MarylandResidential care programs must provide educational support
Maryland’s law requires residential care programs to provide educational opportunities and sets training rules for people seeking practitioner certificates.
What it does
Residential care programs must provide educational opportunities to children in their care. The law also removes the maximum age for children covered by that support.
Applicants for practitioner certificates must complete Board-approved training on topics such as child development, safety, and supporting children’s needs. Some college graduates may qualify for a waiver.
Practitioners certified on July 1, 2026, do not have to repeat training they already completed. They can wait until renewal to complete newly required training.
Argument forChildren in residential care may get more help with schoolwork and learning when programs must provide educational support.
Argument againstPrograms may need more staff time and resources to give children study help, support their plans, and provide computer access.
More detail
Residential child care program operators must provide educational opportunities. The text describes licensed programs that provide around-the-clock care, including group homes, alternative living units, and emergency shelters. The digest says the former maximum age for children receiving educational support is repealed. The text ties the operator’s duties to having legal custody or care and control of the child and receiving State funding.
Applicants for residential child and youth care practitioner certificates must complete Board-approved training. This applies to people applying for a residential child and youth care practitioner certificate. Applicants with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree may qualify for a waiver if they pass an examination and meet other requirements set by the Board.
The Board may not require certain current certificate holders to repeat training or complete new training before renewal. This applies to people who hold a residential child and youth care practitioner certificate on July 1, 2026. A person who already completed a required training program may not be required to repeat it. A person may not be required to complete a new required program before certificate renewal. The limit applies to certificates held on July 1, 2026; new training may be required when the certificate is due for renewal.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Approved by the Governor Wes Moore - Chapter 640Became Law
- Apr 13Passed EnrolledTo Governor
- Apr 13Third Reading PassedMajor
- Apr 13House Concurs Senate Amendments
- Apr 10Third Reading PassedPassed Senate
- Apr 10Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- Apr 10Favorable with Amendments {Minor
- Apr 10Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentMinor
- Apr 2
- Vote recorded On Third Reading and Final Passage (Hse concurred). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24
- Vote recorded On Third Reading (Amend). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Referred Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentMinor
- Mar 6Third Reading PassedPassed House
- Mar 5Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 5Favorable with Amendments {Minor
- Mar 4Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and MeansMinor
- Feb 25
- Vote recorded On Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 2Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m.
- Feb 2Hearing canceled
- Jan 28Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m.
- Jan 22First Reading Ways and MeansIntroduced
EducationHealthcare