Addison S. Hobbs, Assistant State Superintendent,
Division of Vocational-Technical Education
Nettie B. Taylor, Assistant State Superintendent,
Division o/Development and Services
Percy V. Williams, Assistant State Superintendent,
Division of Compensatory, Urban, and Supple-
mentary Programs
David G. Ricker, Assistant State Superintendent,
Office of Budget and Fiscal Affairs
P. 0. Box 8717
Baltimore-Washington International Airport
Baltimore 21240 Telephone: 796-8300
A centralized administration of the Maryland
public schools was attempted in 1865, but the
General Assembly did not establish the State
Board of Education until 1870 (Ch. 311, Acts
of 1870). The Board, composed of nine
members appointed by the Governor for stag-
gered five-year terms, makes policy for the pub-
lic school system and passes the bylaws and
regulations that govern it (Code Education Ar-
ticle, sees. 2-101 through 2-205).
The State Board of Education appoints the
State Superintendent of Schools for a four-year
term. He directs the State Department of Educa-
tion and executes the policy and enforces the
regulations adopted by the Board (Code Educa-
tion Article, sees. 2-301 through 2-303). The State
Department of Education consists of the State
Superintendent of Schools and the professional
staff employed by the Board to assist him. The
State Committee on the School Bus Formula,
created by Chapter 873, Acts of 1977, advises the
State Board on reimbursement elements in the
school bus reimbursement formula. The organiza-
tion of the Department is as follows:
DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION
The Division of Administration is responsible
for the development and implementation of
MSDE policies, procedures, and systems relative
to administrative operations in such areas as Per-
sonnel Services, Information Systems, Grants and
Contracts Administration, and General Services,
as well as the operational activities of pupil trans-
portation and school food services.
DIVISION OF CERTIFICATION AND
ACCREDITATION
The Division of Certification and Accreditation
is responsible for both regulatory and administra-

tive functions relating to the certification of
teachers and the accreditation of nonpublic
schools.
The Division issues certificates to teachers in
the public, nonpublic, and independent schools
and various other institutions of the state. It has
the responsibility for the initial certification, re-
newal, and upgrading of certificates for educa-
tional personnel at all levels, kindergarten
through grade 12. In addition, the Division inter-
prets certification standards and administers in-
terstate reciprocity in certification of teachers.
The Division also provides an advisory and con-
sultative service on school staffing.
The Division evaluates teacher education
programs offered by the colleges and universi-
ties in the State and provides consultative
services for the improvement of such
programs.
The Division interprets and implements State
statute and State Board of Education bylaws re-
lating to the approval of all levels of nonpublic
education from nursery school through secondary
school. Certificates of approval are issued to ap-
proved schools.
The Division administers the testing pro-
gram that leads to the attainment of the
Maryland High School Diploma. The Division
processes applications, arranges for test sites,
test administration, scoring, reports of test
results, and issuance of diplomas to successful
candidates.
DIVISION OF COMPENSATORY, UR-
BAN, AND SUPPLEMENTARY
PROGRAMS
The Division of Compensatory, Urban, and
Supplementary Programs is responsible for the
administration and supervision of federal and
state programs concerned with improving the ed-
ucational development of economically and so-
cially deprived children. The primary function of
the Division is to coordinate the state leadership
and administrative responsibilities of these
programs so as to provide maximum support and
supplementary services to the local school
systems of the State of Maryland.
The array of federal educational programs
necessitates coordination at the State Department
level to insure that these supplementary services
may achieve the purposes of the legislation and
benefit to the greatest degree the school children
of Maryland.