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*hb0479*
HOUSE BILL 479
F1, F2 6lr1391
CF SB 529
By: Delegates Patterson, Boafo, Davis, Fennell, J. Long, McComas, Odom, and
Turner
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2026
Assigned to: Ways and Means
Reassigned: Ways and Means and Appropriations, January 28, 2026
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 30, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program and Program 2
Workgroup – Establishment 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway 4
Program; requiring the State Department of Education to administer and 5
implement, in consultation with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the 6
Program subject to a certain condition; requiring a Program student to be considered 7
a dually enrolled student for a certain purpose; requiring the University System of 8
Maryland to develop, in consultation with the State Department of Education and 9
the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the certain recommendations for a 10
Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program and the a teacher 11
preparation pathway in a certain manner; establishing the Southern Maryland 12
Early College Teacher Pathway Program Workgroup; and generally relating to the 13
Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program and the Southern 14
Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program Workgroup. 15
BY adding to 16
Article – Education 17
Section 7–2201 through 7–2204 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 22. Southern 18
Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program” 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
2 HOUSE BILL 479
BY adding to 1
Article – Education 2
Section 12–124 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 5
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – Education 7
Section 15–127 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
Preamble 11
WHEREAS, Maryland faces a critical shortage of qualified teachers, especially in 12
high–need schools and rural areas such as Southern Maryland where local school systems 13
report persistent vacancies in core subject areas and growi ng challenges in retaining 14
educators; and 15
WHEREAS, The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future calls for expanding high –quality 16
pathways into the teaching profession, increasing college readiness, and improving 17
workforce pipelines in every region of the State; and 18
WHEREAS, Nationally, early college programs have proven to increase college 19
enrollment, degree attainment, and workforce participation — particularly among 20
first–generation and low –income students — and can be leveraged to build stronger and 21
more diverse teacher pipelines; and 22
WHEREAS, Despite strong national evidence of success, Maryland lags behind most 23
states in providing early postsecondary opportunities for its students; and 24
WHEREAS, As of 2023, Maryland ranked low nationally for dual enrollment 25
participation as a percent of high school enrollment at 10% and ranked low nationally for 26
dual enrollment as a percent of undergraduate enrollment at 7%; and 27
WHEREAS, As of 2022, participation in dual enrollment and early college programs 28
in Maryland is overly concentrated at community colleges with only 5% of students enrolled 29
through public four –year institutions — compared to approximately 28% nationally — 30
limiting exposure to bachelor’s degree pathways, including teacher preparation program s; 31
and 32
WHEREAS, Southern Maryland’s geography, limited access to nearby four –year 33
institutions, and workforce needs make it an ideal region for a program that bridges high 34
schools, community colleges, and the University System of Maryland regional higher 35
education centers to create a seamless teacher preparation pathway; and 36
HOUSE BILL 479 3
WHEREAS, Establishing a Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway 1
Program will align with the Blueprint’s goals; now, therefore, 2
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 3
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 4
Article – Education 5
SUBTITLE 22. SOUTHERN MARYLAND EARLY COLLEGE TEACHER PATHWAY 6
PROGRAM. 7
7–2201. 8
IN THIS SUBTITLE , “PROGRAM” MEANS THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND EARLY 9
COLLEGE TEACHER PATHWAY PROGRAM. 10
7–2202. 11
(A) THERE IS A SOUTHERN MARYLAND EARLY COLLEGE TEACHER 12
PATHWAY PROGRAM. 13
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO: 14
(1) CREATE A STRUCTURED , CREDIT–BEARING PATHWAY FOR HIGH 15
SCHOOL STUDENTS TO B EGIN PREPARATION TO TEACH PRIMARY AND SE CONDARY 16
EDUCATION; 17
(2) EXPAND ACCESS TO AND ENSURE THE AFFORDABI LITY OF 18
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE: 19
(I) HISTORICALLY UNDERREP RESENTED IN HIGHER 20
EDUCATION; AND 21
(II) FROM RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE; 22
(3) BUILD A STRONG AND DIVERSE TEACHER PIPELINE TO SERVE THE 23
STATE’S PUBLIC PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND 24
(4) SERVE AS A MODEL TO B E REPLICATED FOR REG IONAL 25
IMPLEMENTATION STATEWIDE. 26
(C) THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MARYLAND HIGHER 27
EDUCATION COMMISSION, SHALL ADMINISTER AND IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM ON 28
4 HOUSE BILL 479
COMPLETION OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND’S DEVELOPMENT OF THE 1
PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 12–124 OF THIS ARTICLE. 2
7–2203. 3
A PROGRAM STUDENT SHALL BE CONSIDERED A DUALLY ENROLLED STUDENT 4
FOR PURPOSES OF § 15–127 OF THIS ARTICLE AND MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY 5
ANY COST THAT IS RELATED TO ENROLLMENT OR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM, 6
INCLUDING TUITION AND MANDATORY FEES. 7
7–2204. 8
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO CAR RY OUT THE 9
PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBTITLE. 10
12–124. 11
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 12
INDICATED. 13
(2) “PROGRAM” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 7–2201 OF THIS 14
ARTICLE MEANS THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND EARLY COLLEGE TEACHER PATHWAY 15
PROGRAM. 16
(3) “PROGRAM WORKGROUP” MEANS THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND 17
EARLY COLLEGE TEACHER PATHWAY PROGRAM WORKGROUP. 18
(B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH SU BSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION AND IN 19
CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMISSION, THE UNIVERSITY 20
SHALL DEVELOP THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A SOUTHERN MARYLAND EARLY 21
COLLEGE TEACHER PATHWAY PROGRAM AND THE A TEACHER PREPARATION 22
PATHWAY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND TO: 23
(1) CREATE A STRUCTURED , CREDIT–BEARING PATHWAY FOR HIGH 24
SCHOOL STUDENTS TO B EGIN PREPARATION TO TEACH PRIMARY AND SE CONDARY 25
EDUCATION; 26
(2) EXPAND ACCESS TO AND ENSURE THE AFFORDABI LITY OF 27
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, INCLUDING STUDENTS WHO 28
ARE: 29
(I) HISTORICALLY UNDERREP RESENTED IN HIGHER 30
EDUCATION; AND 31
HOUSE BILL 479 5
(II) FROM RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE; 1
(3) BUILD A STRONG AND DIVERSE TEACHER PIPELINE TO SERVE THE 2
STATE’S PUBLIC PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND 3
(4) SERVE AS A MODEL TO B E REPLICATED FOR REG IONAL 4
IMPLEMENTATION STATEWIDE. 5
(C) (1) THE UNIVERSITY SHALL CONV ENE A SOUTHERN MARYLAND 6
EARLY COLLEGE TEACHER PATHWAY PROGRAM WORKGROUP TO DEVELOP THE 7
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM AND THE TEACH ER PREPARATION 8
PATHWAY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND. 9
(2) THE PROGRAM WORKGROUP SHALL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING 10
MEMBERS: 11
(I) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, 12
APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR; 13
(II) ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE OF MARYLAND, APPOINTED 14
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; 15
(III) ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, APPOINTED 16
BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; 17
(IV) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT, OR THE STATE 18
SUPERINTENDENT’S DESIGNEE; 19
(V) THE CHAIR OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND 20
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD, OR THE CHAIR’S DESIGNEE; 21
(VI) THE SECRETARY, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 22
(VII) THE CHANCELLOR, OR THE CHANCELLOR’S DESIGNEE; 23
(VIII) THE SENIOR VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AND 24
STUDENT AFFAIRS OF THE UNIVERSITY, OR THE SENIOR VICE CHANCELLOR’S 25
DESIGNEE; 26
(IX) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM 27
OF MARYLAND AT SOUTHERN MARYLAND, OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S 28
DESIGNEE; 29
6 HOUSE BILL 479
(X) THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, 1
COLLEGE PARK CAMPUS, OR THE PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE; 2
(XI) THE PRESIDENT OF TOWSON UNIVERSITY, OR THE 3
PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE; 4
(XII) THE PRESIDENT OF ST. MARY’S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND, 5
OR THE PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE; 6
(XII) (XIII) THE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN 7
MARYLAND, OR THE PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE; 8
(XIV) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND 9
ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES, OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S 10
DESIGNEE; 11
(XIII) (XV) THE COUNTY SUPERINTEN DENTS, OR THE COUNTY 12
SUPERINTENDENTS’ DESIGNEES, OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES: 13
1. CALVERT COUNTY; 14
2. CHARLES COUNTY; AND 15
3. ST. MARY’S COUNTY; AND 16
(XVI) ONE REPRESENTATIVE , WHO IS A LICENSED 17
SCHOOL–BASED EMPLOYEE WITH EXPERIENCE IMPLEMENT ING POSTSECONDARY 18
READINESS OR EARLY T EACHER PREPARATION P ROGRAMS, FROM EACH OF THE 19
FOLLOWING ENTITIES: 20
1. THE CALVERT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, 21
DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, OR THE PRESIDENT’S 22
DESIGNEE; 23
2. THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF CHARLES 24
COUNTY, DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, OR THE 25
PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE; AND 26
3. THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF SAINT MARY’S 27
COUNTY, DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, OR THE 28
PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE; AND 29
(XIV) (XVII) ANY OTHER MEMBERS DES IGNATED BY THE 30
UNIVERSITY. 31
HOUSE BILL 479 7
(3) ON OR BEFORE JUNE 30, 2029, THE UNIVERSITY SHALL REPORT 1
TO THE DEPARTMENT, THE COMMISSION, THE GOVERNOR, AND, IN ACCORDANCE 2
WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 3
SENATE EDUCATION, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE AND THE 4
HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ON: 5
(I) THE PROGRAM WORKGROUP’S RECOMMENDATIONS FO R 6
THE PROGRAM AND THE TEACH ER PREPARATION PATHW AY IN SOUTHERN 7
MARYLAND, INCLUDING: 8
1. THE STRUCTURE OF THE TEACHER PREPARATION 9
PATHWAY; 10
2. AN IMPLEMENTATION PLA N FOR THE TEACHER 11
PREPARATION PATHWAY; AND 12
3. ANY LEGISLATIVE OR RE GULATORY CHANGES 13
NECESSARY FOR SUCCES SFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TEACHER PREPA RATION 14
PATHWAY; AND 15
(II) THE USE OF STATE FUNDS TO DEVELO P THE PROGRAM 16
WORKGROUP’S RECOMMENDATIONS FO R T HE PROGRAM AND THE TEACH ER 17
PREPARATION PATHWAY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND. 18
(D) FOR EACH OF FISCAL YE ARS 2028 AND 2029, THE GOVERNOR SHALL 19
INCLUDE IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET BILL AN APPROPRIATION OF $250,000 $125,000 20
TO THE UNIVERSITY TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF T HE PROGRAM 21
WORKGROUP’S RECOMMENDATIONS FO R THE PROGRAM AND THE TEACH ER 22
PREPARATION PATHWAY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND IN ACCORDANC E WITH THIS 23
SECTION. 24
15–127. 25
(a) (1) In this section, “dually enrolled student” means a student who is dually 26
enrolled in: 27
(i) A secondary school in the State; and 28
(ii) An institution of higher education in the State. 29
(2) “Dually enrolled student” includes a student enrolled in a credit or 30
noncredit certificate or license program, course, or sequence of courses that leads to 31
certification or licensure at an institution of higher education in the State. 32
8 HOUSE BILL 479
(b) A public institution of higher education may not charge tuition to a dually 1
enrolled student. 2
(c) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, for each dually enrolled student who 3
is enrolled in a public school in the county, the county board shall pay 75% of the cost of 4
tuition for a public institution of higher education in the State. 5
(d) (1) If there is an agreement before July 1, 2020, between a public school 6
and a public institution of higher education in which the public institution of higher 7
education charges less than 75% of the cost of tuition to a dually enrolled student, the 8
county board shall pay the cost of tuition under the existing agreement. 9
(2) Every 2 years, a public school and a public institution of higher 10
education may evaluate and modify an agreement made under paragraph (1) of this 11
subsection. 12
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 13
1, 2026. It shall remain e ffective for a period of 4 years and, at the end of June 30, 2030, 14
this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 15
of no further force and effect. 16
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.