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State proposes COMAR rules requiring local boards to hold in‑person regular meetings and publish public‑comment procedures

Maryland State Board of Education · November 4, 2025
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Summary

The State Board approved publication of proposed amendments to COMAR that would require local boards to hold in‑person regular meetings (subject to limited exceptions), permit hybrid member participation only when a quorum is present in person, and require a published public‑comment policy.

The State Board voted to publish amended COMAR language that would require most local school boards to hold in‑person regular meetings for official business, while allowing certain exceptions and clarifying hybrid participation and committee rules.

Staff presented a draft regulation (amendment to COMAR 13A.02.01.01) that would require local boards to hold regular, in‑person open sessions for conducting official business and to adopt clear, published policies governing public comment procedures. The proposed rule includes exceptions for severe weather, building issues, public health emergencies, or other "exceptional circumstances," and it explicitly does not apply to closed‑session deliberations.

Following feedback from local board leaders, the board approved two edits before authorizing publication: (1) a hybrid‑meetings clarification allowing board members to participate remotely "provided that a quorum of the local board is present in person," and (2) an explicit carve‑out that the in‑person requirement does not apply to committee or task‑force meetings of a local board. The amended draft will go to the public comment period.

The Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) submitted written comment and sent MABE President Diana Holley to speak at the meeting; MABE said it appreciated the clarifications but continued to oppose a regulatory mandate that would apply to all 24 local boards. Holley said boards already use other engagement methods and urged the board to continue dialogue and training rather than formal regulation.

Ending: The board voted to publish the amended rule for comment. MSDE and MABE signaled interest in further work between the department and local boards to encourage transparent engagement practices.