Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

SB 676
                      Department of Legislative Services
                              Maryland General Assembly
                                    2021 Session
                           FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
                              Third Reader - Revised
Senate Bill 676               (Senator Edwards)
Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs                              Ways and Means
      Garrett County - Public Schools - Virtual Education Days Pilot Program
This bill establishes the Garrett County Virtual Education Days Pilot Program. The
Garrett County Superintendent of Schools is authorized to order a virtual education day
instead of closing a public school in the event of inclement weather. The superintendent
must notify the principals of public schools in the county of the decision to order a virtual
education day as soon as possible after making the decision, and a principal who receives
such notice must immediately notify the students, parents, and school staff.
The Garrett County Board of Education must adopt a policy to implement virtual education
days. By September 1, 2023, the board must submit a report to the Senate Education, Health
and Environmental Affairs Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means on
the number, frequency, and effectiveness of virtual education days. The bill takes effect
July 1, 2021 and terminates September 30, 2023.
                                    Fiscal Summary
State Effect: None.
Local Effect: Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) can handle the bill’s requirements
with existing resources as discussed below. The county school board can prepare and
submit the required report with existing resources. Revenues are not affected.
Small Business Effect: None.
                                         Analysis
Bill Summary: Virtual education must consist of education services, delivered remotely,
that are as close as practicable to in-person education services. A school implementing
virtual education must make accommodations for students and staff without easy access to
the Internet and establish a method for sending and receiving assignments from students
without Internet access. If a school is ordered to implement virtual education for multiple
consecutive school days, the county superintendent must arrange for the continued
provision of all normal services required by law, including meal services.
Virtual education days must count against the number of days incorporated in the school’s
calendar for school closures due to severe weather or other emergencies in the school year.
If there are not remaining days in a school’s calendar for school closures due to severe
weather or other emergencies, the superintendent may not order a virtual education day.
The superintendent is encouraged only to order virtual education days when there is a
likelihood of consecutive school closures.
Current Law: Public schools must be open for at least 180 days and 1,080 school hours
at elementary and middle schools or 1,170 hours at high schools during a 10-month period.
However, a local board of education may apply to the State Board of Education for a waiver
from these provisions of State law; the application must describe a demonstrated effort by
the local board to comply with State law and that the school system calendar included from
3 to 10 days to be used to make up days lost. In response, the State board may permit:
      increases or decreases in the length of the school year;
      exceptions from the 10-month period requirement;
      adjustments in the length of the school day; and
      schools to be open on holidays.
These adjustments may be granted only if normal school attendance is prevented because
of natural disaster, civil disaster, or severe weather conditions. After any school system
closure, the local school system must notify the State board, within 10 days of reopening,
of its plan to make up the missed school days, including the dates of the make-up days.
Education funding from the State or local sources may not be reduced if there are fewer
than 180 school days in any year because of an approved application to the State Board of
Education for a decrease in the length of the school year.
Chapter 13 of 2019 requires each local board of education to set start and end dates each
year for public schools in the county, effectively repealing any law prohibiting a local board
from beginning or ending its school year before or after a certain date.
SB 676/ Page 2
Local Fiscal Effect:
Technology and Internet Access
GCPS advises that there may be an expense to meet student and staff technology needs.
However, any additional costs resulting from the bill would be minimal because the school
system is already working within their operating budget to maintain the necessary abilities
to learn virtually on inclement weather or emergency days. GCPS has already allocated
about $300,000 per year for both student and staff technology updates.
Remote Assignment Delivery and Receipt
GCPS already has a method in place for sending and receiving assignments from students
without Internet access when remote learning must occur. GCPS further advises the school
system will work to refine the process it has already developed, but that such work should
not require additional cost.
Meal Delivery
GCPS advises that meal delivery during a severe weather event may be difficult. However,
by delivering multiple days of meals in advance of a severe weather event, GCPS may be
able to account for the days of in-person learning missed. Meal delivery services therefore
may require a change in operations, but no change in costs above normal in-person meal
provision.
Report
GCPS advises that the board can produce and submit a report to the appropriate committees
on the number, frequency, and effectiveness of virtual education days with existing
resources.
Per Pupil Funding
In fiscal 2021, Garrett County received $16,601 in total funding per pupil, which was below
the statewide average of $17,314. Information on per pupil funding for public schools and
student enrollment for each local school system can be found in the Local Government
Overview report. A copy of the 2021 report is available on the Department of Legislative
Services website.
SB 676/ Page 3
                             Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: HB 1128 (Delegate Beitzel) - Ways and Means.
Information Source(s): Garrett County Public Schools, Maryland State Department of
Education; Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History:   First Reader - February 16, 2021
rh/hlb                 Third Reader - March 25, 2021
                              Revised - Amendment(s) - March 25, 2021
Analysis by: Michael E. Sousane                  Direct Inquiries to:
                                                 (410) 946-5510
                                                 (301) 970-5510
SB 676/ Page 4
Statutes affected: 
Text - First - Garrett County – Public Schools – Virtual Education Days: 7-103.2 Education
Text - Third - Garrett County - Public Schools - Virtual Education Days Pilot Program: 7-103.2 Education