Sec. 01.01.2010.09. The Maryland State Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children

A. Established. There is the Maryland State Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (the Council), as required by Chapters 501 and 502 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2009 - Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The Council enables Maryland State agencies to collaborate and coordinate with other member states of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (the Compact), the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (the Interstate Commission), local education agencies, and military installations to ensure a smooth transition of children of military families both in and out of Maryland schools.

B. Membership. The Council includes the following members:

(1) The State Superintendent of Schools;

(2) A Superintendent of a school district with a high concentration of military children;

(3) A representative of a military installation;

(4) A representative of the Executive Branch;

(5) A representative of a military family;

(6) A representative of school based personnel responsible for managing the transition of military children into and out of the school system;

(7) One member of the Maryland Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(8) One member of the Maryland House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and

(9) Representatives of other offices and stakeholder groups the Council deems appropriate.

(10) The Compact Commissioner responsible for the administration and management of the State's participation in the Compact, and the Military Family Education Liaison are ex officio, voting members of the Council and serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority.

C. Appointment and Terms. The members identified in B(2) through B(6) of this Executive Order shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice of a representative of the Governor's Subcabinet on Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and the State Superintendent of Schools. Such members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor for two-year terms. The members identified in B(7) through B(10) of this Executive Order shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities.

D. Meetings. The Council shall meet at the call of the Chair.

E. Procedures. The Chair shall establish the format and procedures for the meetings of the Council.

F. Members of the Council may not receive any compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations, and as provided in the State budget.

G. Consultation. Members of the Council shall consult and coordinate with the Interstate Commission, the Council of State Governments' National Center for Interstate Compacts, the Maryland State Department of Education, other State agencies, the local schools systems, military installations, and other organizations as needed concerning the State's participation in and compliance with the Compact and Interstate Commission activities.

H. Chair. The Chair shall be determined by the Council.

I. Staff Coordination. The Council shall be staffed by the Maryland State Department of Education.

J. Working Groups. Working groups shall be established based on the needs of the Council.

K. Frequency of Meetings. The Council shall meet at least twice a year.

L. Responsibilities. The Council shall promote and support Maryland's participation as a member of the Compact. The Compact enables Maryland to collaborate with other member states, providing much needed consistency to ensure that there are no barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and the deployment of their parents. Consistent with the Compact, the Maryland Council will develop a set of recommendations and a plan to address, among other issues, the:

(1) Transfer of records;

(2) Course sequencing;

(3) Graduation requirements;

(4) Extra-curricular activities;

(5) Kindergarten and first grade entrance age;

(6) Immunization; and

(7) Power of custodial parents while parents are deployed.

(8) The recommendations and plan shall be submitted to the Governor by January 12, 2011 and biannually thereafter. Any interim updates to the recommendations and plan also shall be submitted to the Governor.

Effective date: April 26, 2010