Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that establishes virtual education requirements for public schools, and allows for virtual education days for severe weather conditions under certain circumstances.

Highlights:

• Requires that a teacher preparation program include training in the skills and techniques needed in order to effectively teach in a virtual learning environment, including the use of online curriculum (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the county’s published plan includes (Sec. 1):

• A plan to ensure attendance will be taken for all students and teachers for each virtual education day;

• A plan to provide make up work opportunities for students who missed virtual education days when they return to in-person school;

• A plan to ensure all staff and students, including those with disabilities, experiencing homelessness, and English language learners have the necessary devices, like wifi, at home for virtual learning days; and

• Specific strategies for continued implementation of individualized education programs during virtual learning days, including specially designed instruction, supplementary aids and services, and accommodations.

• Authorizes the county superintendent to provide virtual education only if (Sec. 1):

• The local system has used all incorporated days in their calendar for school closures and severe weather;

• The county board has authorized the superintendent to provide virtual education; and

• The county superintendent determines that the severe weather is likely to prevent normal attendance at the public school.

• Authorizes a county board to establish one virtual school for the elementary, middle, and high school grade bands (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the county board to admit students on a lottery basis if they receive more applications than there are spaces available (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the county include demographic diversity and other criteria as part of the lottery system and that the student body of a virtual school reflect the socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity of the public school system in the county (Sec. 1).

• Requires that a virtual school provide each enrolled student the following services (Sec. 1):

• Extracurricular activities at the public school the student would otherwise be required to attend in person;

• To the extent practicable, participation in athletics and athletic teams at the public school the student would otherwise be required to attend in person;

• Wraparound, food, and nutrition services; and

• Health care services equivalent to those available to students that receive in-person instruction at the public schools in the county.

• Requires that after collaboration with local school systems, the Department establishes the following standards (Sec. 1):

• Student attendance requirement and reporting;

• Student engagement and conduct;

• Program quality metrics;

• Tracking and use of student data; and

• Data reporting requirements.

• Requires that teachers or educational support personal meet the following requirements (Sec. 1):

• Relevant professional certification;

• Be an employee of the county or a collaborating county;

• Be subject to the collective bargaining agreement of the jurisdiction; and

• Have access to professional development.

• Specifies that a virtual learning plan should be updated every 2 years and should include a plan for (Sec. 1):

• Staffing and personnel;

• Student instruction;

• Student assessment and learning support;

• Social and emotional learning;

• Community communication;

• Technology;

• Nutritional and health services; and

• Return to in-person instruction.

• Requires that each school have a behavioral health plan to help students struggling (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the principle have staff members conduct regular once a week wellness check-in (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the board, on August 15, 2023 and each year after, collect data on the following topics from each school that participated in a virtual education plan during the previous school year and publish it to their website (Sec. 1):

• Virtual education;

• In-person instruction;

• Hybrid instruction;

• Student attendance; and

• Student engagement.

• Requires that before July 1, 2023, the Department convene a study group to study and identify (Sec. 4):

• The appropriate next steps in virtual education and digital learning;

• Document existing resources for virtual schools;

• Review models of virtual schools in other states and countries;

• Explore alternative models and recommending improvements for Maryland virtual schools; and

• Infrastructure necessary for effective collaboration between multiple counties operating a single virtual school.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes virtual education requirements for public schools, and allows for virtual education days for severe weather conditions under certain circumstances.

Highlights:

• Requires that a teacher preparation program include training in the skills and techniques needed in order to effectively teach in a virtual learning environment, including the use of online curriculum (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the county’s published plan includes (Sec. 1):

• A plan to ensure attendance will be taken for all students and teachers for each virtual education day;

• A plan to provide make up work opportunities for students who missed virtual education days when they return to in-person school;

• A plan to ensure all staff and students, including those with disabilities, experiencing homelessness, and English language learners have the necessary devices, like wifi, at home for virtual learning days; and

• Specific strategies for continued implementation of individualized education programs during virtual learning days, including specially designed instruction, supplementary aids and services, and accommodations.

• Authorizes the county superintendent to provide virtual education only if (Sec. 1):

• The local system has used all incorporated days in their calendar for school closures and severe weather;

• The county board has authorized the superintendent to provide virtual education; and

• The county superintendent determines that the severe weather is likely to prevent normal attendance at the public school.

• Authorizes a county board to establish one virtual school for the elementary, middle, and high school grade bands (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the county board to admit students on a lottery basis if they receive more applications than there are spaces available (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the county include demographic diversity and other criteria as part of the lottery system and that the student body of a virtual school reflect the socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity of the public school system in the county (Sec. 1).

• Requires that a virtual school provide each enrolled student the following services (Sec. 1):

• Extracurricular activities at the public school the student would otherwise be required to attend in person;

• To the extent practicable, participation in athletics and athletic teams at the public school the student would otherwise be required to attend in person;

• Wraparound, food, and nutrition services; and

• Health care services equivalent to those available to students that receive in-person instruction at the public schools in the county.

• Requires that after collaboration with local school systems, the Department establishes the following standards (Sec. 1):

• Student attendance requirement and reporting;

• Student engagement and conduct;

• Program quality metrics;

• Tracking and use of student data; and

• Data reporting requirements.

• Requires that teachers or educational support personal meet the following requirements (Sec. 1):

• Relevant professional certification;

• Be an employee of the county or a collaborating county;

• Be subject to the collective bargaining agreement of the jurisdiction; and

• Have access to professional development.

• Specifies that a virtual learning plan should be updated every 2 years and should include a plan for (Sec. 1):

• Staffing and personnel;

• Student instruction;

• Student assessment and learning support;

• Social and emotional learning;

• Community communication;

• Technology;

• Nutritional and health services; and

• Return to in-person instruction.

• Requires that each school have a behavioral health plan to help students struggling (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the principle have staff members conduct regular once a week wellness check-in (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the board, on August 15, 2023 and each year after, collect data on the following topics from each school that participated in a virtual education plan during the previous school year and publish it to their website (Sec. 1):

• Virtual education;

• In-person instruction;

• Hybrid instruction;

• Student attendance; and

• Student engagement.

• Requires that before July 1, 2023, the Department convene a study group to study and identify (Sec. 4):

• The appropriate next steps in virtual education and digital learning;

• Document existing resources for virtual schools;

• Review models of virtual schools in other states and countries;

• Explore alternative models and recommending improvements for Maryland virtual schools; and

• Infrastructure necessary for effective collaboration between multiple counties operating a single virtual school.

Full Bill Text