In accordance with Chapter 506 of the Acts of 1916, the members
of the State Board of Education are appointed by the Governor before
the first Monday in May. After 1922 one member shall be appointed
annually for a term of seven years from the first Monday in May next
succeeding the appointment. Neither the Governor nor the ' State
Superintendent of Schools is a inember of this Board, as was the case
before 1916.

The State Board of Education selects a State Superintendent of
Schools, and through him and his assistants, has general control of
the Public School System of the State. The Board is a legislative
body, and, as such, enacts by-laws and prescribes rules and regulations
for carrying into effect the provisions of the school laws. These by-
laws and rules include regulations for the construction of school build-
ings, for grading and standardizing all public schools, for the certifi-
cation of public school teachers, for taking the bi-ennial school cen-
sus, and for a uniform series of forms and blanks for the use of
county superintendents, school officials and teachers.

The State Superintendent of Schools is the executive officer of the
Board. The members of the State Board of Education and the State
Superintendent of Schools are ex-officio trustees of the State Normal
Schools.

State Superintendent of Schools.

The present position was created by the General Assembly of 1900.
The principal of the Maryland State Normal School before that time
(1872-1900) being ex-officio State Superintendent. The State Super-
intendent of Schools is appointed by the State Board of Education
for a term of four years and is ex-officio secretary and treasurer of
the Board.

He is the executive officer of the State Board of Education, which,
in addition to having general control of the State School System, is
charged with the duties of interpreting school laws and acting with-
out expense to the parties concerned in all controversies and dis-
putes involving the proper administration of the public school system.
tie carries out the educational policies of the State Board of Educa-
tion. He conducts conferences of school officials and teachers, issues
teachers' certificates, passes upon proposals for the sale of school
sites and buildings, and the plans for the construction of new build-
ings. He directs the taking of the bi-ennial school census, prepares
courses of study and an annual report. He also issues bulletins from
time to time on the conditions and needs of the schools.

Either in person, or through his assistants, he has general super-
vision over the education affairs of the counties, co-operates with
county school officials in welding together school interests in a State
system. He certifies to the Comptroller each year a list of schools en-
titled to receive State aid, and the amount due each county in part
payment by the State of the salaries of superintendents, supervisors
and attendance officers. He audits the accounts of the county boards
of education and sees that their expenditures conform to the law.

The appointment of the county superintendents and supervisors
and attendance officers is made by the county boards of education
subject to the approval of the State Superintendent.

All communications pertaining to the supervision and administra-
tion of the State School System (Baltimore City not included) should
be sent to him either as State Superintendent of Schools, or as secre-
tary to the State Board of Education.