SB 70

Adult Education - High School Diploma Pathways - MDiplomaWorks Pathway

Sponsor: Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment CommitteeCommittee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: Education - MiscellaneousStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 168 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the MDiplomaWorks pathway as an alternative method of earning a high school diploma in the State; establishing the Program as a method to recognize and certify high school diploma achievement through demonstrated academic and career competencies, and workforce experience; requiring an applicant to complete a combination of components as approved by the Maryland Department of Labor; and requiring the Department to publish Program information on its website to inform potentially eligible applicants about the new pathway.

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Testimony (21)

MGA witness list

FAV 16FavorableFWA 4Favorable with amendmentsINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Gupta, Riyalobbyist	Blueprint Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Muckle, Lonialobbyist	CASH Campaign of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kovacs, Lisa	Maryland Association of Local Management Boards	Written (PDF)
FAV	O'Day, Garrettlobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	O'Day, Garrettlobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wiggins, Grasonlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wiggins, Grasonlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bachman, Jenna	Maryland Department of Labor	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mitchell, Ellie	Maryland Out of School Time Network	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Butler, Brandonlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Comm, Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Comm	Individual	Oral
FAV	Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Comm, Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Comm	Individual	Oral
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Rice, Mat	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Fulginiti, Andrew	Maryland Department of Labor	Written (PDF)
FWA	Gilwee, Lauren	Maryland Department of Labor	Oral
FWA	Plantz, Dorothy	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Weisman, Madeleine	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Cratsley, Laurel	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Blueprint CoalitionFAV 1

CASH Campaign of MarylandFAV 1

Maryland Association of Local Management BoardsFAV 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 2

Maryland Chamber of CommerceFAV 2

Maryland Department of LaborFAV 1FWA 2

Maryland Out of School Time NetworkFAV 1

Maryland State Department of EducationINFO 1

YearFAV 2

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVGupta, RiyaBlueprint CoalitionRegistered for: Strong Schools Maryland, care of The Fund for Educational Excellence

FAVMuckle, LoniaCASH Campaign of MarylandRegistered for: CASH Campaign of Maryland

FAVO'Day, GarrettMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

FAVWiggins, GrasonMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Maryland Chamber of Commerce; United Way of Central Maryland, Inc.; Madison Marquette Property Investments LLC; Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund; Family Tree, The; OVG Facilities…

FAVButler, BrandonRegistered for: Cecil County Government; Center for Election Science; DelFest, LLC; International Responder Systems; Maryland Workforce Association; Toro Management, LLC…