By Jessica Campisi, Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Md. 鈥斅燜or some Maryland families, going away for Labor Day weekend can be difficult when their children鈥檚 schools start before the holiday.
But beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year, local school systems would not start until after Labor Day, if Senate Bill 767 passes.
鈥淐hildren and students should be able to travel with families around this entire state … There are so many great opportunities for families to continue to enjoy,鈥� said Sen. James Mathias Jr., D-Somerset, Wicomico and Worchester, who sponsored the bill. 鈥淭he tourism industry would really like to see this happen.鈥�
Visitor spending generated over $2 billion in taxes in 2015, according to the Maryland Office of Tourism.
鈥淭his is a statewide workforce issue,鈥� said Melanie Pursel, executive director of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce. 鈥淲e generate tax revenue from our state, and the more we get, the more successful we are.鈥�
While some families want to vacation around Labor Day, others don鈥檛 have the money to do so, leaving no reason to delay the start of school.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a very diverse state,鈥� said Renee Spence, Public School Superintendents鈥� Association of Maryland Executive Director. Spence added that Maryland has almost 1 million children in its public schools, many of whom qualify for free or reduced lunches. 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure many families are taking vacations over Labor Day weekend.鈥�
The Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee heard testimony for this bill as well as several others related to school assessments; cellphones in schools; and a high school, college and internship hybrid. Here鈥檚 a roundup of other bills that were discussed:
Cellphone use in public schools
Using cellphones during class has been a constant concern for teachers trying to do their jobs, said Sen. Joanne C. Benson, D-Prince George鈥檚.
Benson sponsored Senate bill 657, which would establish a task force to study the impact of cellphone use in public schools.
鈥淭hey are a distraction to students and teachers alike,鈥� Benson testified. 鈥淚t is essential that people focus on the communication occurring inside the classroom.鈥�
Committee Chair Sen. Joan Carter Conway, D-Baltimore, said school officials from Prince George鈥檚 County said this could infringe on students鈥� rights.
鈥淚t kind of concerns me that the school board did not have enough respect for this senator to come down here and talk to me about it,鈥� Benson said.
Press freedom for student journalists
MDDC Press Association President Rebecca Snyder said Senate bill 764, sponsored by Jamie Raskin, D-Montgomery, helps students 鈥済ain the skills needed to be journalists.鈥� The bill, also known as the New Voices Maryland Act, provides fewer opportunities for school administrators to censor student newspapers.
鈥淗igh school journalists are the journalists of tomorrow,鈥� Snyder said. 鈥淪tudents are taught not to question authority … (censorship) does not further the ability for (them) to learn how to be journalists.鈥�
Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools
Senate bill 376, sponsored by Senate President Thomas V. 鈥淢ike鈥� Miller Jr., D-Calvert, on behalf of the Hogan Administration, would establish four P-TECH schools in Maryland. This would allow students to get a high school and associate degree in six years.
鈥淚t calls for partnerships between colleges and businesses,鈥� said Jeanne Hitchcock, the special adviser to the vice president for local government, community and corporate affairs at Johns Hopkins University. 鈥淧utting our resources and effort behind a program like this would enhance our ability to pull from a skilled workforce.鈥�
Assessments/testing
The committee heard testimony on Senate bill 407, sponsored by Sen. Roger Manno, D-Montgomery, which would make the State Board of Education limit mandated tests to 2 percent of required teaching hours, while teacher-selected tests and quizzes would not count toward the limit.
鈥淭hese are kids who are 8, 9, 10 years old. Imagine being taught to take a test, day in and day out, year in and year out,鈥� Manno said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a real, real hardship.鈥�
A random sample of kindergarten students across the state would take a school readiness test, and tests for prekindergarten students would be prohibited by Senate bill 794, sponsored by Sen. J.B. Jennings, R-Baltimore and Harford.
Local education boards would be required to increase transparency by providing the name, purpose, testing window and accommodations for tests, according to Senate bill 533. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Paul Pinsky, D-Prince George鈥檚, also requires the board to state who mandates each test and the grade and subject area it is for.
Senate bill 786, sponsored by Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr., D-Montgomery, requires the Maryland State Department of Education to create a list of guidelines that they and local school systems must use when deciding whether to test students.
