Education (Teachers)

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 903: Education - Engagement Policies and School Compact (Maryland Public Education Parental Partnership Act)

This bill requires Maryland county school boards to create parent and family engagement policies by the 2027-2028 school year, and mandates that individual public schools develop Parent-School Compacts starting in the 2028-2029 school year. The policies must be created in consultation with parents and include frameworks for collaboration, technical assistance like translation services, staff training, and annual evaluations to ensure effectiveness. School compacts will define the specific roles and responsibilities of school staff, parents, and students, including curriculum standards, parental support duties, teacher qualifications, and communication requirements. The State Department of Education will provide guidance and technical assistance to help schools implement these policies. Existing policies may be amended to meet the new requirements rather than requiring entirely new documents.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates parent engagement policies and school compacts to improve collaboration, translation services, and staff training, enhancing educational access and family involvement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers

Track

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 648: Local School Systems - Educator Screening - Educator Identification Clearinghouse (School Personnel Vetting and Hiring Transparency Act)

SB 648 requires all Maryland local school systems to join a national Educator Identification Clearinghouse (operated by a national membership organization) for background checks on educator job candidates. It mandates that schools screen every candidate for licensed educator positions starting October 1, 2026, using this clearinghouse. Candidates must apply for their teaching license after receiving an offer but before starting work, and obtain the license before interacting with students. This bill directly affects Maryland school districts and all educators seeking licensed positions in the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates educator background checks and license verification before student interaction, enhancing school safety and educator standards per bill's core requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 720: Education - Artificial Intelligence - Guidelines, Professional Development, and Collaborative (Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act)

SB 720, the "Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act," requires Maryland’s State Department of Education to create and maintain online guidance for schools, educators, parents, and students on the safe, ethical, and equitable use of AI in K-12 education. It mandates county school boards to adopt AI policies within 120 days of guidance release, designate AI coordinators, and procure AI tools aligned with state standards. The bill also requires Morgan State University to annually certify AI tools and establishes statewide teacher training in AI literacy by July 2027, with compensation for educators participating. Local school systems must integrate AI into workforce preparation standards by June 2027, coordinated with the Maryland Center for Computing Education. The law directly affects all Maryland public schools, educators, students, and technology vendors supplying educational AI tools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AI guidelines, professional development, and policy adoption for K-12 schools to advance ethical AI use, strengthening educational technology integration and access.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates safe, ethical AI guidelines in schools, promoting responsible adoption and digital equity through state standards and policy requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Teachers Artificial Intelligence

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1057: Education - Artificial Intelligence - Guidelines, Professional Development, and Collaborative (Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act)

This bill requires Maryland's State Department of Education to create online resources for schools, teachers, and students on the safe, ethical, and equitable use of artificial intelligence in education. It mandates that school districts develop AI policies by December 2027, appoint AI coordinators, and use only AI tools certified by Morgan State University as meeting state guidelines. The law also requires statewide teacher training on AI literacy by July 2027 and includes AI education in workforce preparation standards. These requirements directly affect public K-12 schools, educators, students, and administrators across Maryland.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AI resources, teacher training, and school policies to advance ethical AI use in education, directly supporting educators and curriculum development.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires AI guidelines, teacher training, and certified tools to promote ethical, equitable AI use in education, advancing responsible technology integration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Teachers Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1115: Education - Career Ladder - National Board Certification Associated Salary Increases

HB 1115 clarifies that Maryland public school teachers holding a National Board Certification (NBC) with a 10-year award period (awarded by December 31, 2021) are eligible for specific salary increases tied to the career ladder. The bill establishes a $10,000 salary increase for becoming an NBC teacher and an additional $7,000 for teaching at a low-performing school, applying retroactively to eligible teachers. It also sets a minimum teacher salary of $60,000 starting July 1, 2026, and specifies that teachers meeting multiple criteria receive all applicable increases. This bill directly affects certified public school teachers in Maryland who hold qualifying NBC credentials.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates $10k/$7k salary increases for certified teachers retroactively and sets $60k minimum salary, directly increasing state education budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides $10k salary increase for NBC-certified teachers and $7k for low-performing schools, establishing minimum $60k salary - directly supports teacher compensation and retention.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases teacher salaries via $10k NBC bonus and $7k low-perf school stipend, retroactive, aligns with wage protection for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Professional Licensing

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HB 1334: Education - Engagement Policies and School Compact (Maryland Public Education Parental Partnership Act)

HB 1334, the Maryland Public Education Parental Partnership Act, requires each county board of education to create a written parent and family engagement policy by the start of the 2027-2028 school year. This policy must include parental input, provide translation services, and outline how schools will collaborate with families. Additionally, starting in the 2028-2029 school year, every public school must develop a Parent-School Compact detailing shared responsibilities - such as school curriculum quality, parental support for learning, teacher qualifications, and regular communication between parents and staff. The bill directly affects all Maryland public school systems and their families by mandating structured, written frameworks for parental involvement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires parent engagement policies and school compacts to strengthen family-school collaboration in Maryland K-12 education, advancing partnership frameworks.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1545: Frederick County - Special Education Video and Audio Recording Program - Established

HB 1545 establishes a program requiring Frederick County public schools to install video and audio recording devices in specialized instructional settings (where students with disabilities receive at least 50% of instruction) to document incidents like bullying, abuse, or harm. The bill mandates recordings in classrooms but prohibits recording in bathrooms or clothing-change areas, with audio devices limited to those specific zones. All recordings must be managed by an unbiased third party (not school staff), reviewed regularly, and made accessible to parents, law enforcement, or child protective services only after incidents occur. Parents may request exemptions for their child from audio recordings in designated areas, which must be documented in the student’s education plan. The program explicitly prohibits using recordings for teacher evaluations and requires written notice to parents before activation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes mandatory recording program in special education settings to document and prevent bullying/abuse, directly enhancing student safety and protection in K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Special Education Teachers

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 856: Local School Systems - Educator Screening - Educator Identification Clearinghouse (School Personnel Vetting and Hiring Transparency Act)

HB 856 requires Maryland's local school systems to use a national Educator Identification Clearinghouse to screen job candidates for licensed educator positions starting October 1, 2026. The State Department of Education must register all school systems as members of the clearinghouse and pay associated membership fees. School systems must ensure candidates apply for and obtain the required teaching license before starting work and before interacting with students. This bill directly affects all Maryland public school systems and individuals seeking licensed teaching roles.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates national screening and licensing for educators to ensure qualified staff, enhancing safety and professionalism in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1396: Commission on Blueprint Fiscal Sustainability and Student Achievement - Establishment

HB 1396 establishes a 18-member Commission to study and recommend improvements for Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan. The Commission includes diverse stakeholders like legislative leaders, education officials, county representatives, teachers, advocates, parents, and students. It will specifically examine school funding formulas (including rural/urban poverty differences), statutory staffing ratios, and educator career ladder impacts. The Commission’s findings will inform future policy decisions but will not change current law directly. This is a study commission focused on long-term fiscal sustainability and student achievement implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes commission to study and improve education funding formulas, staffing ratios, and educator career ladders under Maryland's education plan, indicating intent to strengthen system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Teachers

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 726: Primary and Secondary Education - Educator Professional Development - Course on Well-Being and Flourishing

SB 726 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to provide a free, mandatory professional development course on educator well-being to all school staff and administrators by July 1, 2027. The course must cover eight well-being dimensions - social, environmental, physical, emotional, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, and financial - based on federal guidelines. Schools can deliver the course through existing materials or new content, at rates matching standard professional development. This policy directly affects educators across Maryland's public schools, aiming to support their personal and professional health.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates free, mandatory well-being training for all educators, directly supporting teacher professional development and well-being within K-12 education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Teachers

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