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Bill

HB 473

Education - Collective Bargaining - Certificated Employees - Class Size

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gabriel Acevero and 15 co-sponsors

Maryland bill requires school districts to collectively bargain class size limits with teacher unions rather than setting them unilaterally, affecting district budgets and workforce management.

Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 473

Legislative bill overview

HB 473 establishes class size as a mandatory subject of collective bargaining for certificated (credentialed) school employees in Maryland. The bill requires school boards to negotiate class size limits with teacher unions rather than unilaterally setting these parameters. This legislation directly impacts how teacher contracts are negotiated and workforce deployment decisions are made.

Why is this important

Class size affects both student learning outcomes and teacher working conditions. By making class size a negotiable item, the bill empowers teachers to bargain over workload while potentially influencing educational quality. This could increase operational costs for school districts if smaller classes are negotiated, requiring budget adjustments or resource reallocation.

Potential points of contention

  • School district autonomy: Districts may argue they need flexibility to adjust class sizes based on enrollment fluctuations, funding changes, and facility constraints without lengthy union negotiations
  • Cost implications: Smaller negotiated class sizes could require hiring additional teachers and expanding facilities, significantly increasing education budgets during a period of tight state and local finances
  • Educational equity: Questions arise about whether mandatory class size bargaining benefits all students equally or primarily protects union members' working conditions at the expense of other educational investments

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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