State Board of Education until 1870 (Ch. 311, Acts of 1870). The
Board, composed of seven members appointed by the Governor for
staggered seven-year terms, makes policy for the public school system
and passes the by-laws and regulations that govern it (Code 1957, Art.
77, secs. 2, 5, 19-24, 27, 29, 32, 35, 164).

The State Board of Education appoints the State Superintendent of
Schools for a four-year term. He directs the State Department of
Education and executes the policy and enforces the regulations
adopted by the Board (Code 1957, Art. 77, secs. 37-39). The State
Department of Education consists of the State Superintendent of
Schools and the professional staff employed by the Board to assist
him. The Department has seven divisions (Code 1957, 1962 Supp., Art.
77, secs. 45, 46).

Division of Instruction

The Division of Instruction provides leadership in planning and
supervising education for children and adults in the public schools of
the State. Among the specific aids it supplies are curriculum ma-
terials which it plans in cooperation with teachers, certain types of
visual aids, and workshop and consultant service. It maintains a
curriculum center. It also plans programs for the handicapped and
assists with their education (Code 1957, 1962 Supp., Art. 77, secs. 26,
40-42,241-242).

Division of Vocational Education

The Division of Vocational Education provides leadership in plan-
ning and supervising the vocational curricula in the public schools in
the areas of agriculture, distributive education, home economics,
practical nurse education, technical education in trades and industry,
as well as in the nonvocational program of industrial arts. This Di-
vision also administers the training programs authorized under the
Manpower Development and Training Act and the Area Redevelop-
ment Act and coordinates the activities of the Maryland State Ap-
prenticeship Council. The Federal funds granted to the State for these
purposes are allocated through the Division (Code 1957, Art. 77, secs.
285-288).

Division of Research and Development

The Division of Research and Development compiles all statistical
records necessary for the efficient administration of the public school
system. These records provide a guide to the services rendered by the
Department in planning, construction, staffing, supervision, and sta-
tistical studies as they are requested by the State Board of Educa-
tion or the State Superintendent of Schools. In addition, it assists
the local school systems and other divisions of the State Department
of Education in the design and carrying out of research projects and
special studies concerning the condition and needs of public education
in Maryland (Code 1957, Art. 77, secs. 34, 47).

Division of Administration and Finance

In the area of administration, this Division is responsible for de-
partmental office and personnel supervision, and for administering the
State programs for public school transportation, school plant plan-
ning, and school lunch and donable foods.

The finance section of the Division prepares and administers the
annual State public school departmental budgets. It maintains budget
and accounting records and distributes funds made available to the
local school systems by the State and Federal governments. In addi-