History and United States History to include instruction on the Holocaust by first 12
understanding the origins of the Holocaust and to evaluate the causes, course, and 13
consequences of the Holocaust; and 14
(ii) review and enhance the elementary school and middle school 15
frameworks and the high school history frameworks to incorporate the content standards 16
regarding the Holocaust adopted in accordance with item (i) of this item. 17
(b) (1) It is the intent of the General Assembly that, beginning in the 18
2026–2027 school year, all county boards of education in the State and all nonpublic schools 19
in the State that hold a Certificate of Approval issued by the State Board of Education 20
under § 2–206 of the Education Article establish curriculum resources for the schools under 21
their jurisdiction aligned with the content standards and curriculum standards adopted by 22
the State Board under subsection (a) of this section. 23
(2) A nonpublic school that is operated by a registered bona fide church 24
organization or that has not been approved by the State Board under § 2–206 of the 25
Education Article is encouraged to include in the school’s social studies and history 26
curriculum at least a unit of instruction on the topics described in subsection (a) of this 27
section using or based on the content standards and curriculum standards adopted by the 28
State Board under subsection (a) of this section. 29
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 30
1, 2025. 31