Bill > SB610

Introduced Session

AN ACT concerning Primary and Secondary Education - Virtual Education FOR the purpose of requiring a teacher preparation program to include certain training related to teaching in a virtual learning environment as a component of instruction; providing that a county board of education may authorize a county superintendent of schools, under certain circumstances, to provide virtual education days to students instead of closing the public schools in the county because of severe weather conditions; requiring the county board to publish the county board’s plan for the use of virtual education days on the school system’s website and requiring the plan to include certain items; requiring a county superintendent to take certain actions and make certain accommodations if the county superintendent decides to provide a virtual education day for public school students in the county; altering the requirements for virtual schools established by a county board; requiring county boards to adopt virtual education plans for the operation of public schools during a prolonged state of emergency; providing for the contents of a virtual education plan; requiring public schools to establish certain learning supports and a behavioral health plan under certain circumstances; requiring the State Department of Education to establish certain training standards for teachers on the provision of virtual education under certain circumstances; requiring the Department to expand computer and Internet security infrastructure for virtual education; requiring the State Superintendent of Schools to report to the State Board of Education and the General Assembly on or before a certain date certain findings and recommendations regarding the balance between certain types of learning in virtual schools; providing that certain virtual schools approved by the Department on or before a certain date may continue to operate as a virtual school for a certain period of time under certain circumstances; requiring the Department, in consultation with to convene a study group of certain stakeholders, to study best practices for the provision of virtual education and identify certain information relating to virtual education in the State and submit a certain report on or before a certain date; prohibiting the approval of a new elementary grade band virtual school on or before a certain date; and generally relating to virtual education in the State. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Education Section 6-121(a) and 7-1401 through 7-1408 Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume) BY adding to Article - Education Section 7-103.2 and 7-1401.1; and 7-14A-01 through 7-14A-09 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 14A. Operation of Public Schools During a Prolonged State of Emergency - Virtual Education Plans” Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume)

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Mary Washington (D)*,  Pamela Beidle (D),  Alonzo Washington (D), 

Enacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution - Chapter 804 (on 05/28/2023)

Official Document