Sec. 13a.01.04.02. Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Annual measurable objective" means a performance target established by the State Board:

(a) For each grade level in reading and mathematics;

(b) For attendance rate; and

(c) For one of the following:

(i) Graduation rate; or

(ii) For schools that do not have a grade 12, dropout rate.

(1-1) "Approved advanced technology credit" means credit earned consistent with the guidelines developed by the Department.

(2) "AYP" means adequate yearly progress as specified in the No Child Left Behind Act, 20 U.S.C. §6301 et seq., and as implemented by the Department.

(3) "Career and technology education program requirements" means completion of four occupational course credits in a planned, sequential program of study that integrates academic, technical, and workplace readiness skills.

(4) "Core academic subjects" means English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography.

(5) "Department" means the State Department of Education.

(6) "Executive officer" means a principal's supervisor who evaluates the principal.

(7) "Free and reduced price meals" means services funded by meeting income eligibility guidelines of the United States Department of Agriculture.

(8) "Gifted and talented" means opportunities for students identified by professionally qualified individuals as having outstanding abilities in the area of general intellectual capabilities, specific academic aptitude, or the creative, visual, or performing arts under guidelines developed by the Department.

(9) "High quality professional development" means professional development consistent with the requirements specified in the No Child Left Behind Act, 20 U.S.C. §6301 et seq. and as approved in the State plan.

(10) "Highly qualified teacher" means a teacher with qualifications consistent with the requirements specified in the No Child Left Behind Act, 20 U.S.C. §6301 et seq., and as implemented by the Department.

(11) "Limited-English proficient (LEP)" means a student 3 years old through 21 years old enrolled in an elementary school or secondary school:

(a) Who:

(i) Was not born in the United States or whose native language is a language other than English;

(ii) Is a Native American or Alaska Native, or a native resident of the outlying areas, and who comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual's level of English language proficiency; or

(iii) Is migratory, whose native language is a language other than English, and who comes from an environment where a language other than English is dominant; and

(b) Whose difficulties in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny the student the:

(i) Ability to meet the State's proficient level of achievement on State assessments described in Regulation .05C of this chapter;

(ii) Ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction is English; or

(iii) Opportunity to participate fully in society.

(12) "Local reconstitution" means the process used before the 2003-04 school year for school improvement, corrective action, and restructuring, that included changing one or more of a school's administration, staff, organization, or instructional programs.

(13) "Local school superintendent" means the superintendent of a local school system and includes the chief executive officers of local school systems.

(14) "Per pupil expenditure" means the average total cost of providing education to each student attending a public school in a local school system, excluding capital expenditures.

(15) "Public charter school" means a school operated as a public charter school consistent with the requirements of State law and regulation.

(16) "Public school student" means a student enrolled in a local public school system and attending a public school, an alternative education program, or alternative school operated by a local school system, a public charter school, a juvenile institution, nonpublic school, the Maryland School for the Blind, or the Maryland School for the Deaf.

(17) "Special education" means services for a student with disabilities as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq.

(18) "State Board" means the Maryland State Board of Education.

(19) "State reconstitution" means the process used before the 2003-04 school year for school restructuring that included contracting with a third party to operate the school.

(20) "Title 1" means services funded in whole or in part by Title 1 of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended, 20 U.S.C. §6301 et seq.

(21) "University of Maryland System course requirements for admission" means four credits of English, three credits of social studies/history, three credits of science (laboratory), three credits of mathematics (algebra/geometry/algebra II), two credits of foreign languages or advanced technology, and six credits of academic electives.

(22) "Wealth per pupil" means the taxable wealth of a local jurisdiction as defined by Education Article, §5-202, Annotated Code of Maryland, in relation to the September 30 enrollment of the local school system.