School board authority in Maryland

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Maryland state law makes school boards responsible for governing and managing public school districts in the state. This article details the powers and duties Maryland law grants to school boards for governing school districts and the constraints on that authority with regard to certain topics.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Maryland is one of 36 states that grant school boards at least some authority over whether charter schools are issued in their district.
  • School boards in Maryland have the authority to adopt policies concerning residency and are not legally required to provide for intradistrict or interdistrict open enrollment generally.
  • Maryland is one of 24 states that does not have a statewide Parents' Bill of Rights.
  • The Maryland General Assembly passed the Freedom to Read Act in 2024, creating certain restrictions that prevent school boards from removing materials based on the author or artist's background, origin, or viewpoints, or because of partisan reasons, among other provisions.


    • Types of legal and contractual constraints on school board authority

    See also: Local school board authority across the 50 states

    This page presents the results from Ballotpedia research on school board authority and constraints on that authority in all 50 states as of 2024. School board authority comes from state constitutions and state statutes and can be interpreted or specified by state regulations or court decisions. In addition to authority over district budgets, the selection of a superintendent, and administrative responsibilities, school boards have varying levels of authority over district policy on other topics depending on the state and district.

    There are several sources of legal and contractual constraints on school board policy-making authority which also vary by state or by district.

    • State laws commonly restrict or mandate school board policies on certain topics.
      • Parents' Bills of Rights, which at least 26 states have in statute to some degree, limit the policies school boards are allowed to pass.
    • State rules, guidance, and funding incentives can constrain, mandate, or influence school board policies. These include regulation from state education commissions and superintendents, executive orders from governors, or grant conditions.
    • Federal and state court rulings can dictate whether or not school district policies are compatible with state law or federal law.
    • The federal government, largely through its Department of Education, can promulgate regulations or guidance that influence district policy or make funding contingent on certain policies.
    • Collective bargaining agreements between school districts and teacher unions can create contractual constraints on the policies school boards can pass.
    • State school board associations can influence school board policy or, in some cases. enter into contracts with school boards that can limit school board policy.

    This page features the following sections:

    School board authority over district policy in Maryland

    Enabling or authorizing statute for the boards of school districts in Maryland

    See also: Enabling statute

    Maryland Code, ED§§ 3-103 and 3-104 create county school district boards and give them authority to operate according to state law:[1][2]

    “

    Section 3-103 - County boards established

    There is a county board of education for each county school system.

    Section 3-104 - County board is a corporate body; general powers

    (a) Each county board is a body politic and corporate by the name of the Board of Education of ........... County.

    (b) A county board:

    (1) Has perpetual existence;

    (2) May sue and be sued; and

    (3) May have, use, alter, or abandon a common seal. [3]

    		”

    Maryland school boards' powers and duties

    Maryland public school boards of directors are given broad authority to administer the public schools in Maryland. In addition to budget-related and fiscal duties, school property and facilities management, and administrative responsibilities, the specific powers and duties include:

    • determining curriculum guides and courses of study for the schools in the district that are aligned with content standards established by the State Department of Education,
    • determining the educational policies for the county,
    • adopting and maintaining an antidiscrimination policy, and
    • maintaining a reasonable level of uniformity across the district to provide equal educational opportunities to all children.

    The list of powers and duties school district boards are charged with appears in MD Education Code § 4-108 and §4-111 and are as follows:[4][5]

    “

    MD Education Code § 4-108

    Each county board shall:

    (1) To the best of its ability carry out the applicable provisions of this article and the bylaws, rules, regulations, and policies of the State Board;

    (2) Maintain throughout its county a reasonably uniform system of public schools that is designed to provide quality education and equal educational opportunity for all children;

    (3) Subject to this article and to the applicable bylaws, rules, and regulations of the State Board, determine, with the advice of the county superintendent, the educational policies of the county school system;

    (4) Adopt, codify, and make available to the public bylaws, rules, and regulations not inconsistent with State law, for the conduct and management of the county public schools; and

    (5) Adopt and maintain a written antidiscrimination policy for the county school system that, in accordance with Title 26, Subtitle 7 of this article, prohibits a school from:

    (i) Discriminating against any person because of the individual’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability;

    (ii) Refusing enrollment of a prospective student, expelling a current student, or withholding privileges from any individual because of an individual’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability; and

    (iii) Disciplining, invoking a penalty against, or taking any other retaliatory action against a student or parent or guardian of a student who files a complaint alleging that the school discriminated against the student, regardless of the outcome of the complaint.

    MD Education Code § 4-111

    (a) Subject to the applicable provisions of this article and the bylaws, basic policies, and guidelines established by the State Board, each county board, on the written recommendation of the county superintendent, shall:

    (1) Establish curriculum guides and courses of study for the schools under its jurisdiction, including appropriate programs of instruction or training for mentally or physically handicapped children; and

    (2) Supply printed copies of these materials to any teacher or interested citizen.

    (b) A county board may give academic credit for the study of American Sign Language. [3]

    		”

    Constraints on Maryland school boards' authority

    This section tracks constraints on school boards specific to Maryland as of September 2024. It features constraints on school boards' authority from state law, collective bargaining agreements, and Parents' Bills of Rights.

    Constraint on Maryland school boards' authority by topic

    This section features constraints on Maryland school boards' authority on policies related to the following topics:

    Curriculum requirements

    Maryland requires the following specific topics to be included in each district's curriculum:[6][7][8][9][10]

    • CPR and automated external defibrillator use,
    • age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault prevention and awareness,
    • age-appropriate instruction on consent and personal boundaries,
    • oral health including oral disease prevention and dental health, and
    • computer science.

    Curriculum restrictions

    Ballotpedia could not identify any curricular content prohibited by state statutes, regulations, case law, or collective bargaining agreements.

    Case law:
    The Supreme Court of the United States ruled on June 27, 2025, that Maryland schools must allow parents to opt out of instruction in which storybooks with LGBTQ themes are discussed.[11]

    Federal law and guidance


    Book bans, removals, and restrictions

    Maryland school boards have the authority to add and remove books from school libraries.[13]

    According to the 2024 Freedom to Read Act, public school library media programs must be operated according to certain standards. These standards include a prohibition against removing books or other materials solely because of the author or artist's background, origin, or viewpoints or because of partisan reasons. The act also prohibits school boards from dismissing, demoting, suspending, disciplining, reassigning, transferring, or otherwise retaliating against librarians for performing job duties that are consistent with the standards of the bill.[14][15]

    “

    (a) On the recommendation of the county superintendent and subject to the provisions of this article, each county board shall adopt procedures for the selection and purchase of the following necessary items, at the lowest price consistent with good quality, for use in the public schools:

    (1) Textbooks;

    (2) Supplementary readers;

    (3) Materials of instruction;

    (4) Visual and auditory aids;

    (5) Stationery; and

    (6) School supplies.

    (b) (1) Each county board shall adopt procedures for the selection and purchase for use in each public school library or media center of a collection of books and auditory and visual materials concerning African American history.

    (2) The collection in each library or media center shall be appropriate for students in each age group and reading level in the school.

    (c) Each county board shall furnish the materials and supplies listed in subsection (a) of this section:

    (1) Free of cost for use in the public schools; and

    (2) In sufficient quantities for the different grades in the public schools [3]

    		”

    Case law:
    The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed local school boards' authority to remove school books in Island Trees Sch. Dist. v. Pico by Pico in 1982 but held that school library books are distinct from curricular books, which school boards have more authority to regulate. The ruling held that school boards are charged with inculcating community values and may make curricular decisions accordingly. In Zykan v. Warsaw Community School Corp. in 1980, the Supreme Court held that school boards had discretionary power over curriculum, textbooks, and other educational matters but could not impose religious creeds or "permanently the student’s ability to investigate matters that arise in the natural course of intellectual inquiry,” according to the opinion.[16][17][18]

    Federal guidance


    Parental notification

    Ballotpedia could not identify any parental notification requirements in Maryland statutes, regulations, or collective bargaining agreements.

    Case law: The United States Supreme Court ruled in Mahmoud v. Taylor on June 27, 2025, that Montgomery County Board of Education's introduction of LGBTQ+ related storybooks, along with its decision to withhold opt outs, placed an unconstitutional burden on the parents’ rights to the free exercise of their religion.[20]

    Discipline

    See also: How does Maryland compare to other states on school board authority over disciplinary policy?

    Maryland is one of 47 states that gives school boards authority over district disciplinary policy.

    Section 7-1105 of Maryland's Education Code reads:[21]

    “

    Each public agency and nonpublic school shall develop policies and procedures in compliance with this subtitle and the regulations adopted by the Department.[3]

    		”
    Federal guidance

    School board elections

    See also: Rules governing school board election dates and timing in Maryland, How does Maryland compare to other states on school board authority over election timing?

    Maryland is one of 42 states in which school boards do not have authority over the timing of school board elections because state or municipal laws determine school board election dates.

    Click here to read about the laws governing school board elections in Maryland.

    Public school choice and open enrollment

    See also: School choice in Maryland

    School boards in Maryland have the authority to adopt policies concerning residency and are not legally required to provide for intradistrict or interdistrict open enrollment generally. Maryland Education Code § 7-101 addresses this provision and its exceptions. School boards are required to allow the children of service members and children placed by the local department of social services or the Department of Juvenile Services to attend school in counties where they are not domiciled:[23]

    “

    (a) All individuals who are 5 years old or older and under 21 shall be admitted free of charge to the public schools of this State.

    (b) (1) Except as provided in § 7–301 of this title and in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each child shall attend a public school in the county where the child is domiciled with the child’s parent, guardian, or relative providing informal kinship care, as defined in subsection (c) of this section.

    (2) (i) Upon request and in accordance with a county board’s policies concerning residency, a county superintendent:

    1. May allow a child to attend school in the county even if the child is not domiciled in that county with the child’s parent or guardian; and

    2. Shall allow a dependent child of a service member who is relocating to the State on military orders to enroll in school in the county in accordance with § 7–115.1 of this subtitle.

    (ii) Regardless of where the child is currently domiciled, a county superintendent shall allow a child to remain at the school that the child is attending, if:

    1. The child is a child who is:

    A. In the custody of, committed to, or otherwise placed by a local department of social services or the Department of Juvenile Services; and

    B. Subject to the educational stability provisions of the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 and the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015;

    2. The child is not in any of the following placements:

    A. A detention facility;

    B. A forestry camp;

    C. A training school;

    D. A State–owned and State–operated facility that accommodates more than 25 children; or

    E. Any other facility operated primarily for the detention of children who are determined to be delinquent;

    3. The local department of social services or the Department of Juvenile Services determines, in consultation with the local school system, that it is in the best interests of the child to continue at that school; and

    4. The local department of social services or the Department of Juvenile Services pays for the cost of transporting the child to and from school.

    (iii) 1. The Department of Human Services and the Department of Juvenile Services each shall adopt regulations establishing factors that shall be considered in determining the best interests of a child under this section.

    2. The Department shall adopt regulations to implement the educational stability provisions of the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 and the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015.

    (3) If a child fraudulently attends a public school in a county where the child is not domiciled with the child’s parent or guardian, the child’s parent or guardian shall be subject to a penalty payable to the county for the pro rata share of tuition for the time the child fraudulently attends a public school in the county.

    (4) Nothing in this section alters the requirements for out–of–county placements contained in § 4–122 and Title 8, Subtitles 3, 3A, and 4 of this article or in any other State or federal law.

    (c) (1) (i) In this subsection the following words have the meanings indicated.

    (ii) “Informal kinship care” means a living arrangement in which a relative of a child, who is not in the care, custody, or guardianship of the local department of social services, provides for the care and custody of the child due to a serious family hardship.

    (iii) “Relative” means an adult related to the child by blood or marriage within the fifth degree of consanguinity.

    (iv) “Serious family hardship” means:

    1. Death of a parent or legal guardian of the child;

    2. Serious illness of a parent or legal guardian of the child;

    3. Drug addiction of a parent or legal guardian of the child;

    4. Incarceration of a parent or legal guardian of the child;

    5. Abandonment by a parent or legal guardian of the child; or

    6. Assignment of a parent or legal guardian of a child to active military duty.

    (2) (i) A county superintendent shall allow a child who is a resident of this State to attend a public school in:

    1. A county other than the county where the child is domiciled with the child’s parent or legal guardian if the child lives with a relative providing informal kinship care in the county and the relative verifies the informal kinship care relationship through a sworn affidavit; or

    2. A school attendance area other than the school in the school attendance area where the child is domiciled with the child’s parent or legal guardian if the child lives with a relative providing informal kinship care in the school attendance area and the relative verifies the informal kinship care relationship through a sworn affidavit.

    (ii) 1. After allowing a child to enroll under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, subsequently a county superintendent may require that the affidavit be accompanied by supporting documentation of one or more serious family hardships and, where possible, the telephone number and address of any authority who is legally authorized to reveal information which can verify the assertions in the affidavit.

    2. If supporting documentation is required under subsubparagraph 1 of this subparagraph, the documentation shall be consistent with local, State, and federal privacy and confidentiality policies and statutes.

    (3) The affidavit shall include:

    (i) The name and date of birth of the child;

    (ii) The name and address of the child’s parent or legal guardian;

    (iii) The name and address of the relative providing informal kinship care;

    (iv) The date the relative assumed informal kinship care;

    (v) The nature of the serious family hardship and why it resulted in informal kinship care;

    (vi) The kinship relation to the child of the relative providing informal kinship care;

    (vii) The name and address of the school the child previously attended;

    (viii) Notice that the county superintendent may verify the facts given by the relative providing informal kinship care in the affidavit and conduct an audit of the case after the child has been enrolled in the county public school system;

    (ix) Notice that if fraud or misrepresentation is discovered during an audit, the county superintendent shall remove the child from the public school or county public school system roll; and

    (x) Notice that any person who willfully makes a material misrepresentation in the affidavit shall be subject to a penalty payable to the county for three times the pro rata share of tuition for the time the child fraudulently attends a public school in the county.

    (4) The affidavit shall be in the following form:

    (i) I, the undersigned, am over eighteen (18) years of age and competent to testify to the facts and matters set forth herein.

    (ii) ____________________ (name of child), whose date of birth is _____________, is living with me because of the following serious family hardship: (check each that is applicable)

    _____ death of father/mother/legal guardian

    _____ serious illness of father/mother/legal guardian

    _____ drug addiction of father/mother/legal guardian

    _____ incarceration of father/mother/legal guardian

    _____ abandonment by father/mother/legal guardian

    _____ assignment of a parent or legal guardian of a child to active military duty

    (iii) The name and last known address of the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian is: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

    (iv) My kinship relation to the child is _______________________

    (v) My address is: ______________________________________________________________________________ Street Apt. No. ______________________________________________________________________________ City State Zip Code

    (vi) I assumed informal kinship care of this child for 24 hours a day and 7 days a week on __________________(day/month/year).

    (vii) The name and address of the last school that the child attended is: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

    (viii) The county superintendent may verify the facts contained in the foregoing affidavit and conduct an audit on a case–by–case basis after the child has been enrolled in the county public school system. If the county superintendent discovers fraud or misrepresentation, the child shall be removed from the public school or county public school system roll.

    (ix) I solemnly affirm under the penalties of perjury that the contents of the foregoing are true to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief. ___________________________________ Signature of affiant ___________________________________ (Day/month/year)

    (x) Any person who willfully makes a material misrepresentation in this affidavit shall be subject to a penalty payable to the county for three times the pro rata share of tuition for the time the child fraudulently attends a public school in the county.

    (5) (i) Instructions that explain the necessity for both an affidavit and, when appropriate, the supporting documentation of the serious family hardship resulting in informal kinship care shall:

    1. Be attached to affidavit forms that comply with paragraph (4) of this subsection; and

    2. Include language encouraging the relative providing informal kinship care to submit the affidavit and, when appropriate, the supporting documentation prior to September 30 of each year.

    (ii) The affidavit forms, with attached instructions, shall be made available free of charge at the offices of each county board of education, each local department of social services, and each local area agency on aging.

    (6) If a change occurs in the care or in the serious family hardship of the child, the relative providing informal kinship care for the child shall notify the local school system in writing within 30 days after the change occurs.

    (7) (i) An informal kinship care affidavit may be filed during a school year.

    (ii) The relative providing informal kinship care shall file an affidavit annually at least 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the school year for each year the child continues to live with the relative because of a serious family hardship.

    (8) Unless the court appoints a guardian for the child or awards custody of the child to someone other than the relative providing informal kinship care, the relative providing informal kinship care shall make the full range of educational decisions for the child.

    (9) The relative providing informal kinship care shall make reasonable efforts to inform the parent or legal guardian of the child of the informal kinship care relationship.

    (10) The parent or legal guardian of a child in an informal kinship care relationship shall have final decision making authority regarding the educational needs of the child.

    (d) Section 4–122.1 of this article shall apply to the education funding of a child in an informal kinship care relationship if the fiscal impact of the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of this section exceed 0.1% of a county board’s total operating budget for a fiscal year.

    (e) (1) By the 2007–2008 school year, each county board shall provide full–day kindergarten programs for all kindergarten students in that county.

    (2) In the comprehensive master plan that is submitted under § 5–401 of this article, a county board shall identify the strategies that will be used in that county to ensure that full–day kindergarten programs are provided to all kindergarten students in that county by the 2007–2008 school year. [3]

    		”

    Charter schools

    See also: Charter schools in Maryland, How does Maryland compare to other states on school board authority over charter schools?

    Maryland is one of 36 states that grant school boards at least some authority over whether charter schools are issued in their district.

    The county boards of education are the sole chartering authorities in Maryland.[24]

    “

    The public chartering authority for the granting of a charter shall be a county board of education.[3]

    		”

    Cellphone bans

    See also: How does Maryland compare to other states on cellphone laws?

    Maryland is one of 16 states that do not have statewide laws or policies regarding cellphone use in K-12 classrooms.

    Collective bargaining agreements

    Teacher union collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) can constrain school board authority. Teacher CBAs are agreements between a school district and a teachers’ union to establish rights and other contract details for public school employees. CBAs do not have the force of law, but are contractually binding for a set period of time. Within the time set out in the agreement, the school board must comply with the stipulations that were agreed to in the contract. In this way, CBAs can constrain school board authority by giving teachers authority over curriculum, prohibiting school boards from banning books, and establishing certain student or parental rights. They can also determine rights and protections for educators, and conditions for students (such as required recess periods or the amount of standardized testing), among other provisions.

    CBAs vary greatly within and across states in size, topics covered, and constraints they put on school boards. Not all states allow teachers to bargain collectively. As of January 2022, 35 states and the District of Columbia guaranteed K-12 teachers some right to bargain collectively, and six states prohibited public-sector employee collective bargaining by law, which includes public school teachers. The other nine states have no statewide bargaining framework, but local jurisdictions within these states can grant bargaining rights if they choose.[25][26]

    Maryland school boards are authorized to engage in collective bargaining agreements with school employees, which can constrain their authority over certain district policies.

    For example, the Baltimore Teacher Contract requires the Baltimore City Board to include school library media specialists in any library and media services curriculum writing committees.[27]

    “

    School Library Media Specialists shall be included on any Library and Media Services curriculum writing committees. [3]

    		”

    Parents' bill of rights

    See also: How does Maryland compare to other states on Parents' Bills of Rights?

    Maryland is one of 24 states that does not have a statewide Parents' Bill of Rights.



    How does Maryland compare to other states?

    This section compares Maryland's school board authority and constraints with those of other states on select topics. These topics include authority over discipline policy, school board election timing, charter schools, cellphone use policy, as well as constraints on school boards' authority from Parents' Bills of Rights.

    Book bans, removals, and restrictions

    Twenty-two (22) states have no laws regulating the curation of school library books. Twenty-eight (28) states, however, have passed laws restricting school board authority over school library book curation. These laws typically fall into one of the following categories:

    • Twelve states require school boards to develop a policy for the removal of books, including creating a way for the public to challenge school library books.
    • Ten states prohibit school boards from removing books on the grounds that they represent specific ideologies or perspectives.
    • Six states prohibit books if they contain specific material, including sexual content or anything deemed harmful to minors.
    • Five states require school boards to establish local boards to review challenges to library books.
    • Two states require school boards to allow parents to view a catalogue of books.

    Some states have adopted multiple types of these policies.

    Discipline

    • School boards in 47 states have authority over disciplinary policy in their district.
    • School boards in two states have authority over disciplinary policy for specific circumstances, such as suspension, expulsion, or bullying.
    • Individual schools in one state create their own disciplinary policy.

    School board elections

    School boards' authority over the timing of school board elections varies by state.

    • School boards in 42 states do not have authority over election timing;
    • School boards in five states can choose from limited options when to hold school board elections;
    • School boards in two states can choose from a date range when to hold school board elections;
    • The school board in Hawaii is not elected.

    The map below shows the types of authority school boards in the states have to determine the timing of school board elections.

    Charter schools

    See also: Charter schools in the United States

    Some school boards in the U.S. are authorized to approve or deny applications for charter schools in their district, while state boards of education hold the authority in other states. In some states, school boards can authorize charter schools, but there are other entities besides school boards that can also authorize charter schools or to which a school board decision can be appealed.

    • 10 states do not authorize school boards to make decisions on whether to approve new charter schools in their districts.
    • 36 states do authorize school boards to approve new charter schools in their districts, deny approval to new charter schools, or both.
    • 3 states do not have laws governing charter school authorization.
    • 1 state allows school districts to apply to the state board of education to be a charter school district.

    State cellphone laws

    See also: State policies on cellphone use in K-12 public schools

    In most states, school boards or superintendents often set policies on cellphones in public schools. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), around 76% of schools said they banned the non-academic use of cellphones or smartphones during school hours during the 2021-22 school year, down from 91% in 2010.[28]

    Beginning with Florida in 2023, some states enacted laws or policies to regulate student cellphone usage in public schools. Twenty-six (26) states had statewide laws or policies restricting cellphone use in K-12 classrooms or schools as of June 2025. Four states had requirements for all school district boards to adopt a policy on cellphones but without specific requirements for those policies. Four other states had policies encouraging school districts to establish restrictions on cellphone use in the classroom.


    Parents' Bill of Rights

    See also: Parents' Bill of Rights in education

    If state law explicitly provides certain rights to parents, it can constrain the policy-making authority of school boards. These sections of statute are often referred to within statute and are categorized here as Parents' Bills of Rights. In some states, they are education-specific, regarding the rights a parent has to be involved in their child's public education. Common examples include notification requirements, opt-out rights, and records access. Other Parents' Bills of Rights are more general, commonly affording parents a right to direct the upbringing of their child.

    • 26 states have enacted a statewide Parents' Bill of Rights
    • 24 states have not enacted a Parents' Bill of Rights.

    Noteworthy events

    See also: Overview of trends in K-12 curricula development
    • Supreme Court allows Maryland parents to opt children out of LGBTQ+ curriculum (2025):The Supreme Court of the United States ruled on June 27, 2025, that Maryland schools must allow parents to opt out of instruction in which storybooks with LGBTQ themes are discussed. Maryland parents petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court on September 12, 2024, to allow them to opt their children out of instruction on gender and sexuality after the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld Montgomery School Districts decision to remove parents' ability to do so. In the case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, parents in Montgomery County challenged the district's removal of parental notice and opt-outs for books containing LGBTQ+ material for pre-K through 5th grade students, contending the curriculum infringed on their constitutional right to religious freedom. The appeals court ruled that the parents did not adequately demonstrate how the curriculum would burden their rights, holding that the record of how teachers taught or discussed the books was scant. The Supreme Court reversed the decision.[29][30][31][32]
    • Maryland requires school district boards to align curriculum standards with state standards (2025): Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) signed House Bill (HB) 0161 on May 6, 2025, that required school district boards to create curriculum guides and standards that aligned with content standards established by the State Department of Education. It established a process for the State Superintendent of Education to correct discrepancies found between state and district curriculum standards.[33]
    • Governor signed bill requiring school boards to fund local workforce development boards (2025): Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) signed House Bill (HB) 0504 on May 6, 2025, that, among other provisions, requires school boards to provide funding that supports career counseling for middle and high schoolers. It also authorizes school boards to exceed certain tax and revenue limits under certain circumstances. The bill became effective July 1, 2025.[34]
    • Coalition of attorneys general files amicus brief in support of incorporating LGBTQ+ books in curriculum (2023): A coalition of 19 attorneys general filed an amicus brief on October 31, 2023, in support of Maryland's Montgomery County Board of Education’s policy to allow LGBTQ+ books to be incorporated into the curriculum. Montgomery County Public Schools faced legal challenges from a group of parents after implementing a policy in the 2022-2023 school year to incorporate LGBTQ+ books into their curriculum. The coalition included attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.[35]
    • Maryland parents oppose state health education framework (2022): A group of Maryland parents, according to The Washington Post, expressed opposition in May to a state health education framework that outlined how educators should teach students about mental and emotional health; substance abuse prevention; family life and human sexuality; safety and violence prevention; healthy eating; and disease prevention and control. The parents argued that the standards for family life and human sexuality education are not age-appropriate and that parents should be allowed to offer input on how their children are taught certain topics.[36][37]

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Case Text, "Md. Code, ED§ 3-103," March 11, 2025
    2. ↑ Case Text, "Md. Code, ED§ 3-104," March 11, 2025
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    4. ↑ Justia Law, "MD Education Code § 4-108 (2024)," March 11, 2025
    5. ↑ Justia Law, "MD Education Code § 4-111 (2024)," March 12, 2025
    6. ↑ Justia Law, "MD Education Code § 7-205.2 (2024)," March 12, 2025
    7. ↑ Justia Law, "MD Education Code § 7-439 (2024)," March 12, 2025
    8. ↑ Justia Law, "MD Education Code § 7-445 (2024)," March 12, 2025
    9. ↑ Justia Law, "MD Education Code § 4-111.2 (2024)," March 12, 2025
    10. ↑ Justia Law, "MD Education Code § 4-111.4 (2024)," March 12, 2025
    11. ↑ The New York Times, "Justices Let Parents Opt Children Out of Classes With L.G.B.T.Q. Storybooks," accessed June 27, 2025
    12. ↑ The White House, "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling," accessed March 14, 2025
    13. ↑ Justia Law, "MD Education Code § 7-106 (2024)," March 12, 2025
    14. ↑ Truth Out, "Maryland Governor Signs “Freedom to Read Act” Into Law," April 26, 2024
    15. ↑ Maryland General Assembly, "Legislation - HB0785," accessed March 21, 2025
    16. ↑ Education Law Center, Pennsylvania, "Challenging book bans: What can you do," September 18, 2024
    17. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "Island Trees Sch. Dist. v. Pico by Pico, 457 U.S. 853 (1982)," September 18, 2024
    18. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "Zykan v. Warsaw Community School Corp., 631 F.2d 1300 (7th Cir. 1980)," October 11, 2024
    19. ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "U.S. Department of Education Ends Biden’s Book Ban Hoax," accessed January 28, 2025
    20. ↑ The United States Supreme Court, "Mahmoud et al. v. Taylor et al." Accessed July 7, 2025
    21. ↑ Justia Law, "MD Education Code § 7-1105 (2024)," March 12, 2025
    22. ↑ The White House, "Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies," April 30, 2025
    23. ↑ Justia Law, "MD Education Code § 7-101 (2024)," March 12, 2025
    24. ↑ Justia Law, "MD Education Code § 9-103 (2024)," March 12 2025
    25. ↑ National Education Association, "Collective Bargaining: What it is and How it Works", accessed October 3, 2024.
    26. ↑ National Education Association, "The Benefits of Collective Bargaining in Education", accessed October 3, 2024
    27. ↑ Baltimore Teachers Union, "2023-2026 Teacher Contract," March 12, 2025
    28. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Percentage of public schools with various safety and security measures: Selected school years, 1999-2000 through 2021-22," accessed August 8, 2024
    29. ↑ The New York Times, "Justices Let Parents Opt Children Out of Classes With L.G.B.T.Q. Storybooks," accessed June 27, 2025
    30. ↑ Reuters, "Maryland parents can't opt kids out of LGBTQ book curriculum, court rules," May 15, 2024
    31. ↑ Becket Law, "Religious parents to Supreme Court: restore opt-outs for instruction on gender and sexuality," September 20, 2024
    32. ↑ K-12 Dive, "SCOTUS to hear case on LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum opt-outs," accessed January 21, 2025
    33. ↑ Maryland General Assembly, "HB0161," accessed May 8, 2025
    34. ↑ Maryland General Assembly, "Legislation - HB0504," accessed May 7, 2025
    35. ↑ Rob Bonta Attorney General, "Attorney General Bonta Joins Multistate Coalition in Effort to Support Curriculum Inclusivity for Transgender Students," October 31, 2023
    36. ↑ The Washington Post, "Some Md. parents argue a new health curriculum is unfit for young students," May 17, 2022
    37. ↑ Maryland State Department of Education, "Maryland Comprehensive Health Education Framework: Pre-Kindergarten through High School," accessed May 25, 2022
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