Bill > SB529

This bill establishes the Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program, which will create a structured, credit-bearing path for high school students to begin preparing for careers in primary and secondary education, with a specific focus on expanding access and affordability for historically underrepresented students and those from rural areas in Southern Maryland, ultimately aiming to build a diverse teacher pipeline and serve as a model for statewide replication. The program, referred to as the "PROGRAM," will be administered by the State Department of Education in consultation with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, after the University System of Maryland, in collaboration with these entities, develops the program and the teacher preparation pathway. Students participating in the program will be considered dually enrolled, meaning they are simultaneously enrolled in high school and an institution of higher education, and will not be required to pay any costs associated with their program enrollment, such as tuition and mandatory fees, as per existing law regarding 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 from Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties, and this workgroup will report on the program's structure, implementation plan, and any necessary legislative or regulatory changes by June 30, 2029. The University System of Maryland will receive $250,000 annually for fiscal years 2028 and 2029 to support the program's development.

Education

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0529?ys=2026RS