Education - Career and Technical Education - Workgroup to Study Tiered Stackable Credentials Framework

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1077*

HOUSE BILL 1077
F1 6lr3471

By: Delegate Miller
Introduced and read first time: February 10, 2026
Assigned to: Ways and Means

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Education – Career and Technical Education – Workgroup to Study Tiered 2
Stackable Credentials Framework 3

FOR the purpose of requiring the State Department of Education and the Career and 4
Technical Education Committee jointly to convene a work group to review certain 5
high school graduation–related requirements to study and make recommendations 6
on developing a tiered system of stackable credential pathways for a certain purpose; 7
and generally relating to a workgroup to study career and technical education 8
requirements for high school students. 9

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 10
That: 11

(a) In this section, “post –CCR pathway” means the post college and career 12
pathways established under § 7–205.1 of the Education Article. 13

(b) The State Department of Education and the Career and Technical Education 14
Committee jointly shall convene a workgroup to review the State’s high school curriculum, 15
high school graduation requirements, and the post –CCR pathways established under the 16
Blueprint for Maryland’s Future to study and make recommendations on developing a 17
tiered system of stackable credential pathways that allow student s to earn portable, 18
industry–recognized certificates that build toward higher –level postsecondary education 19
credentials and degrees. 20

(c) The workgroup shall: 21

(1) review and analyze models or frameworks for stackable credential 22
models used in secondary schools in other states, including: 23

2 HOUSE BILL 1077

(i) the three –tiered stackable credential framework model of the 1
South Carolina Department of Education, including the career readiness curriculum, 2
assessments, and credentialing components; and 3

(ii) the Success –Ready Pathways mode l and “Career –Ready” high 4
school diploma designations of the Arkansas Department of Education; 5

(2) consider the feasibility of implementing: 6

(i) an individual student graduation plan using an aptitude –based 7
tool, beginning in the 8 th grade, reviewed each year by a school counselor for alignment 8
with the student’s post–CCR pathway; 9

(ii) a flexible credit system in which specific courses in a student’s 10
chosen post–CCR pathway may be substituted for required courses or credits; and 11

(iii) a work –based learning capstone that may substitute for a 12
student’s senior year English or mathematics elective course; 13

(3) examine effective methods for ensuring the portability of stacked 14
credentials across regions of the State and institutions of postsecondary education; 15

(4) consider development of a uniform credentials of value list that is 16
jointly managed by the State Department of Education, the Maryland Department of 17
Labor, and the Career and Technical Education Committee that: 18

(i) allows fo r the addition of industry –recognized credentials on 19
both a rolling and quarterly basis by any of the list managers for maximum flexibility; 20

(ii) includes any credential aligned with a State–registered 21
apprenticeship; and 22

(iii) includes an expedited review process for credentials in 23
high–demand fields; and 24

(5) review and analyze stackable credential models that are designed to 25
allow maximum flexibility, including: 26

(i) stacking micro –credentials to be equivalent to a recognized 27
credential of value; 28

(ii) allowing credits from one pathway to be transferrable to another 29
pathway to ensure continuation of progress towards graduation; and 30

(iii) a 1:3 credit rule that requires one industry–recognized credential 31
to equal a minimum of three credits in a corresponding degree program at an institution of 32
HOUSE BILL 1077 3

higher education in the State based on mandatory articulation agreements with community 1
colleges. 2

(d) The workgroup shall review the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Inte rim 3
Evaluation report submitted to the Accountability and Implementation Board by December 4
1, 2026 , to determine whether existing Blueprint career and technology education 5
requirements are designed and being implemented in a manner that is aligned with the 6
tiered system of stackable credential pathways studied by the workgroup under this 7
section. 8

(e) On or before December 31, 2026, the State Department of Education and the 9
Career and Technical Education Committee shall submit a report on the findings and 10
recommendations of the workgroup, including the need for any statutory or regulatory 11
changes, to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, 12
the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee and the House Ways and 13
Means Committee. 14

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 15
1, 2026. 16