A001-9900

10	AN ACT concerning



20     	Education-Cultural Diversity and Equality of Educational Opportunity 



30 	FOR the purpose of making provisions to enable the State Board of Education to 

40	create programs to reduce school violence by providing educational programs that 

50 	promote cultural diversity.  Also for the purpose of expanding methods of 

60 	diagnostic testing to include diagnostic testing for basic mathematical skills.



70 	BY adding to 

80	Article-Education

90 	Section 2-205 (q)



100    	BE IT ENACTED BY THE MARYLAND STUDENT LEGISATURE:



120				Article 3-Education



130 ¤2-205 (q)



140 	(q)   	(1)   	The State Board shall coordinate the overall growth and development  

150		    	of elementary and secondary education n this state.

160         	(2)  	In consultation with the State Superintendent, the State Board 

170 		     	shall develop and periodically update an overall plan consistent with the 

180		      	bylaws that shall identify:

190 			(i) The present and future needs of elementary and secondary 

200  			education throughout the State, including a discussion of the 

210  			demographic composition of the elementary and secondary 

220			population;

230			(ii) The present and future capabilities of the public elementary and 

240			secondary education 

250 			system in this State;

260			(iii) The short-range and long-range objectives and priorities for 

270 			elementary and secondary education and methods and timelines for 

280 			achieving and maintaining them;

290  			(iv) Whether current programs adequately prepare students for 

300  			employment opportunities in this state, or post-secondary education 

310			opportunities;

320 			(v) The status and needs of the career and technology education 

330  			program, the vocational 

340	 		rehabilitation program, and the library system of these programs;

350  			(vi) The technological advancements that wold enhance elementary 

360  			and secondary education throughout the State;

370  			(vii) Methods to upgrade and improve teacher education and teacher 

380  			certification programs;

390  			(viii) The school systems that have dropped below the statewide test

400  			averages and shall assess the options available to improve test 

410  			averages of these school systems;

420  			(ix) The methods to improve diagnosis of basic reading AND

430  			MATHEMATICAL skill deficiencies of elementary and secondary 

440 			school students and to improve literacy AND COMPUTATIONAL 

450 			& MATHEMATICAL REASONING rates of these students;

460  			(x) The methods to increase the rate of retention and graduation of 

470  			secondary school students;

480			(xi) The short-range and long-range objectives for the resolution of 

490 			the problem of substance abuse by elementary and secondary school 

500 			students; and

510  			(xii) The short-range and long-range objectives for the resolution 

520  			of the problems of youth and teenage pregnancy; AND

530  			(xiii) THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF

540   			EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE CULTURAL 

550  			DIVERSITY.

		

560 	SECTION 2: AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, that this act will take effect 

570 	July 1, 2000.



580	MANDATES: 	Governor Parris Glendening

590			State Superintendent of Schools

				

		

						Co-sponsors: 	Tricia Chin Quee

								Western Maryland College

								Box 239/ 2 College Hill

								Westminster, MD 21157

								(410) 751-8259





								Holly K. Smith

								Western Maryland College

								Box 1355/ 2 College Hill

								Westminster, MD 21157

								(410) 751-8187