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SB 1003

Public Schools - Commemorative Day - Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joanne Benson

Designates November 14 as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day and requires Maryland public schools to run annual civil rights education programs with MSDE guidance.

First Reading Senate Rules
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Bill Summary · SB 1003

Summary — SB 1003: Public Schools — Commemorative Day — Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day

Status: First Reading (Senate Rules)
Introduced: January 29, 2025
Effective date if enacted: July 1, 2025
Primary sponsor: Senator Benson (Maryland)
Companion: HB 493

Purpose

Designates November 14 each year as “Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day” to commemorate Ruby Bridges’ historic integration of an all‑white elementary school on November 14, 1960, and requires public schools to observe the date with an educational program about civil rights, school desegregation, and social justice.

Key provisions

  • Designation: November 14 is declared Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.
  • Local requirement: Each county board of education must develop and implement a program of education for the day to be held on or around November 14 each year.
  • Program content: Local programs may include — but are not limited to — all or any of the following:
    • Symbolic walks to school reflecting on Ruby Bridges’ historic walk;
    • Instructional materials on civil rights history, school desegregation, and racial equality;
    • Discussions, assemblies, or presentations about Ruby Bridges and the civil rights movement;
    • Interactive projects emphasizing diversity, tolerance, and justice (artwork, essays, performances).
  • Encouraged partnerships: County boards and schools are encouraged to collaborate with parents, local leaders, civil rights groups, museums, libraries, and historical societies.
  • State support and rulemaking: The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) must develop model content (age‑appropriate lesson plans, discussion guides, historical documents, multimedia) and adopt regulations to implement the requirement. MSDE’s models must include teacher resources to facilitate discussions on civil rights and social justice.

Who is affected

  • Public K–12 schools and county boards of education in Maryland (implementation by local school systems).
  • Teachers and students (through required or encouraged program activities).
  • Local partners (museums, libraries, civil rights organizations) may be engaged as collaborators.

Fiscal and operational impact

  • State: MSDE can prepare model content and adopt regulations using existing resources; however, work may temporarily divert staff/time from other priorities.
  • Local school systems: Likely able to implement programs using MSDE’s model materials with existing resources, but implementation may divert instructional time and staff resources. If local systems must develop their own materials or provide training, costs could be meaningful.
    • Example estimates: Anne Arundel County Public Schools projected $28,400 (FY2026) and $13,500 (FY2027) for curriculum development and training if local development is necessary.
  • Revenues: None.
  • Small business: No direct effect.

Timeline & procedure notes

  • Program observance: annually on or around November 14.
  • MSDE must adopt regulations to carry out the law.
  • Effective upon implementation date: July 1, 2025.

Context

Maryland public schools already allocate time for certain commemorative days and the State Social Studies Standards/Frameworks include age‑appropriate opportunities to learn about Ruby Bridges and civil rights. This bill formalizes an annual observance and requires MSDE to provide model curriculum and regulatory guidance to support local implementation.

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

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