Ch. 358

2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

6-501.

(g) (1) "Public school employer" means the county board in each county, OR
A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, AS DEFINED IN TITLE 0 OF THIS ARTICLE.

(2) "Public school employer" includes the Baltimore City Board of School
Commissioners.

TITLE 9. MARYLAND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.
9-101.

(A)     THERE IS A MARYLAND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.

(B)     THE GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ESTABLISH AN
ALTERNATIVE MEANS WITHIN THE EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE INNOVATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND CREATIVE EDUCATIONAL
APPROACHES TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS.

9-102.

IN THIS TITLE, "PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL" MEANS A PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT:

(1)      IS NONSECTARIAN IN ALL ITS PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND
OPERATIONS;

(2)      IS A SCHOOL TO WHICH PARENTS CHOOSE TO SEND THEIR
CHILDREN;

(3)      IS OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS ON A SPACE-AVAILABLE BASIS AND
ADMITS STUDENTS ON A LOTTERY BASIS IF MORE STUDENTS APPLY THAN CAN BE
ACCOMMODATED;

(4)      IS A NEW PUBLIC SCHOOL OR A CONVERSION OF AN EXISTING
PUBLIC SCHOOL;

(5)      PROVIDES A PROGRAM OF ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY
EDUCATION OR BOTH;

(6)      OPERATES IN PURSUIT OF A SPECIFIC SET OF EDUCATIONAL
OBJECTIVES;

(7)      IS TUITION-FREE;

(8)      IS SUBJECT TO FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS PROHIBITING
DISCRIMINATION;

(9)      IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE HEALTH AND SAFETY
LAWS; AND

(10)    IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 20 U.S.C. 1400 ET SEQ. § 9-107 OF THIS TITLE;

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