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BILL: SB 130 TITLE: County Boards of Education - Student Cellular Device Use Policy - Established DATE: January 29, 2025 POSITION: Oppose COMMITTEE: Senate Education, Energy & the Environment Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents opposes Senate Bill 130. This bill requires each local board of education to develop and adopt a policy that (1) prohibits the use of cellular devices by students during instructional time; (2) requires students to store their cellular phone in a secure storage container during instructional time; and (3) includes appropriate disciplinary measures for violations of the policy. Under the bill, instructional time includes any time during the school day, except a student’s lunch period and cellular device includes any portable wireless communication device, smartphones, tablets, or wearable devices. A policy developed in accordance with the bill may not prohibit a student from using a cellular phone (1) for any purpose documented in the student’s individualized education program or Section 504 plan; (2) to monitor or address a student’s health issue that has been documented by an educator or administrator; or (3) when directed by an educator or administrator for educational purposes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025. Maryland superintendents appreciate the good intentions of this bill; however, PSSAM steadfastly opposes any legislation that imposes statewide mandates on local school systems or local boards of education, especially on policies that have previously been deliberated at the local level with all affected stakeholders, such as the case regarding student uses of cellphones. In the past several years, superintendents, school boards and advisory groups in 19 out of the 24 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) have taken proactive action to establish, update, or study district-wide cell phone policies. These efforts include establishing new policies specific to the use of cell phones, updating board policies, revising the district’s code of conduct or student handbook regarding the use of technology to include cellphones or “smart” technology, and/or introducing pilot programs. Currently, 5 LEAs also have pilot programs underway to study the impact of varying levels of cell phone restrictions during the school day. Much of the local work was done through surveys to parents, teachers, and students, as well as extensive public meetings. In addition, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), under the State Superintendent’s leadership, has recently convened a broad workgroup of stakeholders, including superintendents, to study the use of cellphones in schools with the goal of recommending guidance for State Board adoption in the next several months. We support this workgroup and its on-the-ground membership to study this complex issue utilizing the newly released guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as reflecting on the experiences of the local school districts who have already reached deep into their communities to determine the appropriateness of the use of cell phones and “smart technology” in the classroom and in schools. PSSAM remains committed to focusing on empowering local decision-making to ensure that education policies are relevant, flexible, and reflective of the unique needs of each community. Again, we appreciate the bill’s good intentions, but we ask the Legislature to continue to allow the education experts at the local level, as well as the MSDE-convened workgroup, to continue to examine this issue to determine the most effective public policies. For these reasons, PSSAM opposes Senate Bill 130 and kindly requests an unfavorable report.

BILL: SB 113 TITLE: State Board of Education - Membership - School Principal DATE: January 29, 2025 POSITION: Support COMMITTEE: Senate Education, Energy & the Environment Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four public school superintendents, supports Senate Bill 113. Senate Bill 113 would add an active, certified principal to the Maryland State Board of Education (MSDE). This bill would require a state-wide election to be held for all active and certified principals in the State, as well as require that the principal member who receives the highest number of votes be appointed to the vacancy by the Governor. Additionally, Senate Bill 598 provides parameters for the voting capacity and term length of the principal member. Maryland’s superintendents have found value in the distinct voices on the State Board through elections, such as the teacher and student members. PSSAM sees this legislation as a natural extension of the diverse membership goals of the Board, as well as a vehicle for adequate representation of school leadership, which is essential for equitable outcomes in education. PSSAM understands amendments may be under discussion between the sponsor and the State Board, and we certainly yield to the wisdom and direction of those discussions and decisions by this Committee. For these reasons, PSSAM supports Senate Bill 113 and urges a favorable committee report.

BILL: HB 326 TITLE: Student Service Hours- Financial Literacy Course DATE: January 29, 2025 POSITION: Oppose COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents opposes House Bill 326. This bill requires each local board of education, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, to allow completion of a financial literacy course that meets specified criteria to be applied toward fulfillment of student service hours required for high school graduation. The number of hours that completion of the course counts toward student service hours is determined by the local board of education. The State Board of Education (SBE) must adopt regulations to implement the bill. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025. PSSAM appreciates the intent of this legislation, and the General Assembly’s continued interest in financial literacy education, but opposes this bill on our longstanding policy of local governance. First, financial literacy is already incorporated into the Maryland curriculum. Second, decisions about student service hours are also locally determined, with guidance from the Maryland Department of Education (MSDE). With regard to financial literacy, we agree that now, more than ever, graduates must be financially literate to be prepared for college, careers and responsible living. Maryland public schools have acted to ensure that all students have a strong foundation in financial education to make informed decisions and accomplish their goals. In fact, financial literacy education is already a requirement in Maryland, but not a graduation requirement. In 2010, the State Board approved the Maryland State Curriculum for Personal Financial Literacy Education, which requires financial literacy education in elementary, middle, and high schools. Maryland’s local school systems are implementing this state curriculum - with all districts incorporating financial literacy into courses required for graduation. In addition, seven districts also have standalone courses required for graduation. Student service-learning (SSL) eligibility and requirements are determined by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) in collaboration with local education agencies (LEAs). MSDE establishes the statewide standards and guidelines defining meaningful service-learning experiences and how they align with curriculum goals. From there, LEAs implement the state guidelines, but may also establish additional local policies. Lastly, LEAs approve specific projects and activities that qualify for SSL hours. We ask the Committee to continue to honor this well-established and balanced relationship between the state and local education experts on the creation and implementation of school-based activities and curriculum. For these reasons, PSSAM opposes House Bill 326 and kindly requests an unfavorable report.

BILL: HB 325 TITLE: Adult Education - High School Diploma by Examination - Requirements and Study DATE: January 29, 2025 POSITION: Support COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four public school superintendents, supports House Bill 325. This bill requires the Maryland Department of Labor (MD Labor) to allow an individual to take all components of high school diploma by examination (e.g., GED) in the same language from the English or Spanish language examinations offered by MD Labor. MD Labor must identify other appropriate languages in which to offer the GED and study the feasibility and cost of offering the examination in additional languages. Local superintendents strongly support this legislation’s move towards a more equitable opportunity for Spanish-language GED test takers. The current requirement that the Reasoning Through Language Arts section of the GED be taken exclusively in English creates an unnecessary and significant obstacle for individuals who are otherwise capable of passing the GED exam. Unfortunately, while forward-focused on so many aspects of public education, Maryland is the only state that still mandates passage of this English-only portion of the GED. Distressing data in Montgomery County revealed the inequities of this policy with students repeatedly failing this portion of the tests but passing other components of the test, in their native language, with much more success. Proponents of the English-only option argue that it is necessary for the test taker to demonstrate English proficiency, but this proficiency is not an explicit requirement for the GED. It is important to acknowledge that language development is an ongoing process that can continue effectively as these individuals join and contribute to the workforce. For these reasons, PSSAM supports House Bill 325 and kindly requests a favorable committee report.

BILL: HB 161 TITLE: Primary and Secondary Education - Comprehensive Health Education Framework - Established DATE: January 29, 2025 POSITION: Oppose COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four public school superintendents, opposes House Bill 161. This bill requires the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), in consultation with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), to develop a comprehensive health education framework that includes, at a minimum, specified topics. Each local board of education must create an age-appropriate curriculum that is consistent with the comprehensive health education framework as specified. Local superintendents strongly support robust and comprehensive instruction in health education, and believe that the legislative intent of this bill is already being met. However, we ask the Committee to continue to honor the well-established and balanced relationship between the state and local education experts on the creation of standards, and implementation of local curriculum. As indicated in written testimony from MSDE and the State Board last year, they explained that in January of 2024, under the leadership of the new State Superintendent, “the State Board and MSDE developed a process to review, revise, adopt standards and frameworks, including the existing Comprehensive Health Education Framework.” The existing Framework continues to include all topics included in this legislation. Additionally, their testimony points to existing Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 13A.04.18.01 that “requires LEAs to establish policies, guidelines, and/or procedures for student opt-out regarding instruction related to family life and human sexuality objectives, which includes gender identity and expression and sexual orientation and identity. Further, COMAR 13A.04.18.02 requires local superintendents to certify to the State Superintendent of Schools that the instructional programming within grades prekindergarten through 12 meets, at a minimum, the requirements of the comprehensive health education framework.” Again, PSSAM strongly supports the current implementation of the health curriculum consistent with State guidelines. Each Maryland local school system must be afforded flexibility in developing curriculum that best reflects the specific, and diverse needs of their student population and local community. For these reasons, PSSAM opposes House Bill 161 and kindly requests an unfavorable committee report.

BILL: HB 192 TITLE: County Boards of Education - Student Cellular Phone Use Policy - Established (No Distracted Learning Act) DATE: January 29, 2025 POSITION: Oppose COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents opposes House Bill 192. This bill requires county boards of education to adopt a policy that prohibits students from using a cell phone during certain school hours except under certain circumstances. Student cellular phone use policy for elementary and middle schools shall prohibit the use or display of a cellular phone during (1) instructional time (2) the student’s lunch period and (3) if applicable, a passing period. The student cellular phone use policy for high school students shall prohibit the use and display of cellular phones during (1) instructional time and (2) if applicable, a passing period. Such policy may not prohibit a student from using a cellular phone for any purpose documented in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), a section 504 plan, to monitor or address a student’s documented health issue or when directed by an educator or administrator for educational purposes. A student in violation of a policy established under this section is subject to (1) a first violation, a warning (2) for a second violation, confiscation of the cellular phone and (3) for any subsequent violations, a disciplinary action established by the county board. Maryland superintendents appreciate the good intentions of this bill; however, PSSAM steadfastly opposes any legislation that imposes statewide mandates on local school systems or local boards of education, especially on policies that have previously been deliberated at the local level with all affected stakeholders, such as the case regarding student uses of cellphones. In the past several years, superintendents, school boards and advisory groups in 19 out of the 24 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) have taken proactive action to establish, update, or study district-wide cell phone policies. These efforts include establishing new policies specific to the use of cell phones, updating board policies, revising the district’s code of conduct or student handbook regarding the use of technology to include cellphones or “smart” technology, and/or introducing pilot programs. Currently, 5 LEAs also have pilot programs underway to study the impact of varying levels of cell phone restrictions during the school day. Much of the local work was done through surveys to parents, teachers, and students, as well as extensive public meetings. In addition, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), under the State Superintendent’s leadership, has recently convened a broad workgroup of stakeholders, including superintendents, to study the use of cellphones in schools with the goal of recommending guidance for State Board adoption in the next several months. We support this workgroup and its on-the-ground membership to study this complex issue utilizing the newly released guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as reflecting on the experiences of the local school districts who have already reached deep into their communities to determine the appropriateness of the use of cell phones and “smart technology” in the classroom and in schools. PSSAM remains committed to focusing on empowering local decision-making to ensure that education policies are relevant, flexible, and reflective of the unique needs of each community. Again, we appreciate the bill’s good intentions, but we ask the Legislature to continue to allow the education experts at the local level, as well as the MSDE-convened workgroup, to continue to examine this issue to determine the most effective public policies. For these reasons, PSSAM opposes House Bill 192 and kindly requests an unfavorable report.

BILL: HB 157 TITLE: Education - Safe Schools Fund - Grant Allocations DATE: January 28, 2025 POSITION: Favorable COMMITTEE: House Appropriations Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four public school superintendents, supports House Bill 157. This bill authorizes the reallocation of grants from the Safe Schools Fund to local school systems that have fully expended their grant allocation and demonstrate unmet need within the same fiscal year. This act shall take into effect by July 1, 2025. Under current law, the Governor is required to allocate $10 million annually to a fund supporting grants for local school systems and law enforcement agencies to provide adequate law enforcement coverage in public schools, including School Resource Officers (SROs) and school security employees (as authorized by Chapter 179 of 2024). Grants are distributed proportionally based on each system's share of public schools in the state. Any unspent funds revert to the fund annually but cannot be reallocated. Local superintendents appreciate the General Assembly's initiative to reallocate these funds to local school systems who demonstrate the most need. This approach empowers districts with greater autonomy and ensures a more equitable distribution of resources, directing support to where it is needed most. For these reasons, PSSAM supports House Bill 157 and requests a favorable report.

BILL: HB 156 TITLE: Education - Interscholastic and Intramural Junior Varsity and Varsity Teams - Designation Based on Sex (Fairness In Girls' Sports Act) DATE: January 29, 2025 POSITION: Oppose COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents, opposes House Bill 156. This bill requires an interscholastic or intramural athletic team or sport that is sponsored by a public or nonpublic high school to be expressly designated as one of the following based on biological sex: (1) a boys’, male, or men’s team or sport; (2) a girls’, female, or women’s team or sport; or (3) a coeducational or mixed team or sport. An interscholastic or intramural athletic team or sport designated for girls, females, or women may not include students of the male sex. A governmental entity, a licensing or accrediting organization, or an athletic association or organization may not accept a complaint, investigate, or take any other adverse action against a school for maintaining separate interscholastic or intramural athletic teams or sports for students of the female sex. Students and schools are authorized to bring specified civil actions. This act shall take into effect July 1, 2025. Maryland’s superintendents raise serious concerns about the mandated, statewide approach to participation in interscholastic sports taken by this bill. Instead, PSSAM favors the maintenance of locally controlled systems of interscholastic athletics governed by the guidance of Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) and regulations adopted by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Since 1991, interscholastic sports in Maryland have operated in accordance with the “Master Agreement Outlining the Interscholastic Structure for Public Schools in Maryland,” which establishes the responsibilities of MPSSAA, MSDE, and local school systems. Local superintendents believe that this system of regulation and oversight is working well. The MPSSAA Guidance for Participation of Transgender Youth in Interscholastic Athletics states that its purpose is to “designate a set of criteria in which student-athletes are able to compete on a level playing field in a safe, competitive and friendly environment, free of discrimination. At the center of educational programming is the value placed in providing equal opportunity for all students.” The Guidance further provides that “each school system should develop and apply criteria for students to participate in interscholastic athletic teams consistent with their gender identity.” This guidance includes several principles and criteria for local school systems to use in determining eligibility of transgender students in interscholastic sports. These include attention to preserving the integrity of women's sports, as well as policies that are fair in light of the variation among individuals in strength, size, musculature, and ability. Through these means, the guidance reflects Maryland’s high priority on establishing and maintaining an interscholastic athletic system that assures that sports activities contribute to the entire educational program for all students choosing to participate. Additionally, PSSAM would like to highlight the potential of this legislation to create liability for discriminatory practices under a new statewide system of criteria for student participation in women’s sports based solely on sex assigned at birth. Other state legislatures have established that enforcing the standard of biological sex would likely require subjecting youth to invasive mandates in order to ensure eligibility, which could be considered sex discrimination as defined by the Supreme Court case of Bostock v. Clayton County, in which the Court asserted that anti-transgender discrimination violated Title VII’s prohibition against sex discrimination. For these reasons, PSSAM opposes House Bill 156 and kindly requests an unfavorable report.

BILL: HB 118 TITLE: Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact DATE: January 29, 2025 POSITION: Favorable COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four public school superintendents, supports House Bill 118. This bill allows Maryland to enter into the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact for the purpose of authorizing regulated teachers who hold multistate licenses to teach in each member state. Local superintendents support the General Assembly's assistance and efforts to address the critical shortages of qualified teachers and school personnel. Maryland has made progress in reducing teacher vacancies, decreasing from 2,144 in the 2022-2023 school year to 1,935 in 2023-2024. However, the state continues to face a significant and well-documented teacher shortage that varies significantly across Local Education Agencies (LEAs) due to local recruitment and retention efforts. According to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), teacher attrition remains alarmingly high, with 10.7% of educators not returning to classrooms in the 2023-2024 school year. Therefore, we support legislation to help retain and attract educators and applaud this legislation’s authorization for Maryland to enter into the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. The Compact will reciprocity among participant states and help reduce barriers for out of state residents to teach in Maryland. For these reasons, PSSAM supports this bill and requests a favorable report for HB 118.

BILL: HB 57 TITLE: County Boards of Education - Student Cellular Phone Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act) DATE: January 29, 2025 POSITION: Oppose COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents opposes Senate Bill 368. This bill requires each local board of education to develop and adopt a policy that (1) prohibits the use of cellular devices by students during instructional time; (2) requires students to store their cellular phone in a secure storage container during instructional time; and (3) includes appropriate disciplinary measures for violations of the policy. Under the bill, instructional time includes any time during the school day, except a student’s lunch period and cellular device includes any portable wireless communication device, smartphones, tablets, or wearable devices. A policy developed in accordance with the bill may not prohibit a student from using a cellular phone (1) for any purpose documented in the student’s individualized education program or Section 504 plan; (2) to monitor or address a student’s health issue that has been documented by an educator or administrator; or (3) when directed by an educator or administrator for educational purposes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025. Maryland superintendents appreciate the good intentions of this bill; however, PSSAM steadfastly opposes any legislation that imposes statewide mandates on local school systems or local boards of education, especially on policies that have previously been deliberated at the local level with all affected stakeholders, such as the case regarding student uses of cellphones. In the past several years, superintendents, school boards and advisory groups in 19 out of the 24 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) have taken proactive action to establish, update, or study district-wide cell phone policies. These efforts include establishing new policies specific to the use of cell phones, updating board policies, revising the district’s code of conduct or student handbook regarding the use of technology to include cellphones or “smart” technology, and/or introducing pilot programs. Currently, 5 LEAs also have pilot programs underway to study the impact of varying levels of cell phone restrictions during the school day. Much of the local work was done through surveys to parents, teachers, and students, as well as extensive public meetings. In addition, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), under the State Superintendent’s leadership, has recently convened a broad workgroup of stakeholders, including superintendents, to study the use of cellphones in schools with the goal of recommending guidance for State Board adoption in the next several months. We support this workgroup and its on-the-ground membership to study this complex issue utilizing the newly released guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as reflecting on the experiences of the local school districts who have already reached deep into their communities to determine the appropriateness of the use of cell phones and “smart technology” in the classroom and in schools. PSSAM remains committed to focusing on empowering local decision-making to ensure that education policies are relevant, flexible, and reflective of the unique needs of each community. Again, we appreciate the bill’s good intentions, but we ask the Legislature to continue to allow the education experts at the local level, as well as the MSDE-convened workgroup, to continue to examine this issue to determine the most effective public policies. For these reasons, PSSAM opposes Senate Bill 368 and kindly requests an unfavorable report.

BILL: HB 53 TITLE: Task Force on Education Funding and Student Population Growth DATE: January 28, 2025 POSITION: Favorable with Amendments COMMITTEE: House Appropriations Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four public school superintendents, supports House Bill 53 with amendments. This bill establishes a Task Force on Education Funding and Student Population Growth. The task force must (1) analyze challenges related to the delay in student enrollment counts and its effect on school funding; (2) analyze the connection between growing student populations and the provision of school funding; and (3) make recommendations regarding improvements to the provision of school funding. The Office of the Governor must provide staff for the task force. PSSAM supports the creation of this Task Force and the opportunity to designate a member of the group. With such an impressive number of education stakeholders participating in this Task Force, we propose expanding the charge of the group to include other key components of Maryland’s education funding structure. Specifically, we suggest the inclusion of: ● An adequacy analysis of the Foundation funding amounts for the remaining years of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future; this analysis should consider ALL components of funding education, including transportation, building maintenance, operating and capital funds for school security, health services, food services, employee and retiree health benefits; and, ● An analysis of the existing education mandates and the affordability for local education agencies (LEAs), and State and local government; this should include a fiscal forecast of local and State revenues to support public education. Further, we believe the work of the Task Force would be greatly enhanced by the staff assistance of the Department of Legislative Services. The Department would not only bring their fiscal and policy expertise, but their participation would ensure a non-biased and non-partisan critical review. For these reasons, PSSAM requests a favorable with amendments report for HB 53.

BILL: HB 68 TITLE: Public Schools - Children Suspected of a Crime of Violence - Prohibition on In-Person Attendance (School Safety Act of 2025) DATE: January 23, 2025 POSITION: Letter of Information COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four public school superintendents, is providing this letter of information for the Committee’s consideration regarding House Bill 68. This legislation prohibits a child who is suspected of a specified crime of violence from in-person attendance at a public school until the child is found not delinquent, or the charge is dismissed. The bill further directs local education agencies (LEAs) to provide alternative education options separate from students. The public education system in Maryland is responsible for providing a free and appropriate education for every student in the State. Local superintendents take this responsibility very seriously and balance this tremendous duty to educate, with the need to provide a safe and supportive educational setting for students and staff. To ensure the highest standards of safety for schools, it is imperative that information regarding students’ criminal involvement and interactions with law enforcement is appropriately shared with school personnel. This information-sharing is integral to ensure proper physical safeguards in school buildings, while also protecting student confidentiality, and allowing due process for all parties involved. The current flow of information between law enforcement and schools is disjointed and needs to be vastly improved; however, we do not believe this proposed legislation satisfies the comprehensive information needed by school administration. PSSAM appreciates the opportunity to work with the Committee to craft the most responsible and appropriate policies that allow for: ● More appropriate and comprehensive information regarding juveniles who transfer between local school systems, including programs hosted by the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) and the Juvenile Services Education Program and Board (JSEP); ● Expanding information shared by law enforcement to local superintendents or school systems within twenty-four hours of any arrest of a student with details pertaining to school safety, including whether any victims were students and the type of weapon(s) involved if applicable. Further, enhancements to the “reportable offenses” law should include the tools necessary for seamless communication between education systems, and allow for a central repository via the Maryland State Department of Education or a similarly appropriate entity. For instance, often a local superintendent, school security personnel, or a school principal will receive information as described in the current reportable offenses statute for a student that is NOT currently enrolled in that county. LEAs do not have the information to notify the appropriate district where the student is enrolled. To fill this communication gap: ● Information should be promptly shared with the MSDE (or an appropriate central repository) to facilitate notification of the school or jurisdiction of attendance. Local superintendents and districts are not privy to statewide attendance records and this information must be coordinated at the State level. We also support the concept of “mandatory information sharing among local superintendents” that was embedded in the emergency regulations passed by the State Board of Education in the fall of 2024. However, to reiterate, local superintendents and school personnel do not have access to the necessary data sources to know where a student has transferred. In addition, there are many cases where a juvenile under the supervision and jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is transferred to a LEA but no information is shared about the student’s individual circumstances, or the student’s previous educational setting. Therefore, the law must be amended to compel the DJS to: ● Notify the local superintendent and the principal of a school in which the student is enrolled, or which that student has been transferred, of the student’s reportable offense or offense that is related to the student’s membership in a criminal organization, the disposition of the offense, and the law enforcement report or description of the offenses including details pertinent to school safety, including whether any victims were student and the type of weapon(s) involved, if applicable. Local superintendents support increased communication between law enforcement and the appropriate, but limited, school personnel needed to ensure the safety of students in school settings, as well as protecting the privacy and due process of those awaiting disposition of criminal investigations. We appreciate this Committee’s examination of these important education and safety issues and look forward to continued dialogue on this, and other related legislation.