Institutions of Higher Education - Dually Enrolled Students - Alterations
Summary
SB 879 expands Maryland’s definition of “dually enrolled student” for higher education purposes. Under current law, many dual-enrollment benefits are tied to students who are enrolled in a public secondary school and a college or university in the state. This bill would add students enrolled in nonpublic secondary schools and home schools, making them eligible for the same dual-enrollment-related tuition and grant programs as public school students.
Specifically, the bill amends the statutes governing tuition for dually enrolled students, the Part-Time Grant Program, and the Early College Access Grant. It clarifies that a student may be considered dually enrolled if the student is enrolled in an institution of higher education in Maryland and either a public or nonpublic secondary school, or a home school in the state. The bill also updates related provisions so that existing agreements between schools and colleges can apply to private and home schools, and it preserves the rule that students do not have to receive secondary-school and college credit simultaneously for courses completed under these programs.
Impact
The bill would broaden eligibility for state-supported dual-enrollment tuition assistance and grants, potentially increasing participation by students from private schools and home schools. It would amend Sections 15-127, 18-1401, and 18-14A-01 of the Education Article to include these students in the definitions that control tuition waivers, the Part-Time Grant Program, and the Early College Access Grant. As a result, public institutions of higher education could be required to treat a larger pool of students as eligible dually enrolled students, and county boards could face tuition-sharing obligations for additional students under existing statutory formulas and agreements.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded vote history, so there is no documented debate or formal opposition in the materials provided. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be framed as an access-expanding policy for students in nonpublic and home-school settings, suggesting a generally supportive intent toward broader educational opportunity. Because no hearing testimony or votes are included, the overall sentiment can only be characterized as neutral-to-supportive from the bill’s drafting and purpose.
Contention
The main policy issue is whether state dual-enrollment benefits should be extended beyond public school students to include nonpublic and home-school students. Potential points of contention include the fiscal impact on county boards and public institutions, since the bill could increase the number of students eligible for tuition support and grants, and whether existing agreements between schools and colleges should be applied to private and home-school arrangements. Another possible concern is administrative complexity in verifying eligibility and managing funding allocations for a broader set of students. No specific stakeholder positions are documented in the provided materials.