MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                             929

tional television system maintained for the use and benefit of the
public school system of any program presented by way of said system.

81.    Promotion.

Promotion of pupils in any public school and graduation from
any public high school shall be made in accordance with policies
established by the county board of education and in accordance with
the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education.

82.    Diplomas; institutions of higher learning.

(a)    There shall be one type of diploma or certificate issued to
all students graduating from county high schools regardless of the
high school attended or the course taken. The diploma or certificate
shall state that the student has satisfactorily completed a program
of studies in accordance with the requirements of the State Board
of Education.

(b)    Any public institution of higher learning within the State
shall accept as a student any graduate of an approved public high
school who is certified by the high school principal as having the
qualifications to pursue a course of study in the particular institution
of higher learning, said qualifications being based upon standards
determined, for graduates of the county high schools, by the State
Board of Education and for the graduates of the Baltimore City high
schools, by the board of school commissioners of Baltimore City;
or who shows, by passing examinations MEETING ADMISSION
STANDARDS set by the particular public institution of higher
learning, that he or she has the qualifications to pursue a course of
study in that institution.

83. Certificates equivalent to high school certificates.

(a)    Who may obtain.—Any person who has not obtained a high
school certificate or diploma and who has resided in Maryland or on
a federal reservation within the State of Maryland for at least one
year and (1) who is 17 years of age or older and has been withdrawn
from a regular full time public or private school program for at least
six months, or (2) who is a member of the armed forces of the United
States and is 17 years of age or older, may obtain an equivalent
certificate in accordance with this section.

(b)    Examination—In general—The State Board of Education
shall provide for examinations for such persons on at least two
occasions in each year at places throughout the State reasonably
convenient for the applicants. On each occasion, examinations shall
be offered in appropriate high school subject areas. This may be
construed to mean some type of comprehensive examinations, as
determined by the State Board of Education. Failure in any exami-
nation shall not prevent the taking of retests. Members of the armed
forces may earn the Maryland certificate by taking the examinations
furnished by the United States Armed Forces Institute and given
by the appropriate service officer. The certificate shall be awarded in
accordance w