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statement before you today.

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I wish to begin with a very brief summary of

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the provisions for public education in Maryland as they

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currently appear in the Constitution of Maryland:

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1. The Declaration of Rights -- Article 43 —

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establishes education as n Human Right.

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2. The Constitution — Article VIII -- provides

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Section 1. Establishment of the free public

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schools and provides for their financing and maintenance.

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Section 2. A grandfather clause for the pre-

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existing schools.

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Section 3. That the School Fund of the State

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shall be kept inviolate.

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3. Article III. Section 52 provides:

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(6) That "the General Assembly shall not amend

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the Budget Bill so as to affect ......the provisions made

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by the laws of the State for the establishment and main-

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tenance of a system of public schools...."

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It is my understanding this will not be changed

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as far as the Committee 's thinking is now concerned.

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THE CHAIRMAN: That is correct.