This report provides six mini-case studies of higher education policy reforms enacted in other states, exploring the important role that state policy leadership played in developing, promoting, and implementing these policies aimed at improving higher education outcomes, and discussing the relevance of each reform effort for California. This…

The human brain develops rapidly in the first five years of life. High-quality early learning experiences can have a profound and lasting positive effect on young children during these years, setting the stage for success in kindergarten and beyond. This is especially true for young children with high needs who are from low-income families; who…

All students, including students with disabilities, must be included in state accountability systems as required by law. In April 2007, federal regulations provided states the flexibility to offer another assessment option--an Alternate Assessment based on Modified Achievement Standards (AA-MAS) for some students with disabilities. The AA-MAS is…

In April 2007, Federal No Child Left Behind regulations were finalized that provided states with additional flexibility for assessing some students with disabilities. The regulations allowed states to offer another assessment option, alternate assessments based on modified academic achievement standards (AA-MAS). States are not required to have…

This booklet outlines the standards for successful reading programs in Maryland as part of the national Right to Read effort. The first section discusses the purposes, development, and usage of established guidelines for the evaluation of successful reading programs. The second section discusses 28 standards to be met before a school's reading…

The document contains Maryland's 1979 program plan for the education of handicapped children as mandated by P.L. 94-142 (Education for All Handicapped Children Act). Seventeen chapters address the following: public notice and opportunity for comment; right to education policy statement; full educational goal and timelines; policy on priorities;…

The comprehensive plan presented in this document in sequential steps shows both the Maryland reading effort accomplishments (1971-74) and its present and future plans (1975-80) and demonstrates a set of ideas based on citizen concerns and needs assessments that are being translated into a reading program. Contents of this document include a…

This plan outlines the proposed professional development strategies and actions required for Maryland to achieve full success of the "Schools For Success 2000" school reform efforts. The plan's vision is reviewed and the leadership, resources, support systems, strategic alliance partner, best practices, and educational goals required to…

The statewide (Maryland) educational accountability plan described in this report was adopted in 1973 and called for the development and establishment of the following: statewide goals in reading, writing, and mathematics; local goals and objectives in each of 24 school systems in conformance with state goals; a comprehensive and uniform statewide…

A plan to integrate consumer education concepts into the Maryland public school curriculum has presented broad goals, concepts, and objectives to form a framework for comprehensive consumer education. Compelling forces accelerating the need for consumer education have originated within schools to make education relevant to the problems of real…

In its annual evaluation of the vocational and technical education program of Maryland, the Maryland Advisory Council on Vocational-Technical Education reviewed the State Plan and statistical record of the Division of Vocational Technical Education (DVE) for fiscal year 1972, and conducted interviews with representatives of DVE. Included in this…

This first phase of an exemplary career development project in Maryland included the following seven action programs, each with general and specific goals and objectives: (1) a team approach at selected junior high schools involving counselors, home economics, and industrial arts teachers, (2) use of a full-time resource consultant in five…

The extent to which the instruction, assessment, and Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP) test preparation activities of language arts teachers aligned with the Maryland Learning Outcomes (MLOs) and the reading and writing tasks on the MSPAP was studied in the 1996-97 school year. The reading and writing activities of 280…

Between October 1, 1980 and September 30, 1981, the 1981 migrant education program will serve an estimated 1,109 migrant children in 6 regular and 8 summer school projects in Maryland. Of these children, 422 will be at the elementary level, 366 at the secondary level, and the rest will be in preschool. Blacks compose the largest ethnic group (478)…

Recommendations of the Maryland Task Force on Gifted and Talented Education concerning the current status and future needs of gifted and talented education are presented. Recommendations are offered concerning the following issues: appropriate recognition of giftedness and services for all gifted and talented students, world-class curricular…