Education Policy Committee recommends publishing COMAR amendments on multilingual learners, Seal of Biliteracy, language access and educator discipline

The Education Policy Committee of the Maryland State Board of Education voted unanimously at a virtual meeting to recommend that the full board publish amendments to four COMAR regulations covering multilingual learners, the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy, local education agency language-access plans and disciplinary language in educator licensure rules.

The package of items, presented by Maryland State Department of Education staff, updates terminology and procedural requirements across multiple chapters of COMAR and clarifies reporting and petition processes for licensure actions. Committee members moved, seconded and recorded unanimous recommendations to publish each item to the full board for consideration at its next meeting.

The committee first considered revisions to COMAR 13A.05.07, Programs for English Learners, presented by Dr. Teresa Timmons Parrott, director of Multilingual Education and World Languages. Timmons Parrott said the revisions "address the work group recommendation that MSDE formally shift from the English learner label to the more additive term multilingual learner," and that the amendments also clarify home language survey procedures and English proficiency placement and summative assessments.

The second item updated COMAR 13A.03.07 to expand eligibility for the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy to explicitly include multilingual learners and to align the state process for approving assessments used to demonstrate biliteracy. Staff told the committee the standing committee of LEA supervisors and MSDE staff will add English-language assessments to the state-approved list for Seal applicants; examples cited included the WIDA ACCESS assessment for multilingual learners and MCAP English 10 as an option for demonstrating English proficiency. Montgomery County Public Schools was cited as an example school system that awarded the Seal to 2,187 students in 50 languages last year.

The committee then reviewed a proposal to add COMAR 13A.01.11, requiring local education agencies to develop language-access plans. Presenters said the regulation would require LEAs to determine covered languages for translation and interpretation, provide for families who do not speak those languages, and include training, feedback, tracking and reporting. Committee presenters characterized the proposal as providing clarity and consistency rather than imposing a new legal responsibility, noting alignment with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

The final item, amendments to COMAR 13A.12.06 on disciplinary action and denial in educator licensure, was presented by Kelly Meadows. Meadows said the revisions replace the term "charge" with the term "grounds" throughout the chapter to avoid confusion with criminal charges and establish a definition for the term "petition," which the department uses when a school system or other entity asks the department to consider action against a license. Meadows summarized: "we have replaced the word charge with the term grounds."

Votes at a glance: - COMAR 13A.05.07 (Programs for English Learners): Committee recommended permission to publish. Motion moved by Dr. Lewis; seconded by Miss Mittal. Outcome: recommendation to publish, unanimous. - COMAR 13A.03.07 (Maryland Seal of Biliteracy): Committee recommended permission to publish. Motion moved by Mr. Paul; seconded: not specified on the record. Outcome: recommendation to publish, unanimous. - COMAR 13A.01.11 (Language access): Committee recommended permission to publish. Motion moved by Mr. Paul; seconded by Dr. Goldson. Outcome: recommendation to publish, unanimous. - COMAR 13A.12.06 (Disciplinary action and denial; educator licensure): Committee recommended permission to publish. Motion moved by Mr. Paul; seconded by Dr. Goldson. Outcome: recommendation to publish, unanimous.

Committee members noted one COMAR item that had been scheduled as "permission to adopt" was removed from the agenda and will be taken up in May after further review of stakeholder input. Presenters said the package is intended to implement recommendations from the Blueprint for Maryland's Future work group on English learners and to increase consistency and transparency in assessment approval, data collection for the Seal of Biliteracy and LEA language-access planning. The committee did not take final board-level action; each recommendation will be considered by the full State Board of Education at its upcoming meeting.