OUR WORK
MARYLAND STUDENT COALITION
INITIATIVES
Student Demonstrations
The Maryland Student Coalition is responsible for leading the charge to ensure students' rights to peacefully demonstrate in schools.
In 2020, Jonathon DiPietro (MSC Director) and Hunter Craig (MSC Deputy Director) authored draft language for potential legislation to ensure these protections across the state of Maryland. Working with Christopher Lidard (MSC Associate Director) and Lauren Raskin (MSC Associate Director), the MSC secured a sponsor for the legislation in the Maryland General Assembly.
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House Bill 753 secures the rights of students to exercise their rights to assemble in school. In March of 2021 the bill passed in the House of Delegates, but was delayed in the Senate Committee on Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs (EHE). HB 753 will be reintroduced in the next legislative session. Local jurisdictions have been very supportive of the initiative and are being to establish policies around student demonstrations.
The Maryland Student Coalition has worked with the ACLU of Maryland, Maryland Youth Advisory Committee (an advisory board to the Governor of Maryland), Maryland Association of Student Councils, and many other student-led and adult organizations to grow support for this initiative.
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HB 753
CURRENT STATUS
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CONFERENCE COMMITTEE (IF NECESSARY)
To Governor
MARYLAND STUDENT COALITION
TESTIMONY
Excused Absences for Mental Health Days
House Bill 461 provides mental health days as an excused absence from school. The Maryland Student Coalition supports this initiative and has submitted favorable testimony to the Maryland Senate Committee on Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs (EHE).
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This legislation passed near-unanimously in the House of Delegates, with support from the Education Advocacy Coalition for Students with Disabilities and other community advocacy organizations.
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HB 461 did not pass in the Senate before 2021 Sine Die. It is unknown if the bill will be reintroduced in the next legislative session.
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HB 461
CURRENT STATUS
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CONFERENCE COMMITTEE (IF NECESSARY)
To Governor
Restorative Justice in School
HB 700
CURRENT STATUS
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To Governor
House Bill 700 repeals Maryland Education Code § 26-101, an overly broad statute that criminalizes behaviors and acts that are criminalized in various provisions of the Maryland Criminal Code, and sets forth subjective offenses that disproportionately impacts Black students and students with disabilities.
The Maryland Student Coalition has submitted testimony in favor of these changes. This legislation passed with a party-line vote in the House of Delegates with support from the Coalition to Reform School Discipline (which is comprised of many advocacy organizations including the ACLU of Maryland, The Arc, and the Maryland Office of the Public Defender) , Legislative Black Caucus, and the The People’s Commission to Decriminalize Maryland.
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HB 700 did not pass in the Senate before 2021 Sine Die. It is unknown if the bill will be reintroduced in the next legislative session.
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Physical Restraint and Seclusion
House Bill 1166 would prohibit a public agency or nonpublic school from using a physical restraint or seclusion with a student as a behavioral health intervention, except under certain safety circumstances. The bill also requires that the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) develop an accountability system, analyze data, determine trends, and publish findings relating to the use of physical restraint and seclusion. Finally, the bill will require that the State Superintendent must adopt positive behavioral intervention training requirements for any employees who routinely interact with students.
The Maryland Student Coalition has submitted testimony in favor of this legislation. This bill passed unanimously in the House of Delegates with support from the ACLU of Maryland, Coalition to Reform School Discipline, Maryland Education Coalition for Students with Disabilities, University of Maryland, and many other advocacy organizations.
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HB 1166 did not pass in the Senate before 2021 Sine Die. It is unknown if the bill will be reintroduced in the next legislative session.
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HB 1166
CURRENT STATUS
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CONFERENCE COMMITTEE (IF NECESSARY)
To Governor
Prevention of Retaliation for School Personnel
HB 1322
CURRENT STATUS
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To Governor
House Bill 1322 serves as an emergency bill that prohibits, during the 2020-2021 school year, specified individuals from disciplining, suspending, terminating, or retaliating against specified professional school personnel for choosing not to return to the school building for in-person instruction if the individual:
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Is at least 65 years old, has specified underlying health conditions, or lives in a household or is the caretaker for such an individual; or
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Is allowed to instruct or work remotely; and
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Has not received the full course of an U.S. Food and Drug (FDA)-approved COVID-19 vaccine.
The Maryland Student Coalition submitted testimony in favor of this legislation. This bill passed with a vote of 96-39 in the House of Delegates with support from the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA), Maryland School Psychologists Association, and various other community organizations.
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HB 1322 has passed enrolled in the Maryland General Assembly and is on the Governor's desk for enactment.
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Procurement and Establishment of Virtual Schools
Senate Bill 966 requires the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to make an expedited procurement for a statewide platform to provide virtual education. This legislation is in the beginning stages and has yet to be passed in either house. The bill has been delayed and rereferred to the Senate Committee on Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs (EHE).
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The Maryland Student Coalition has submitted testimony in favor of this legislation and will advocate in the next session to advance this initiative in a way that provides an effective alternative form of education.
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SB 966 did not pass in the Senate before 2021 Sine Die. It is unknown if the bill will be reintroduced in the next legislative session.
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Symbols of Hate Policy
HB 418
CURRENT STATUS
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CONFERENCE COMMITTEE (IF NECESSARY)
To Governor
House Bill 418 requires each county board of education to adopt a policy prohibiting the use or display of a symbol of hate on school grounds. The Maryland Student Coalition strongly supports this legislation, and has submitted testimony to the Maryland Senate Committee on Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs.
This bill passed in the House of Delegates with near unanimous support. Additionally, the Maryland Association of Student Councils, Montgomery County Board of Education, Anne Arundel County Administration, and numerous other advocacy organizations have submitted testimony in favor of this legislation.
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HB 418 did not pass in the Senate before 2021 Sine Die. It is unknown if the bill will be reintroduced in the next legislative session.
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