EDUCATION

Elementary & Secondary Education. Public education is a responsibility shared by State, county and Baltimore City government. The State Board of Education sets educational standards, certifies teachers, partially funds school construction and instruction, and monitors school performance. The Board also oversees the State Department of Education. County boards of education often set additional requirements, develop new programs, and provide substantial funding. For the 1994-95 school year, of Maryland public school financial resources $1,963,115,702 or 39.0% were State funds (5.4% federal funds; 55.6% local funds). For the 1994-95 school year, Maryland ranked 13th in the nation with an average per pupil expenditure of $6,720.

The Maryland school year is a minimum 180 days long. Schools are open for a ten-month period, from around Labor Day to mid-June. Opening and closing dates vary from county to county. Kindergarten is mandatory. Elementary and middle school students attend school at least 6 hours a day; high school students 6.5 hours a day. The State requires that children, ages 5 to 16, attend school. Students may attend school up to age 21.

For prekindergarten through high school, 805,544 students enrolled in 1,276 public schools and 166,541 students enrolled at 1,113 private schools in fall 1995. Public high schools graduated 41,841 students in 1995. Those intending to continue their education: 83.8% (80.5% in a college or university, 3.3% in a trade or business school); to work: 15.8%; to enter military service: 4.0%.

In 1992, the State set more stringent requirements for graduation from high school. Credits required were increased from 20 to 21. General requirements were replaced with particular courses, or courses with specific content. Fewer credits were reserved for electives (nonrequired courses chosen by students). Students must pass functional tests in reading, writing, mathematics, and citizenship. They also must perform 75 hours of volunteer community service approved by the State.

Maryland students consistently excel on national tests. Some 30,552 Maryland high school seniors took the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) in 1995. Among the 17 states with the highest student participation rates, Maryland ranked 3rd in the nation in mathematics and tied for 3rd in verbal aptitude. With 64% of high school seniors taking the test, Maryland had the 13th highest participation rate in the nation. On Advanced Placement (AP) exams, 69% of Maryland public school students received scores required for college credit compared with 60.5% nationally. From 1994 to 1995, the number of Advanced Placement exams taken by Maryland public school students increased 22%, compared to 12.5% nationally.

Special Public School Programs. These cover prekindergarten for four-year olds; and career and technology education, including consumer and homemaking classes. Gifted and talented programs also are offered by the State, on a tuition basis, at summer centers for students who qualify academically, meet geographical distribution requirements, and are able to pay the cost.

Special education services for students with disabilities range from aid for part or all of a school day to specialized services for homebound students or those in separate facilities or hospitals. Within the State Department of Education, the Division of Special Education administers both State and federal programs for special education.

Higher Education. In fall 1995, some 266,407 students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional) enrolled at Maryland colleges and universities. Maryland residents made up 77.6% of public enrollment and 60.8% of private enrollment. Women accounted for 57.9% of all students, one of the highest percentages in the State's history.

Postgraduate professional degree programs are offered by:

University of Baltimore (law)
University of Maryland, Baltimore (dentistry, law, medicine)
The Johns Hopkins University (medicine)

Public Colleges & Universities. Public higher education centers on the 11 campuses of the University System of Maryland; Morgan State University; St. Mary's College of Maryland; and 18 community colleges, including Baltimore City Community College, a State institution. Additional information about public colleges and universities (including community colleges) is available from the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

A federal institution, the U.S. Naval Academy is in Annapolis. For the 1995-96 academic year, 4,025 midshipmen were enrolled there as full-time students.

Private Colleges & Universities. Among independent postsecondary institutions are 5 two-year colleges; 22 four-year colleges and universities; and 100 private career schools.

Maryland Manual On-Line