Bill > HB1310

This bill allows high school students in Maryland who experience a "traumatic loss," defined as the death of a parent from reproductive cancer like breast, cervical, or uterine cancer, to request a special notation on their official academic transcript. This notation, which will use standardized language developed by the State Department of Education such as "documented compelling personal circumstance" or "exceptional hardship acknowledgement" to protect student privacy, will indicate an impact on the student's academic performance, achievement, or attendance during a specific school year. To be eligible, students must submit a request form along with proof of the parent's death from a qualifying cancer, such as a death certificate or a letter from a healthcare provider. Local school systems are required to add this notation upon receiving an eligible request and must also remove it if the student later requests its removal. High school counselors will be responsible for informing students and their surviving parents about this option and advising them on how the notation can explain any academic fluctuations. The bill also allows for an optional letter from the student, with the approval of a surviving parent if the student is under 18, to further explain the circumstances and their impact. The State Board of Education may adopt regulations to implement these provisions, and the law is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1310?ys=2026RS