Bill > HB479

This bill establishes the Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program, a structured, credit-bearing program designed to help high school students in Southern Maryland begin preparing for careers in primary and secondary education, with the goal of increasing access to higher education for historically underrepresented and rural students and building a stronger, more diverse teacher workforce. The State Department of Education, in collaboration with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, will administer the program, while the University System of Maryland, also in consultation with these entities, will develop the program and its teacher preparation pathway. A key provision ensures that students participating in the program will be considered "dually enrolled" and will not have to pay any costs associated with their participation, such as tuition and mandatory fees, aligning with existing laws that prevent public higher education institutions from charging tuition to dually enrolled students. To guide this development, a Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program Workgroup will be convened, comprising representatives from various state and local government offices, educational institutions, and county superintendents, and this workgroup will report on the program's structure, implementation plan, and any necessary legislative or regulatory changes by June 30, 2029. The bill also allocates $250,000 annually for fiscal years 2028 and 2029 to support the program's development.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0479?ys=2026RS