secs. 33, 34). The State Department of Education is composed of the
State Superintendent of Schools and the professional staff employed
by the Board to assist him in the supervision and direction of the
Maryland public schools. The department has six divisions, each with
its specific duties to perform.

Division of Instruction

The Division of Instruction provides leadership in planning and
supervising educational programs for young people and adults in the
public schools of the State. It plans programs and assists with the
education of the handicapped also. Specific aids provided for teachers
and pupils include courses of study cooperatively planned, certain
types of visual aids, and workshop and consultant service.

Division of Vocational Education

The Division of Vocational Education is responsible for the super-
vision of the vocational curricula of the public schools—home eco-
nomics, agriculture, and industrial arts. In addition the division
supervises the school lunch program and renders educational services
to industry. The Federal funds granted to the State for these pur-
poses are allocated through the division (Code 1951, Art. 77, secs.
275-278).

Division of Finance and Research

The Finance section of this division prepares and, within the
Department, administers the annual State public school budget. It
maintains budget and accounting records and is responsible for the
distribution of funds made available to the local school systems by
the State and Federal governments. In addition, this unit provides
auditing services and fiscal advice to the State teachers colleges.

The Research section is responsible for the compilation of all sta-
tistical records which are necessary for the efficient administration
of the public school system. The tables are used in the preparation
of the annual report covering the operations of the Department which
is submitted to the Governor and as a guide to the services which are
rendered by this Department relating to planning public school con-
struction, staffing, supervision, and administration. In addition, this
unit conducts special statistical studies as they are requested by the
State Board of Education or the State Superintendent of Schools
and is responsible for the administration of high school equivalence
examinations.

Division of Certification and Accreditation

The Division of Certification and Accreditation is responsible for
the certification of the professional and instructional staffs in the
public and private schools of the State. All schools and colleges (both
public and private) operating in the State are accredited by the
division. Leadership in teacher education, the licensing and inspection
of trade and vocational schools operating within the State are other
responsibilities of the unit (Code 1951, Art. 77, secs. 20, 95-103).

Division of Library Extension
400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore 1

The Division of Library Extension, established within the State
Department of Education by the General Assembly of 1945, exercises