HB 1158
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
First Reader
House Bill 1158 (Delegate M. Fisher)
Ways and Means
Calvert County - Training on The 1776 Report - Referendum
This bill requires the Calvert County Public School Superintendent, members of the
Calvert County Board of Education, and public school teachers and administrators to
receive annual training that reflects the findings of The 1776 Report. The Calvert County
Commissioners must identify and select the entities to provide the required training. The
training requirement is subject to a referendum of the qualified voters of Calvert County at
the November 2022 general election and will take effect on January 1, 2023, depending on
the outcome of the voter referendum. The bill takes effect July 1, 2021.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: None.
Local Effect: Calvert County expenditures increase by a significant amount beginning in
FY 2023 to develop a training program for public school staff and officials. Revenues are
not affected. This bill imposes a mandate on a unit of local government.
Small Business Effect: None.
Analysis
Current Law:
The 1776 Report
In November 2020, Executive Order 13958 created The President’s Advisory
1776 Commission. Among other things, the commission’s purpose statement noted, “the
best way to preserve the story of America's founding principles is to live it in action by
local communities reasserting control of how children receive patriotic education in their
schools.” The President appointed 18 commission members who were tasked with
providing a report “regarding the core principles of the American founding.” Although
Executive Order 13985 subsequently disbanded the 1776 Commission in January 2021, a
copy of the commission’s report remains available from the White House Archives.
Social Studies Curriculum
With the advice of the State Superintendent of Schools, the State Board of Education
establishes basic policy and guidelines for the program of instruction for public schools.
Subject to State law and the regulations, bylaws, policies, and guidelines established by the
State Board of Education, each local board of education must establish the curriculum
guides and courses of study for schools in its jurisdiction.
According to regulations, each local school system must provide an instructional program
in social studies each year for all students prekindergarten through grade 8 and a program
that enables students to meet graduation requirements and to select social studies electives
in grades 9 through 12. These programs must at least meet the content standards in the
regulations. In Maryland, among other required topics, regulations require that the
social studies instructional program teach students about the peoples of the nation and the
world. Specifically, students must inquire about the people of the United States and the
world using a historically grounded, multidisciplinary approach in order to recognize
multiple narratives and acknowledge the diversity and commonality of the human
experience. Every five years, each local superintendent of schools must certify to the
State Superintendent of Schools that the instructional programming for prekindergarten
through grade 12 meets, at a minimum, all the requirements set forth in the regulations.
Content standards and frameworks for social studies, which were updated for most grades
and courses in 2020, include standards for U.S. history and civics education within the
Social Studies Curriculum.
Local Expenditures: Calvert County expenditures increase by a significant amount
beginning in fiscal 2023 to develop and deliver a training program for public school staff
and officials. As of October 2019, Calvert County has a total of 1,443 staff employed in
instructional positions (teachers, librarians, guidance counselors etc.) and 166 staff
employed in administrative positions (superintendent, directors, coordinators, principals,
etc.). Additionally, the Calvert County Board of Education consists of 6 members,
2 elected from the county at large, 3 from commissioner districts, and 1 nonvoting student
member.
HB 1158/ Page 2
 Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: None.
Information Source(s): National Archives and Records Administration; Calvert County;
Maryland State Department of Education; Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - February 23, 2021
rh/hlb
Analysis by: Michael E. Sousane Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
HB 1158/ Page 3


Statutes affected:
Text - First - Calvert County - Training on The 1776 Report - Referendum: 4-138 Education