Bill > HB457

This bill requires the Maryland State Department of Education to develop and offer a comprehensive continuing professional development course on student well-being and flourishing by July 1, 2026. The course will be available to all school personnel and administrators through asynchronous (self-paced) instruction and will be offered at a comparable rate to other professional development courses. The course will cover eight dimensions of well-being as identified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, including social, environmental, physical, emotional, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, and financial well-being. For each dimension, the course will provide instruction on its importance to students and offer pedagogical approaches that support students' development in that area. For example, the social well-being section will focus on helping students build friendships and a sense of community, while the emotional well-being section will cover strategies for expressing feelings and coping with life's stressors. The course is designed to help educators understand and support students' holistic development across multiple life domains. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, giving the Department of Education time to develop and implement the course.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0457?ys=2025RS