Health Care Decisions Act - Surrogate Decision Making - Hospital Surrogate Committee
Summary
HB1323 requires the Maryland State Board of Education to develop curriculum content standards for a unit of instruction on Asian American history for public schools. The standards must include age-appropriate instruction on major events in Asian American history, Asian American history in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region, and the contributions of Asian Americans to civil rights, government, the arts, humanities, science, and the nation’s economic, cultural, social, and political development. The bill also allows the State Board to provide instructional materials, including PBS materials, to help guide development of the standards.
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, each county board of education must implement the standards in every public school in the county. The bill requires the instruction to be taught at least once in elementary school, included at least once in a required middle school history course, and included at least once in a high school history course required for graduation. County boards may use an online course to satisfy the requirement, and county superintendents are responsible for ensuring compliance. The State Board may adopt regulations to carry out the law.
Impact
The bill adds a new section to the Education Article, creating a statewide mandate for Asian American history instruction in Maryland public schools. It affects the State Board of Education, county boards of education, and county superintendents by assigning curriculum-development, implementation, and compliance responsibilities, and it requires public schools to incorporate the new content into elementary, middle, and high school history instruction starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text, the measure appears educational and inclusive in purpose, emphasizing respect for all races and people and broadening historical instruction in public schools. The available context does not show any recorded sentiment from hearings or floor votes.
Contention
The bill’s main potential points of contention are implementation and curriculum control. County boards must determine the amount of instructional time and ensure the unit is taught across multiple grade levels, which could raise concerns about local flexibility, scheduling, and compliance burdens. Another possible issue is whether the State Board should provide only standards or also instructional materials, and whether the inclusion of specific topics and optional PBS resources is sufficiently detailed or prescriptive for local school systems.
Expressing support for the recognition of September 22, 2025, to September 28, 2025, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week".
A resolution expressing support for the recognition of September 22, 2025, to September 28, 2025, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week".