EDUCATION

Elementary and Secondary Education. Public edu-
cation 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.
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. Kinder
garten 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 uni-
versity, 3.3% in a trade or business school), to work
15.8%, to enter military service 4%.

In 1992, the State set more stringent requirements
for graduation from high school. Credits required
were increased from 20 to 21. General require-
ments 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 participa-
tion rate in the nation. On Advanced Placement
(AP) exams, 69% of Maryland public school stu-
dents 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 pre-
kindergarten for four year olds, and career and tech
nology 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.

Higher Education. In fall 1995, some 266,407 stu-
dents (undergraduate, graduate, and professional) en-
rolled 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 in medicine by the University of
Maryland at Baltimore and The Johns Hopkins Uni-
versity, in dentistry by the University of Maryland at
Baltimore, and in law by the University of Maryland at
Baltimore and the University of Baltimore.

Public Colleges & Universities. Public higher edu-
cation centers on the 11 campuses of the University
of Maryland System, Morgan State University, St.
Mary's College of Maryland, and 18 community
colleges, including Baltimore City Community
College, a State institution.

Fall 1995 (Public Colleges & Universities)
Undergraduates (52.8 % part time) 194,618
4-year institutions (29.1% part time) 85,499
Community colleges (71.3% part time) 109,119
Graduate students (61.0% part time) 28,239
Total 222,857

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

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

Fall 1995 (Private Colleges & Universities)
Undergraduates (25.3% part time) 24,684
Graduate students (70% part time) 19,028
Total 43,712

EMPLOYMENT, 1994

Total Employed in Maryland 2,107,848
In Nonmanufacturing
Industry (private sector) (72.5%) 1,527,088
services 630,494
trade 514,328
wholesale 411,104
retail 103,224
finance, insurance, real estate 134,146