Primary and Secondary Education - Virtual Schools - Alterations

HB 583 requires every Maryland county school board to establish a virtual school serving elementary, middle, and high school students by July 2025. It sets a 10% enrollment cap for virtual schools (limiting students to 10% of those who would attend a single public school), mandates reasonable enrollment criteria that cannot unduly block access, and requires equitable outreach campaigns to promote diverse participation. The bill also establishes appeal processes for county boards denied virtual school approval and allows exceptions to the 10% cap with "just cause" justification. This directly affects county school boards (who must create virtual schools) and public school students (who gain a new enrollment option under defined rules).