Ch. 677

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1992 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Education

7-204.

(a)     The promotion of students in a public school and graduation from a public
high school shall be in accordance with:

(1)     Policies established by the county board; and

(2)     The rules and regulations of the State Board.

(b)     (1) Each student who graduates from a public high school shall receive the
same type of diploma or certificate, regardless of the high school attended or the course
taken.

(2) The diploma or certificate shall state that the student has completed a
program of studies satisfactorily in accordance with the requirements of the State Board.

(C) (1) THE STATE BOARD OR A COUNTY BOARD MAY NOT REQUIRE A
STUDENT TO ENROLL IN A COURSE OF INSTRUCTION THAT CONTAINS IS BASED ON
SUBJECT MATTER CONCERNING THEORIES OF DISEASE OR MEDICAL PRACTISES
THAT ARE IN CONFLICT THAT CONFLICTS WITH THE BONA FIDE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
AND PRACTICES OF THE STUDENT OR THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF THE STUDENT.

(2) IN ORDER FOR A STUDENT TO BE EXCUSED FROM PARTICIPATION
IN A CLASS UNDER THIS SUBSECTION, A PARENT OR GUARDIAN, IF THE STUDENT IS
A MINOR CHILD, OR THE STUDENT, IF THE STUDENT IS AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE,
SHALL SUBMIT A WRITTEN STATEMENT TO THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL THAT
THE STUDENT ATTENDS ASSERTING THE OBJECTION TO THE COURSE AND THE
REASON FOR THE OBJECTION.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Maryland State Board of
Education shall review its rules and regulations to provide flexibility, for religious reasons, in
meeting course requirements for graduation and report the results of its review to the
Legislative Policy Committee by October 1, 1997.

SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect October 1, 1996. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and, at the end of
September 30, 1997, with no further action required by the General Assembly, this Act shall be
abrogated and of no further force and effect.

Approved May 23, 1996.

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