Sec. 14.31.06.12. Children's Services

A. Education.

(1) Each licensee shall collaborate with the placing agency and document efforts to:

(a) Ensure that each child of mandatory school age who has not earned a high school diploma or certificate of completion under COMAR 13A.03.02.02 is receiving an appropriate elementary or secondary school education;

(b) If the child is a student with disabilities, cooperate with the team constituted under COMAR 13A.05.01 as appropriate to ensure that the child receives special education and related services as provided for in the child's individualized education program; and

(c) Ensure that each child above the mandatory school age who has not received a secondary school diploma or certificate of completion under COMAR 13A.03.02.02 participates in:

(i) A secondary school education program;

(ii) A tutoring program to prepare the child to take the General Educational Development Test under COMAR 13A.03.03; or

(iii) Developmentally appropriate vocational skills training.

(2) The placing agency and licensee shall work cooperatively with the local school system to:

(a) Facilitate the child’s enrollment in school within the local school system within 3 school days of placement at the facility, and if not feasible, document in writing all attempts and rationale for the delay;

(b) Ensure that the child attends the local school whenever feasible and appropriate consistent with Education Article, §4-122(a)(4), Annotated Code of Maryland; and

(c) Participate as appropriate in the child's educational activities.

(3) If a licensee determines that there is a need to establish educational services in its facility, the licensee shall:

(a) Obtain a certificate of approval in accordance with COMAR 13A.09.10, if the licensee intends to establish a nonpublic educational program or GED program; or

(b) Establish a tutoring program for children who are concurrently enrolled in a public or nonpublic educational program.

(4) Each licensee shall notify the placing agency and the licensing agency when a child is suspended from school for more than 3 days.

(5) Each licensee shall immediately notify the placing agency and the licensing agency when a child is expelled from school.

(6) Each licensee shall develop an individualized daily program plan for a child who has been suspended or expelled from school.

B. Recreation and Leisure. The licensee shall develop a written plan that:

(1) Provides the children with a range of indoor and outdoor recreation and leisure activities both in the program and in the community; and

(2) Bases recreation and leisure activities on a child’s needs and interests and the group composition.

C. Life Skills Training. The licensee shall provide each child with life skills training appropriate to the age and capability of the child in areas including:

(1) Accessing community resources and services;

(2) Conflict resolution;

(3) Dating, marriage, and family planning;

(4) Decision making;

(5) Money management;

(6) Nutrition;

(7) Personal hygiene and grooming;

(8) Personal relationships;

(9) Personal safety; and

(10) Time management.

D. Work Experience. The licensee:

(1) Shall train a child in work readiness according to the child's age and capability;

(2) Shall develop appropriate work experiences for a child that:

(a) Do not interfere with a child's time for school, study periods, sleep, community activities, or family visits;

(b) Comply with federal and State law on labor and employment and child labor; and

(c) Do not use a minor as a substitute for child care staff;

(3) Shall change the child’s routine duties often to provide a variety of experience; and

(4) For a child who legally is not attending school, shall document informing the child of opportunities of or assistance to the child in the attainment of gainful employment or facilitation of the participation of the child in a vocational academic program geared to the acquisition of suitable employment or necessary life skills.