Emergency policy would require superintendents to share info on transfer students' criminal past

DAVID COLLINS JOINS US LIVE FROM THE NEWSROOM WITH THIS UPDATE. DAVID. LEGISLATORS POSTPONED THE EXPECTED VOTE ON MAKING THE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS PERMANENT, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT VAGUE DEFINITIONS AND WHETHER THE CURRENT POLICY GOES FAR ENOUGH. THE NEW REGS FOLLOWED 11 NEWS INVESTIGATIVE STORIES, EXPOSING INFORMATION GAPS IN CURRENT LAW. THE CASE INVOLVED A HIGH SCHOOL TRANSFER STUDENT WITH A SERIOUS CRIMINAL HISTORY AND DISTRICT OFFICIALS ONLY BECAME AWARE OF IT AFTER OUR STORY AIRED. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REVIEW. THE COMMITTEE MET TO DISCUSS MAKING PERMANENT NEW RULES THAT REQUIRE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS TO SHARE A TRANSFER STUDENT’S CRIMINAL HISTORY WITH OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS. THE INTENT OF THE REPORTABLE OFFENSE LAW IS TO NOT IS TO NOT PUNISH THE STUDENT, BUT INSTEAD TO PROVIDE THE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY AND ULTIMATELY THE PRINCIPAL WITH THE INFORMATION THAT MAY IMPACT THE SAFETY DYNAMICS WITHIN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. THOSE REGULATIONS FOLLOWED 11 NEWS INVESTIGATES STORIES THAT EXPOSED A GAP IN THE SYSTEM. OUR REPORTING ALSO FOUND THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT IS PROHIBITED FROM DISCLOSING CRIMINAL HISTORIES TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THE AGENCY IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NEW POLICIES. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT CURRENTLY WITHIN THE STATE BOARD’S POWER TO ADDRESS THIS GAP IN INFORMATION SHARING BECAUSE IT WOULD REQUIRE, AS YOU JUST SAID, A LEGISLATIVE FIX. 11 NEWS INVESTIGATES DISCOVERED THE INFORMATION SHARING GAP WHEN REPORTING ON 17 YEAR OLD HOWARD HIGH STUDENT TRACY PARKER. HE SERVED TIME FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER WITH DEEJAYS. AFTER SENTENCING, D.J.S MOVED HIM TO A HOWARD COUNTY SCHOOL, WHERE HE WAS ARRESTED FOR MURDER AND IN POSSESSION OF A GHOST GUN. HOWARD COUNTY SCHOOL OFFICIALS COULDN’T BELIEVE THEY WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT HIS CRIMINAL HISTORY. IF THEY HAD, THEY SAY THEY WOULD HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO PROTECT THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. WHEN A YOUNG PERSON, A JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH IS IS ENGAGED AT JHS, THAT THAT THAT THAT IS WHERE THE CHAIN OF INFORMATION IS BREAKING. COMMITTEE MEMBERS QUESTIONED THE DEFINITION OF A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL, SAYING IT’S VAGUE, AS ARE THE RULES REGARDING WHO GETS NOTIFIED. I WOULD URGE YOU TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AS YOU CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. LEGISLATORS SAY IT’S AN ISSUE BETWEEN A JUVENILE’S RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY SUGGEST CREATING A TASK FORCE TO SORT IT ALL OUT. IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE. IF THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE BITS AND PIECES OF INFORMATION COULD ALL GET IN A ROOM AND DECIDE WHAT IS THE BEST THING. A COMMITTEE VOTE HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED. LAWMAKERS AGREED TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO HELP CLOSE GAPS AND PROVIDE SOME MUSCLE TO THE POLICY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE. REPORTING LIVE FRO

New emergency regulations in Annapolis would create rules to require school superintendents to share information about a transfer student's criminal history.The Maryland Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR) held a virtual legislative hearing Wednesday following an 11 News Investigates story that exposed a gap in the sharing of information about a 17-year-old Howard County transfer student with a criminal history.Current state law prohibits the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services from sharing information about a student's criminal history with school officials – and it will take legislative action to change that.'There is a break in the information chain'Maryland State Schools Superintendent Carey Wright appeared before the committee to confirm there is a gap in the sharing of such information."When students are detained, there is a break in the information chain," Wright said. "Unfortunately, it is not in the state board's power to address this gap in information sharing because it would require a legislative fix.""When that person, a justice-involved youth, is engaged with DJS, that is where the chain of information is breaking," said Joshua Michael, the president of the Maryland State Board of Education.The committee met to discuss making new rules permanent to require school superintendents to share a transfer student's criminal history with other superintendents. But the new regulations don't include the DJS school superintendent."The purpose of the reportable offense law is not to punish the student, but instead to provide the local education agency, and ultimately, the principal information that may impact the safety dynamics within the school community," Wright said.11 News Investigates reports uncover gap in information sharingThe gap in information sharing was uncovered as 11 News Investigates reported on the October arrest of Tracee Parker, a 17-year-old student at Howard High School in Howard County.Before he was transferred to Howard County, Parker was convicted of attempted murder while a student in Anne Arundel County, for which he served time in the DJS system.Howard County police arrested Parker – who was wearing a DJS ankle monitor — in school on murder charges in connection with a Columbia homicide. Authorities said officers found a ghost gun in the teen's backpack.Howard County school officials said they couldn't believe they were not told about Parker's criminal history, and that if they had been aware, they said they would have taken steps to protect the school community.Vote postponed: Here's why lawmakers are concernedThe legislative committee postponed a vote on making the emergency regulations permanent. Lawmakers raised questions and concerns about whether the policy goes far enough.Some committee members also expressed concern that the definition of a non-public school was vague, as well as the rules regarding who gets notified."I would urge you to go back and take another look, continue to investigate this issue," Sen. Chris West, R-District 42, whose district encompasses portions of Baltimore and Carroll counties.Legislators cited issues when it comes to juveniles and the right to privacy and public safety. Some suggested creating a task force to sort it all out."Is it possible if the different people have the bits and pieces of information could all get in a room to decide what is the best thing?" Harford County Delegate Susan McComas, R-District 34B.Lawmakers agreed to introduce legislation to close gaps and provide muscle to the policy changes. A new date to take a vote has yet to be scheduled.State school leaders release statementIn a statement released Thursday afternoon, Wright and Michael said:"We look forward to partnering with Gov. (Wes) Moore, the General Assembly, the Department of Juvenile Services and the Juvenile Services Education Program to improve communication and enhance student and school safety."Our foremost priority is keeping schools safe places to teach, learn, work and volunteer. In order to ensure the safety for all members of the school community, we believe district leadership must have the necessary information to determine the most appropriate setting when an individual student presents a safety risk."

ANNAPOLIS, Md. —

New emergency regulations in Annapolis would create rules to require school superintendents to share information about a transfer student's criminal history.

The Maryland Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR) held a virtual legislative hearing Wednesday following an 11 News Investigates story that exposed a gap in the sharing of information about a 17-year-old Howard County transfer student with a criminal history.

Current state law prohibits the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services from sharing information about a student's criminal history with school officials – and it will take legislative action to change that.

'There is a break in the information chain'

Maryland State Schools Superintendent Carey Wright appeared before the committee to confirm there is a gap in the sharing of such information.

"When students are detained, there is a break in the information chain," Wright said. "Unfortunately, it is not in the state board's power to address this gap in information sharing because it would require a legislative fix."

"When that person, a justice-involved youth, is engaged with DJS, that is where the chain of information is breaking," said Joshua Michael, the president of the Maryland State Board of Education.

The committee met to discuss making new rules permanent to require school superintendents to share a transfer student's criminal history with other superintendents. But the new regulations don't include the DJS school superintendent.

"The purpose of the reportable offense law is not to punish the student, but instead to provide the local education agency, and ultimately, the principal information that may impact the safety dynamics within the school community," Wright said.

The gap in information sharing was uncovered as 11 News Investigates reported on the October arrest of Tracee Parker, a 17-year-old student at Howard High School in Howard County.

Before he was transferred to Howard County, Parker was convicted of attempted murder while a student in Anne Arundel County, for which he served time in the DJS system.

Howard County police arrested Parker – who was wearing a DJS ankle monitor — in school on murder charges in connection with a Columbia homicide. Authorities said officers found a ghost gun in the teen's backpack.

Howard County school officials said they couldn't believe they were not told about Parker's criminal history, and that if they had been aware, they said they would have taken steps to protect the school community.

Vote postponed: Here's why lawmakers are concerned

The legislative committee postponed a vote on making the emergency regulations permanent. Lawmakers raised questions and concerns about whether the policy goes far enough.

Some committee members also expressed concern that the definition of a non-public school was vague, as well as the rules regarding who gets notified.

"I would urge you to go back and take another look, continue to investigate this issue," Sen. Chris West, R-District 42, whose district encompasses portions of Baltimore and Carroll counties.

Legislators cited issues when it comes to juveniles and the right to privacy and public safety. Some suggested creating a task force to sort it all out.

"Is it possible if the different people have the bits and pieces of information could all get in a room to decide what is the best thing?" Harford County Delegate Susan McComas, R-District 34B.

Lawmakers agreed to introduce legislation to close gaps and provide muscle to the policy changes. A new date to take a vote has yet to be scheduled.

State school leaders release statement

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Wright and Michael said:

"We look forward to partnering with Gov. (Wes) Moore, the General Assembly, the Department of Juvenile Services and the Juvenile Services Education Program to improve communication and enhance student and school safety.

"Our foremost priority is keeping schools safe places to teach, learn, work and volunteer. In order to ensure the safety for all members of the school community, we believe district leadership must have the necessary information to determine the most appropriate setting when an individual student presents a safety risk."