Ch. 359                          MARVIN MANDEL. Governor                               795

STANDARDS_ FOR THE EDUCATION OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
ENROLLED IN PROGRAMS OPERATED BY AGENCIES OTHER THAN
THE BOARDS OF EDUCATION OF THE SEVERAL COUNTIES OR THE
BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OF BALTIMORE CITY SHALL
NOT_ BE LOWER THAN_ THE STANDARDS_ FOR THE EDUCATION OF
CHILDREN ENROLLED IN PROGRAMS OPERATED BY THE BOARDS
OF EDUCATION OF THE SEVERAL COUNTIES OR THE BOARD OF
SCHOOL_ COMMISSIONERS OF BALTIMORE CITY. THE TERM
"SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES" MEANS THOSE EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES NECESSARY TO ASSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN WITH
HANDICAPS WHICH IMPEDE THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN[[,]] ARE
AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTAIN APPROPRIATE LEVELS
OF KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING SKILLS CONSISTENT WITH THEIR
POTENTIAL, AND SHALL INCLUDE THE FULL RANGE OF SUCH
SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPECIAL EQUIPMENT,
THERAPEUTIC TREATMENTS ANCILLARY TO EDUCATION, AND
TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER PROVIDED AS PART OF OR
ADDITIONAL TO REGULAR CLASSROOM PLACEMENT OR IN
SEPARATE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE CLASSES OR FACILITIES , SUCH
APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO BEGIN AS SOON AS
THE CHILD CAN BENEFIT FROM THEM, WHETHER OR NOT HE IS OF
REGULAR SCHOOL AGE. THE STANDARDS SHALL INCLUDE (1)
QUALIFICATIONS FOR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND OTHER
PROFESSIONAL, PARAPROFESSIONAL, AND NON-PROFESSIONAL
PERSONS, (2) PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING, TESTING, AND
DIAGNOSING CHILDREN IN NEED OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES, (3) GUIDELINES FOR CURRICULA, INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS,        EQUIPMENT. AND THE ORGANIZATION,

ADMINISTRATION, AND SUPERVISION OF THE PROGRAM,
INCLUDING ACCOUNTING, AUDITING, AND REPORTING
PROCEDURES, (4) [[ENCOURAGEMENT OF LOCAL, REGIONAL, OR
STATE DAY AND RESIDENTIAL CENTERS WHERE EDUCATIONALLY
AND FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE,]] PROVISION FOR LOCAL,
REGIONAL AND/OR STATE DAY AND RESIDENTIAL CENTERS FOR
CHILDREN WHO CANNOT REASONABLY BE SERVED IN THE
REGULAR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, [[AND]] (5) COORDINATION OF SUCH
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES WITH SERVICES RENDERED BY
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES[[, AND (6) PROVISION FOR
LOCAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE COST OF THE PROGRAM
CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBTITLE]] , AND (6)
STANDARDS FOR APPROVAL OF PLACEMENT IN NON-PUBLIC
SCHOOLS OR FACILITIES WHEN NO SUITABLE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
ARE AVAILABLE. PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THESE STANDARDS,
THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL CONSULT WITH PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE AGENCIES AND PERSONS CONCERNED WITH AND
KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN IN NEED
OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.

(B) UPON THE ADOPTION OF STANDARDS BY THE STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION, EACH LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL
PROMPTLY AND DILIGENTLY DEVELOP A PLAN FOR THE
PROVISION OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE
WITH SUCH STANDARDS. SUCH PLAN SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE
EDUCATION OF_ ALL HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, INCLUDING THOSE
WHO ARE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED, [[WHO]] WHOSE PARENTS OR
GUARDIANS ARE DOMICILED WITHIN THE COUNTY. PRIOR TO THE
ADOPTION OF A LOCAL PLAN, THE LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION