Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
*sb0529*
SENATE BILL 529
F1, F2 (6lr2573)
ENROLLED BILL
— Education, Energy, and the Environment/Ways and Means and Appropriations —
Introduced by Senator Harris
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of ________ _______ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
President.
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 Educatio n 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 gener ally relating to the 13
Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program and the Southern 14
Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program Workgroup. 15
2 SENATE BILL 529
BY adding to 1
Article – Education 2
Section 7–2201 through 7–2204 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 22. Southern 3
Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program” 4
Annotated Code of Maryland 5
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 6
BY adding to 7
Article – Education 8
Section 12–124 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 12
Article – Education 13
Section 15–127 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
Preamble 17
WHEREAS, Maryland faces a critical shortage of qualified teachers, especially in 18
high–need schools and rural areas such as Southern Maryland where local school systems 19
report persistent vacancies in core subject areas and growing challenges in retaining 20
educators; and 21
WHEREAS, The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future calls f or expanding high–quality 22
pathways into the teaching profession, increasing college readiness, and improving 23
workforce pipelines in every region of the State; and 24
WHEREAS, Nationally, early college programs have proven to increase college 25
enrollment, degree attainment, and workforce participation — particularly among 26
first–generation and low –income students — and can be leveraged to build stronger and 27
more diverse teacher pipelines; and 28
WHEREAS, Despite strong national evidence of success, Maryland lags behind most 29
states in providing early postsecondary opportunities for its students; and 30
WHEREAS, As of 2023, Maryland ranked low nationally for dual enrollment 31
participation as a percent of high school enrollment at 10% and ranked low nationally for 32
dual enrollment as a percent of undergraduate enrollment at 7%; and 33
WHEREAS, As of 2022, participation in dual enrollment and early college programs 34
in Maryland is overly concentrated at community colleges with only 5% of students enrolled 35
through public four –year institutions — compared to approximately 28% 36
SENATE BILL 529 3
nationally — limiting exposure to bachelor’s degree pathways, including teacher 1
preparation programs; and 2
WHEREAS, Southern Maryland’s geography, limited access to nearby four –year 3
institutions, and workforce needs make it an ideal region for a program that bridges high 4
schools, community colleges, and the University System of Maryland regional higher 5
education centers to create a seamless teacher preparation pathway; and 6
WHEREAS, Establishing a Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway 7
Program will align with the Blueprint’s goals; now, therefore, 8
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 9
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 10
Article – Education 11
SUBTITLE 22. SOUTHERN MARYLAND EARLY COLLEGE TEACHER PATHWAY 12
PROGRAM. 13
7–2201. 14
IN THIS SUBTITLE , “PROGRAM” MEANS THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND EARLY 15
COLLEGE TEACHER PATHWAY PROGRAM. 16
7–2202. 17
(A) THERE IS A SOUTHERN MARYLAND EARLY COLLEGE TEACHER 18
PATHWAY PROGRAM. 19
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO: 20
(1) CREATE A STRUCTURED , CREDIT–BEARING PATHWAY FOR HIGH 21
SCHOOL STUDENTS TO B EGIN PREPARATION TO TEACH PRIMARY AND SE CONDARY 22
EDUCATION; 23
(2) EXPAND ACCESS TO AND ENSURE THE AFFORDABI LITY OF 24
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE: 25
(I) HISTORICALLY UNDERREP RESENTED IN HIGHER 26
EDUCATION; AND 27
(II) FROM RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE; 28
4 SENATE BILL 529
(3) BUILD A STRONG AND DIVERSE TEACHER PIPELINE TO SERVE THE 1
STATE’S PUBLIC PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND 2
(4) SERVE AS A MODEL TO B E REPLICATED FOR REG IONAL 3
IMPLEMENTATION STATEWIDE. 4
(C) THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MARYLAND HIGHER 5
EDUCATION COMMISSION, SHALL ADMINISTER AND IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM ON 6
COMPLETION OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND’S DEVELOPMENT OF THE 7
PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 12–124 OF THIS ARTICLE. 8
7–2203. 9
A PROGRAM STUDENT SHALL BE CONSIDERED A DUALLY ENROLLED STUDENT 10
FOR PURPOSES OF § 15–127 OF THIS ARTICLE AND MAY N OT BE REQUIRED TO PA Y 11
ANY COST THAT IS RELATED TO ENROLLMENT OR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM, 12
INCLUDING TUITION AND MANDATORY FEES. 13
7–2204. 14
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO CAR RY OUT THE 15
PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBTITLE. 16
12–124. 17
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 18
INDICATED. 19
(2) “PROGRAM” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 7–2201 OF THIS 20
ARTICLE MEANS THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND EARLY COLLEGE TEACHER PATHWAY 21
PROGRAM. 22
(3) “PROGRAM WORKGROUP” MEANS THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND 23
EARLY COLLEGE TEACHER PATHWAY PROGRAM WORKGROUP. 24
(B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH SU BSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION AND IN 25
CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMISSION, THE UNIVERSITY 26
SHALL DEVELOP THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A SOUTHERN MARYLAND EARLY 27
COLLEGE TEACHER PATHWAY PROGRAM AND THE A TEACHER PREPARATION 28
PATHWAY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND TO: 29
SENATE BILL 529 5
(1) CREATE A STRUCTURED , CREDIT–BEARING PATHWAY FOR HIGH 1
SCHOOL STUDENTS TO B EGIN PREPARATION TO TEACH PRIMARY AND SE CONDARY 2
EDUCATION; 3
(2) EXPAND ACCESS TO AND ENSURE THE AFFOR DABILITY OF 4
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, INCLUDING STUDENTS WHO 5
ARE: 6
(I) HISTORICALLY UNDERREP RESENTED IN HIGHER 7
EDUCATION; AND 8
(II) FROM RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE; 9
(3) BUILD A STRONG AND DIVERSE TEACHER PIPELINE TO SERVE THE 10
STATE’S PUBLIC PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND 11
(4) SERVE AS A MODEL TO B E REPLICATED FOR REG IONAL 12
IMPLEMENTATION STATEWIDE. 13
(C) (1) THE UNIVERSITY SHALL CONV ENE A SOUTHERN MARYLAND 14
EARLY COLLEGE TEACHER PATHWAY PROGRAM WORKGROUP TO DEVELOP THE 15
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM AND THE TEACH ER PREPARATION 16
PATHWAY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND. 17
(2) THE PROGRAM WORKGROUP SHALL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING 18
MEMBERS: 19
(I) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, 20
APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR; 21
(II) ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE OF MARYLAND, APPOINTED 22
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; 23
(III) ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, APPOINTED 24
BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; 25
(IV) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT, OR THE STATE 26
SUPERINTENDENT’S DESIGNEE; 27
(V) THE CHAIR OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND 28
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD, OR THE CHAIR’S DESIGNEE; 29
(VI) THE SECRETARY, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 30
6 SENATE BILL 529
(VII) THE CHANCELLOR, OR THE CHANCELLOR’S DESIGNEE; 1
(VIII) THE SENIOR VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AND 2
STUDENT AFFAIRS OF THE UNIVERSITY, OR THE SENIOR VICE CHANCELLOR’S 3
DESIGNEE; 4
(IX) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM 5
OF MARYLAND AT SOUTHERN MARYLAND, OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S 6
DESIGNEE; 7
(X) THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, 8
COLLEGE PARK CAMPUS, OR THE PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE; 9
(XI) THE PRESIDENT OF TOWSON UNIVERSITY, OR THE 10
PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE; 11
(XII) THE PRESIDENT OF ST. MARY’S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND, 12
OR THE PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE; 13
(XII) (XIII) THE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN 14
MARYLAND, OR THE PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE; 15
(XIII) (XIV) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND 16
ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES, OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S 17
DESIGNEE; 18
(XV) THE COUNTY SUPERINTEN DENTS, OR THE COUNTY 19
SUPERINTENDENTS’ DESIGNEES, OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES: 20
1. CALVERT COUNTY; 21
2. CHARLES COUNTY; AND 22
3. ST. MARY’S COUNTY; AND 23
(XV) (XVI) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH LOCAL UNIO N 24
REPRESENTING EDUCATO RS IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND, DESIGNATED BY THE 25
UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVE, WHO IS A LICENSED SC HOOL–BASED EMPLOYEE 26
WITH EXPERIENCE IMPL EMENTING POSTSECONDA RY READINESS OR EARL Y 27
TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS, FROM EACH OF THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES: 28
SENATE BILL 529 7
1. THE CALVERT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, 1
DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, OR THE PRESIDENT’S 2
DESIGNEE; 3
2. THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF CHARLES 4
COUNTY, DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, OR THE 5
PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE; AND 6
3. THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF ST. MARY’S 7
COUNTY, DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, OR THE 8
PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE; AND 9
(XIV) (XVI) (XVII) ANY OTHER MEMBERS DES IGNATED BY THE 10
UNIVERSITY. 11
(3) ON OR BEFORE JUNE 30, 2029, THE UNIVERSITY SHALL REPORT 12
TO THE DEPARTMENT, THE COMMISSION, THE GOVERNOR, AND, IN ACCORDANCE 13
WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 14
SENATE EDUCATION, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE AND THE 15
HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ON: 16
(I) THE PROGRAM WORKGROUP’S RECOMMENDATIONS FO R 17
THE PROGRAM AND THE TEACH ER PREPARATION PATHW AY IN SOUTHERN 18
MARYLAND, INCLUDING: 19
1. THE STRUCTURE OF THE TEACHER PREPARATION 20
PATHWAY; 21
2. AN IMPLEMENTATION PLA N FOR THE TEACHER 22
PREPARATION PATHWAY; AND 23
3. ANY LEGISLATIVE OR RE GULATORY CHANGES 24
NECESSARY FOR SUCCES SFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TEACHER PREPA RATION 25
PATHWAY; AND 26
(II) THE USE OF STATE FUNDS TO DEVELO P THE PROGRAM 27
WORKGROUP’S RECOMMENDATIONS FO R T HE PROGRAM AND THE TEACH ER 28
PREPARATION PATHWAY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND. 29
(D) FOR EACH OF FISCAL YE ARS 2028 AND 2029, THE GOVERNOR SHALL 30
INCLUDE IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET BILL AN APPROPRIATION OF $250,000 $125,000 31
TO THE UNIVERSITY TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF T HE PROGRAM 32
WORKGROUP’S RECOMMENDATIONS FO R THE PROGRAM AND THE TEACH ER 33
8 SENATE BILL 529
PREPARATION PATHWAY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND IN ACCORDANC E WITH THIS 1
SECTION. 2
15–127. 3
(a) (1) In this section, “dually enrolled student” means a student who is dually 4
enrolled in: 5
(i) A secondary school in the State; and 6
(ii) An institution of higher education in the State. 7
(2) “Dually enrolled student” includes a student enrolled in a credit or 8
noncredit certificate or license program, course, or sequence of courses that leads to 9
certification or licensure at an institution of higher education in the State. 10
(b) A public institution of higher education may not charge tuition to a dually 11
enrolled student. 12
(c) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, for each dually enrolled student who 13
is enrolled in a public school in the county, the county board shall pay 75% of the cost of 14
tuition for a public institution of higher education in the State. 15
(d) (1) If there is an agreement before July 1, 2020, between a public school 16
and a public institution of higher education in which the public institution of higher 17
education charges less than 75% of the cost of tuition to a dually enrolled student, the 18
county board shall pay the cost of tuition under the existing agreement. 19
(2) Every 2 years, a public school and a public institution of higher 20
education may evaluate and modify an agreement made under paragraph (1) of this 21
subsection. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 23
1, 2026. It shall remain e ffective for a period of 4 years and, at the end of June 30, 2030, 24
this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 25
of no further force and effect. 26