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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0478*
SENATE BILL 478
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By: Senator McKay
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Washington County – Institutions of Higher Education – Dually Enrolled 2
Students 3
FOR the purpose of altering the definition of “dually enrolled student” to include both a 4
nonpublic secondary school student and a homeschool student in Washington County 5
so that these students are eligible to apply for the Part –Time Grant Program and 6
the Early College Access Grant; and generally relating to institutions of higher 7
education and dually enrolled students. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Education 10
Section 15–127, 18–1401, and 18–14A–01 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 14
Article – Education 15
Section 18–14A–02 and 18–14A–03 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Education 21
15–127. 22
(a) (1) In this section, “dually enrolled student” means a student who is dually 23
enrolled in AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE AND: 24
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(i) A PUBLIC secondary school in the State; [and] 1
(ii) [An institution of higher education in the State] A NONPUBLIC 2
SECONDARY SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON COUNTY; OR 3
(III) A HOME SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. 4
(2) “Dually enrolled student” includes a student enrolled in a credit or 5
noncredit certificate or license program, course, or sequence of courses that leads to 6
certification or licensure at an institution of higher education in the State. 7
(b) A public institution of higher education may not charge tuition to a dually 8
enrolled student. 9
(c) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, for each dually enrolled student who 10
is enrolled in a public school in the county, the county board shall pay 75% of the cost of 11
tuition for a public institution of higher education in the State. 12
(d) (1) If there is an agreement before July 1, 2020, between a public , 13
NONPUBLIC, OR HOME school and a public institution of higher education in which the 14
public institution of higher education charges less than 75% of the cost of tuition to a dually 15
enrolled student, the county board shall pay the cost of tuition under the existing 16
agreement. 17
(2) Every 2 years, a public , NONPUBLIC, OR HOME school and a public 18
institution of higher education may evaluate and modify an agreement made under 19
paragraph (1) of this subsection. 20
18–1401. 21
(a) In this section, “part–time student” means a student who: 22
(1) Is enrolled in a degree–granting program at an eligible institution and 23
taking at least 3 but no more than 11 semester hours of courses each semester; or 24
(2) Is dually enrolled in [a secondary school in the State and] an institution 25
of higher education IN THE STATE AND: 26
(I) A PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL IN THE STATE; 27
(II) A NONPUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON 28
COUNTY; OR 29
(III) A HOME SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. 30
SENATE BILL 478 3
(b) In cooperation with the institutions of higher education in the State, the 1
Commission shall establish and administer a grant program for undergraduate part –time 2
students. 3
(c) A recipient of a part–time grant shall: 4
(1) Except as provided in § 18 –1401.1 of this subtitle, be a resident of the 5
State; and 6
(2) Have demonstrated a definite financial need according to criteria 7
established by the Commission. 8
(d) For courses completed under the program, a recipient who is dually enrolled 9
in a secondary school in the State and an institution of higher education may not be 10
required to receive credit from a secondary school and an institution of higher education at 11
the same time. 12
18–14A–01. 13
(a) (1) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 14
(2) “Dually enrolled student” means a student who is dually enrolled in: 15
(i) 1. A PUBLIC secondary school in the State; 16
2. A NONPUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON 17
COUNTY; OR 18
3. A HOME SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON COUNTY; and 19
(ii) An institution of higher education in the State. 20
(3) “Grant” means the Early College Access Grant. 21
(b) There is an Early College Access Grant that provides financial assistance to 22
dually enrolled students in the State. 23
(c) In cooperation with institutions of higher education in the State, the 24
Commission shall administer the Grant. 25
(d) A recipient of a grant shall: 26
(1) Be a dually enrolled student; and 27
(2) Demonstrate financial need according to criteria established by the 28
Commission. 29
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(e) For courses completed under the Grant, a recipient is not required to receive 1
credit from a secondary school and an institution of higher education at the same time. 2
18–14A–02. 3
(a) Funds for the Grant shall be allocated by the Commission to an institution of 4
higher education based on the number of dually enrol led students receiving credit for 5
courses completed at the institution. 6
(b) Funds for the Grant shall be as provided in the annual budget of the 7
Commission by the Governor. 8
18–14A–03. 9
The Commission shall: 10
(1) Establish guidelines for awarding the Grant to dually enrolled 11
students; and 12
(2) Adopt any other guidelines or regulations necessary for the 13
administration of this subtitle. 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 15
1, 2026. 16