The Maryland State Department of Education has redesigned and enhanced its Web site, www.marylandpublicschools.org. The revised site will launch today at noon. Users reaching the site through the old Web address (http://www.msde.state.md.us/) will be redirected to the http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/ home page.

“The new Maryland State Department of Education Web site provides citizens access to organized and timely information about Maryland public schools,” said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick. “Programs, policies, curriculum, achievement data—marylandpublicschools.org is your gateway to all of this and more.”

Features of the revamped site include standardized navigation, a new design and color scheme, and an improved search function. Web site users can stay current on Department activities by visiting the News Room, where they will find media releases, news videos, publications, and a calendar of events. The new site also features improved accessibility for users with disabilities. A section called “In Focus” will randomly highlight content to encourage users to explore the site, and a “Related Information” section organizes relevant documents and hyperlinks.

Through the search function or through navigation, Web users can quickly find information on the State Board of Education, Voluntary State Curriculum, Maryland School Assessment, High School Assessments, local schools systems, specific Divisions within the Department, and a multitude of programs. Just a few of the programs represented on the Web site are Minority Achievement in Maryland, Take 15 for the Family, Gifted and Talented Education, School Nutrition, and Environmental Education.

The home page of www.marylandpublicschools.org contains links to the Department’s other important Web sites—Maryland Report Card (http://www.mdreportcard.org/), School Improvement in Maryland (http://www.mdk12.org/), and the Division of Rehabilitation Services (http://www.dors.state.md.us/).

Parents and citizens without Web access at home are encouraged to visit their public libraries. Citizens may use the computers to connect to the Web, and library staff are available to help.