The Maryland State Board of Education has made it mandatory for public school students to report their criminal and criminal records.
The state board of education held an emergency meeting on the 22nd and unanimously passed a rule requiring all information about students who have been involved in, or have been convicted of, a violent crime to be shared with the school system when they transfer or enrol. This includes murder, arson, armed carjacking, and sexual assault, and is intended to prevent situations that threaten the safety of teachers and students in schools.
State Superintendent Carrie Wright sent a letter to 24 school districts, ordering them to immediately implement the new rule. “Previously, when a student transferred to a different school after committing a violent crime, it was optional to report their criminal record to the new school,” Wright said. “Under the new mandatory student crime reporting rule, the school system must clearly and transparently share information about transfer students who may pose a threat to the school and students.”
The new reporting requirement for students’ criminal and criminal backgrounds comes after a 17-year-old student who transferred from Anne Arundel County to Howard High School in Howard County was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder on May 15. Three lawmakers, including state Sen. Clarence Lamb, called for the requirement.
According to Howard County police, the Howard High student, who is suspected of a shooting murder in Columbia around 2:14 a.m. on May 12, was arrested at the school at around 12:45 p.m. at the time of his arrest. The suspect was found to be carrying a loaded gun in his backpack and was wearing an electronic ankle monitor for juvenile probation.
The Howard County Board of Education said it would not have approved the transfer if it had known of the student’s criminal record, including the attempted murder charge. “This lack of communication can actually cause significant harm and harm,” the Howard County Board of Education said.
The Howard County Board of Education has formed a safety and security advisory committee and asked the Maryland Department of Youth Services to review the cases of 48 students who have been detained or disciplined.