Some Democratic lawmakers in Maryland are proposing a set of income tax hikes this year, but even bill sponsors have admitted that getting their colleagues on board will likely be a long-haul effort.
Education bills prioritize teacher shortages, Blueprint funding
Gov. Wes Moore allocated an extra $500 million on top of the required amount for funding the Blueprint and shifted some transportation funding into education.
New bill looks to establish water safety, swimming elective for upper-grade students
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 17 and below.
Delegate looks to expand civil immunity for teachers
The proposed bill, HB0137, aims to protect teachers who intervene in fights or other cases of student misconduct from any civil liability they may face.
Maryland teachers quitting, larger exodus could follow
In the last academic school year, 9.1% of Maryland teachers left the profession altogether, according to the state department of education. Consequently, at the beginning of this year, county school systems across the state reported hundreds of teacher vacancies they needed to fill.
Maryland begins statewide effort to lessen digital divide
With federal funds and expansion of a former regional office to a statewide entity, Maryland takes steps to close the digital divide in the state.
Many Maryland schools set to reopen Monday
Many of Maryland’s most populous districts are set to welcome some students back for in-person instruction Monday, marking the start of varying local plans in response to Gov. Larry Hogan’s push to reopen schools by March 1.
Pandemic-inspired Maryland bill would redirect student funds toward school of choice
After Maryland Democrats successfully pushed through a multi-billion dollar education reform bill last week, one Republican lawmaker has proposed pandemic-related education legislation of her own.
Taskforce will study college students’ mental healthcare access
College students report depression, anxiety, and related symptoms at a significantly higher rate during COVID-19; a task force to study mental healthcare access at Maryland colleges looks to address this.
Kirwan education veto expected to be overturned this week
The veto of a multi-billion dollar education bill in Maryland may be overridden this week, along with tax increases to fund it, as the state Legislature is expected to take up the three related bills by Friday.