Children in Need of Assistance - Permanency Plan Requirements
Summary
HB1383 requires the State Board of Education to adopt regulations establishing minimum functional and technical requirements for Maryland’s online special education system, including the Maryland Online Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Maryland Online Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). The bill amends § 8-404 of the Education Article to add these system-performance requirements to the existing special education standards governing identification, evaluation, placement, and provision of a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities.
The bill also directs the Maryland State Department of Education to study the online special education system and assess what technical features are needed to ensure it operates securely, is user-friendly, supports real-time monitoring, tracks deadlines and events, stores and processes documents, can be updated over time, and complies with state and federal privacy laws. The department must compare the current system with other available systems and report its findings to the State Board by October 1, 2025. The State Board must then report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1, 2025 on the study results and the status of proposed regulations.
Impact
HB1383 changes Maryland education law by expressly requiring technical and functional standards for the state’s online special education platform, rather than leaving those expectations implicit. It affects the State Board of Education, the Maryland State Department of Education, local school systems, and families using the online IEP and IFSP systems, and it may lead to regulatory updates, system upgrades, or procurement changes to improve accessibility, reliability, and compliance.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support and little visible opposition. It received a favorable committee report with amendments, was adopted by the House, and passed third reading unanimously in the House (137-0). The available record does not include committee debate, but the vote suggests general agreement that the online special education system should be reviewed and strengthened.
Contention
No major points of contention are evident in the available materials. The main policy issue is whether the state should impose specific technical requirements and conduct a formal study before finalizing regulations. Any concerns would likely center on implementation costs, system redesign, privacy compliance, or the scope of the State Board’s and Department’s responsibilities, but no explicit opposition is reflected in the provided record.