Education

In 2020, Legislators debated and passed the Blueprint for Maryland. Unfortunately the bill was vetoed by Governor Hogan, but his veto was overridden in 2021. Since then, our Issue Team has been inactive, but UULM-MD still follows

implementation of the Blueprint as well as other education bills related to our shared UU values. In some cases, we provide testimony when the issue requires it. The table below shows the bills we are tracking in the current session.

Subject	Bill Number	Title	Current Status	Current Location	Synopsis
Blueprint Revisions	HB0490	Education - The Blueprint for Maryland's Future - Revisions	Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (Appropriations)	Appropriations	Repealing a requirement that county boards of education submit a certain technology report each year; extending the time period during which a certain method is used to calculate compensatory education enrollment through fiscal year 2027; repealing a termination date for the use of funds under the Concentration of Poverty Grant Program for the purpose of providing certain programs; altering the qualifications for an initial teacher certificate; etc.
Phone-Free Schools Act	HB0525	County Boards of Education - Student Electronic Communication Device Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)	Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.	Ways and Means	Requiring each county board of education to develop and implement, not later than the 2027-2028 school year, a policy limiting the use of certain electronic communication devices by a student during the academic school day; and prohibiting the policy from restricting the use of an electronic communication device for purposes documented in a student's individual education program, to address a documented health issue, during an emergency event, for certain educational purposes, to access language translation tools, or to meet caregiving duties.
Excused Absences for Civic Engagement	HB0575	Public Schools - Student Attendance - Excused Absences for Civic Engagement	Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.	Ways and Means	Requiring the State Department of Education and each county board of education to adopt an attendance policy to excuse certain absences for civic engagement by public school students, subject to certain policies and procedures.
Blueprint Revisions	SB0311	Education - The Blueprint for Maryland's Future - Revisions	Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.	Education, Energy, and the Environment	Repealing a requirement that county boards of education submit a certain technology report each year; extending the time period during which a certain method is used to calculate compensatory education enrollment through fiscal year 2027; repealing a termination date for the use of funds under the Concentration of Poverty Grant Program for the purpose of providing certain programs; altering the qualifications for an initial teacher certificate; etc.
Phone-Free Schools Act	SB0928	County Boards of Education - Student Electronic Communication Device Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)	Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.	Education, Energy, and the Environment	Requiring each county board of education to develop and implement, not later than the 2027-2028 school year, a policy limiting the use of certain electronic communication devices by a student during the academic school day; and prohibiting the policy from restricting the use of an electronic communication device for purposes documented in a student's individual education program, to address a documented health issue, during an emergency event, for certain educational purposes, to access language translation tools, or to meet caregiving duties.

Value Statement	Related Policy or Information
Every child should have a quality education to advance their opportunties for personal development and gainful employment	Maryland should adopt comprehensive and well researched legislation such as the "Blueprint for Maryland" to transform our current educational system to align with the top world class educational systems.
Children should be protected from harm motivated by racial animus	Local school systems need to take action to prevent hate crimes and other harmful acts of racism throughout all levels of Maryland schools.
Children should have equal access to resources needed for learning	Local school systems need to address inequities in education revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as access to computers and internet that are essential for remote learning.

Education

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