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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1334*
HOUSE BILL 1334
F1 6lr1524
CF SB 903
By: Delegates Miller, Addison, Alston, Arikan, Bouchat, Chisholm, Coley,
Grammer, Griffith, Hornberger, Howard, Kipke, McComas, T. Morgan,
Nawrocki, Nkongolo, Pippy, Reilly, Roberson, Rose, Szeliga, Tomlinson,
Valentine, Wims, and Wivell
Introduced and read first time: February 12, 2026
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Education – Engagement Policies and School Compact 2
(Maryland Public Education Parental Partnership Act) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring each county board of education to develop a parent and family 4
engagement policy on or before the start of a certain school year ; requiring each 5
public school in the State to develop a Parent–School Compact beginning in a certain 6
school year; requiring the State Department of Education to provide certain guidance 7
and technical assistance to county boards and public schools in developing a certain 8
parent and family engagement policy and Parent–School C ompact; and generally 9
relating to parent and family engagement in student education in public schools. 10
BY adding to 11
Article – Education 12
Section 4–148 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
Preamble 16
WHEREAS, Parental involvement is a critical component of a high –quality 17
education and contributes significantly to the academic achievement of students; and 18
WHEREAS, Federal law recognizes the imp ortance of comprehensive parent and 19
family engagement by requiring that all schools that receive funding through Title I, Part 20
A of the Every Student Succeeds Act develop a comprehensive plan to engage parents; and 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1334
WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes the myriad benefits of robust parental 1
engagement and believes that parental engagement is a critical component to the education 2
of all children in each public school; now, therefore, 3
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLA ND, 4
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 5
Article – Education 6
4–148. 7
(A) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (5) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 8
ON OR BEFORE THE START OF THE 2027–2028 SCHOOL YEAR, EACH COUNTY BOARD 9
SHALL DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT POLICY. 10
(2) THE PURPOSE OF THE PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT POLICY 11
IS TO: 12
(I) PROVIDE THE PARENTS O F STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE 13
LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH MEANINGFUL OPPO RTUNITIES TO PARTICI PATE IN 14
THE DECISIONS OF THE COUNTY BOARD AND COUNTY SUPERINTENDEN T THAT 15
PERTAIN TO THE EDUCA TION OF STUDENTS WIT HIN THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM; 16
AND 17
(II) ASSIST PARENTS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN COLLABORATING 18
ON THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL. 19
(3) THE PARENT AND FAMILY EN GAGEMENT POLICY DEVELOPED 20
UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL: 21
(I) BE ESTABLISHED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PARENTS OF 22
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM; 23
(II) ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK FOR A PARENT–SCHOOL 24
COMPACT TO BE USED BY EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM IN 25
ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , 26
INCLUDING GENERAL PROCEDURAL RULES FOR THE CREATION OF THE COMPACT; 27
(III) PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PARENTS SEEKING TO 28
PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF T HE PARENT–SCHOOL COMPACT, 29
INCLUDING BY PROVIDING TRANSLATION SERVICES AND TRAINING; 30
HOUSE BILL 1334 3
(IV) BUILD CAPACITY IN EACH SCHOOL FOR SUBSTANTI VE 1
PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING BY PROVIDI NG TRAINING, MATERIALS, AND 2
SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL STAFF WHO SEEK TO ENGAGE PARENTS; 3
(V) COORDINATE AND INTEGR ATE THE FAMILY AND P ARENT 4
ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIE S ADOPTED AS PART OF THE POLICY WITH OTHE R 5
RELEVANT FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AND POLICIES; 6
(VI) PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNIT Y, AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR , FOR 7
PARENTS TO EVALUATE THE POLICY FOR EFFECTIVENESS AN D CONTRIBUTE 8
FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE THE POLICY; AND 9
(VII) BE REVISED AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR TO REMOVE BARRIERS 10
TO PARENTAL INVOLVEM ENT AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF PARENTS SEEKING TO 11
ASSIST IN THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN. 12
(4) THE PARENT AND FAMILY EN GAGEMENT POLICY SHAL L BE 13
DOCUMENTED IN WRITING AND PUBLISHED ON THE WEB SITE OF THE COUNTY 14
BOARD. 15
(5) IF THE COUNTY BOARD H AS AN EXISTING PAREN T AND FAMILY 16
ENGAGEMENT POLICY, INCLUDING A POLICY E STABLISHED IN ACCORD ANCE WITH 17
THE FEDERAL EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT, THE COUNTY BOARD MAY AMEND 18
THAT POLICY TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS 19
SUBSECTION. 20
(B) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (6) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 21
BEGINNING IN THE 2028–2029 SCHOOL YEAR , EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL S HALL 22
DEVELOP A PARENT–SCHOOL COMPACT. 23
(2) THE PURPOSE OF A COMPACT IS TO CLEARLY DEFINE THE 24
RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLES OF SCHOOL STAFF, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS IN THE 25
EDUCATION OF EACH STUDENT, INCLUDING: 26
(I) THE COUNTY BOARD ’S AND SCHOOL’S RESPONSIBILITY TO 27
PROVIDE HIGH–QUALITY CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION ALIGNED TO THE STATE 28
STANDARDS AND CURRIC ULAR FRAMEWORKS IN A SUPPORTIVE AND EFFEC TIVE 29
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT; 30
(II) THE WAYS PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPP ORTING 31
THEIR STUDENT’S LEARNING AND ACADE MIC PROGRESS, INCLUDING MONITORING 32
ATTENDANCE, HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE AND COMPLETION, AND PARTICIPATION IN 33
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES; 34
4 HOUSE BILL 1334
(III) A PARENT’S RIGHT TO KNOW THE QUA LIFICATIONS AND 1
CREDENTIALS OF THE E DUCATORS TEACHING OR PROVIDING EDUCATIONA L OR 2
OTHER SERVICES TO THEIR STUDENT, INCLUDING TIMELY NOTIFICATION THAT AN 3
ASSIGNED TEACHER OF 4 OR MORE WEEKS HOLDS A CONDITIONAL TEACHI NG 4
LICENSE OR IS TEACHING A SUBJECT MATTER FOR WHICH THE TEACHER DOES NOT 5
HOLD A LICENSE; AND 6
(IV) THE SCHOOL’S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL 7
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONGOING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A STUDENT’S PARENTS 8
AND TEACHERS , INCLUDING, TO THE EXTENT PRACTI CABLE, IN THE LANGUAGE 9
THAT THE PARENT SPEAKS: 10
1. ANNUAL PARENT–TEACHER CONFERENCES; 11
2. FREQUENT REPORTS ON S TUDENT ACADEMIC 12
PROGRESS; AND 13
3. REGULAR OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PARENT TO 14
MEET WITH SCHOOL STAFF. 15
(3) IN DEVELOPING A COMPACT UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 16
SUBSECTION, THE SCHOOL AND PARENTS SHALL ENSURE THE COMPACT: 17
(I) FOLLOWS THE COMPREHENSIVE PARENT AND FAMILY 18
ENGAGEMENT POLICY DEVELOPED BY THE COUNTY BOARD; 19
(II) IS DEVELOPED USING A CO LLABORATIVE PROCESS, 20
INCLUDING THE COLLECTION AND USE OF INPUT FROM THE SCHOOL AND PARENTS 21
REGARDING PLANNING, ORGANIZATION, REVIEW, IMPLEMENTATION, DETERMINING 22
THE INITIAL TERMS, AND AN AMENDMENT PROCESS; AND 23
(III) IS WRITTEN USING PLAIN AND CLEAR LANG UAGE 24
UNDERSTANDABLE TO ALL PARENTS, INCLUDING, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, IN 25
THE LANGUAGE THAT PARENTS SPEAK. 26
(4) (I) EACH SCHOOL SHALL CON VENE AN ANNUAL MEETI NG FOR 27
PARENTS TO: 28
1. REVIEW AND DISCUSS TH E TERMS AND CONTENT OF 29
THE COMPACT; 30
HOUSE BILL 1334 5
2. UPDATE PARENTS ON THE SCHOOL’S ACADEMIC 1
PROGRAMS AND CURRICU LUM USE D FOR VARIOUS ACADEMIC SUBJECTS, 2
INCLUDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS TO R EVIEW CURRICULAR MAT ERIALS; 3
AND 4
3. INFORM PARENTS OF THE ASSESSMENTS USED TO 5
MEASURE STUDENT AND SCHOOL PROGRESS AND THE EXPECTED LEVELS OF 6
PROFICIENCY IN REPORTED SUBJECTS. 7
(II) DURING THE ANNUAL MEETING, THE SCHOOL SHALL: 8
1. PROVIDE PARENTS WITH TRAINING MATERIALS T O 9
ASSIST PARENTS SEEKING TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT; AND 10
2. OFFER PARENTS MEANING FUL OPPORTUNITIES TO 11
PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE TERMS OF THE COMPACT, INCLUDING PROPOSING 12
AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPACT. 13
(III) THE ANNUAL MEETING SHALL: 14
1. TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, HOLD DISCUSSIONS IN 15
LANGUAGES THAT PARENTS SPEAK; AND 16
2. BE SCHEDULED AT A CONVENIENT TI ME FOR 17
PARENTS AND CONSIDER FLEXIBLE MODES OF ME ETINGS IN ORDER TO M AXIMIZE 18
PARENTAL PARTICIPATION. 19
(IV) THE SCHOOL SHALL SEEK TO MAXIMIZE THE 20
PARTICIPATION OF PAR ENTS WITH DIVERSE NE EDS IN THE ANNUAL MEETIN G, 21
INCLUDING THE PARENTS OF: 22
1. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES; 23
2. ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS; 24
3. HOMELESS CHILDREN; AND 25
4. STUDENTS WITH FEDERAL VISAS. 26
(5) THE COMPACT SHALL BE POSTED IN A CONSPICU OUS PLACE ON 27
THE WEBSITE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL AND UPDATED EACH TIME THE COMPACT IS 28
REVISED OR AMENDED , INCLUDING A NOTATION OF THE TIME AND DATE OF THE 29
REVISION OR AMENDMENT. 30
6 HOUSE BILL 1334
(6) (I) IF A SCHOOL HAS AN EXISTING COMPACT, THE SCHOOL MAY 1
AMEND THE COMPACT TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION. 2
(II) A COMPACT ADOPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HE 3
REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT SHALL FULFILL 4
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION. 5
(C) (1) EACH COUNTY BOARD SHALL SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT A 6
CERTIFICATION THAT THE COUNTY BOARD IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF 7
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION EACH YEAR. 8
(2) EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL SH ALL SUBMIT TO THE COUNTY BOARD A 9
CERTIFICATION THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF 10
SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION EACH YEAR. 11
(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE GUIDANCE AND TEC HNICAL 12
ASSISTANCE TO A COUNTY BOARD OR PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT NEEDS ASSISTANCE IN 13
IMPLEMENTING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION. 14
(E) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO IMPLE MENT THE 15
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17
1, 2026. 18