796                                     LAWS OF MARYLAND                              Ch. 359

SHALL CONSULT WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES AND
PERSONS CONCERNED WITH AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE
PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN IN NEED OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL PRECLUDE A LOCAL BOARD
OF EDUCATION FROM DEVELOPING A PLAN WHICH EXCEEDS THE
STATE STANDARDS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SHALL PROVIDE REASONABLE ASSISTANCE TO THE LOCAL
BOARDS OF EDUCATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN. THE
LOCAL PLAN SHALL PROVIDE FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF
PROGRAMS WITHIN FIVE YEARS ON AN ANNUAL PHASE-IN BASIS.
EACH LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL SUBMIT ITS PLAN TO
THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS WITHIN NINE MONTHS
AFTER ADOPTION OF THE STANDARDS BY THE STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION, WITH IMPLEMENTATION TO COMMENCE WITH THE
SCHOOL YEAR NEXT FOLLOWING SUBMISSION OF THE PLAN.
"LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION," AS USED IN THIS SUBTITLE.
INCLUDES THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OF
BALTIMORE CITY , AND "COUNTY", AS USED IN THIS SUBTITLE.
INCLUDES BALTIMORE CITY.

(C) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS SHALL REVIEW
EACH LOCAL PLAN, AND, IF HE FINDS IT TO BE IN ACCORD WITH
THE STANDARDS ADOPTED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION, HE SHALL [[APPROVE
IT.]] RECOMMEND THE PLANTS. APPROVAL BY THE, STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION. IF HE FINDS IT NOT TO BE IN ACCORD WITH SUCH
STANDARDS OR THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION. HE SHALL
RETURN IT TO THE LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION WITH HIS
WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE AREAS OR MANNER IN WHICH THE
PLAN DOES NOT COMPLY WITH [[THE STANDARDS]] THOSE
STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. IN EITHER CASE, HE SHALL
TAKE SUCH ACTION WITHIN SIXTY DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE
LOCAL PLAN. IF, WITHIN SIXTY DAYS AFTER RETURN OF THE
PLAN BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT, THE LOCAL BOARD DOES
NOT SUBMIT A PLAN WHICH, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT, CONFORMS TO THE STATE STANDARDS AND
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION, THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT SHALL THEREUPON DEVELOP [[AND
PROMULGATE]] A PLAN FOR THE SUBDIVISION. [[WITHIN SIXTY
DAYS AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THE LOCAL PLAN WAS OR
SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESUBMITTED TO HIM.]] PRIOR TO THE
APPROVAL OF SUCH PLAN BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
THE SUBDIVISION SHALL BE AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REVIEW THE PLAN WITH THE STATE BOARD.

(D) UPON ADOPTION OF THE STANDARDS REQUIRED IN
SUBSECTION (A), THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
SHALL DEVELOP A PLAN FOR THE PROVISION OF SPECIAL
EDUCATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN THROUGH AGE 20 WHO ARE
IN STATE INSTITUTIONS. THE PLAN SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE STANDARDS. THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL
REVIEW AND APPROVE THE PLAN.

[[(D)]](E) IT SHALL BE THE MANDATORY DUTY OF EACH LOCAL
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN FOR ITS
SUBDIVISION AS APPROVED OR DEVELOPED BY THE STATE BOARD
OR STATE SUPERINTENDENT, AS PROVIDED HEREIN, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS THEREOF.