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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="4-110" title_number="4" title_name="Local School Administration" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="County Boards of Education">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “innovative regional school” means a public school that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Admits students from the Carroll County or Howard County public school systems under a memorandum of understanding agreed to under subsection (d) of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Offers special courses or curricula for an innovative education program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section applies only in Carroll County and Howard County.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Through a memorandum of understanding agreed to under subsection (d) of this section, the county boards of Carroll County and Howard County may establish innovative regional schools.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Before establishing an innovative regional school, both county boards shall enter into a binding memorandum of understanding outlining each county board’s responsibilities in the governance, operations, maintenance, and financing of the innovative regional school.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The memorandum of understanding shall be subject to the approval of the county governing body of Carroll County and Howard County.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The parties to the memorandum of understanding shall identify one of the county boards to govern the innovative regional school.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The memorandum of understanding between the county boards of Carroll County and Howard County shall include provisions for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Equitable access to the innovative regional school for students with disabilities and students who are eligible for free and reduced price meals;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Transportation to ensure students without access to a vehicle are able to attend the innovative regional school; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Cost sharing responsibilities between the two county boards related to maintenance of the school building.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The memorandum of understanding may establish a geographic area of attendance for the innovative regional school.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If more students apply for attendance at the innovative regional school than can be accommodated, the innovative regional school shall admit students on a lottery basis.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Notwithstanding § 4–121 of this subtitle, and subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the memorandum of understanding may establish required payments of each county served by the innovative regional school.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The source of funds for any payments made by each county served by the innovative regional school shall be limited to county appropriations only.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>The memorandum of understanding may contain any other agreements each county board considers necessary.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the collective bargaining agreement established under Title 6, Subtitle 4 or Subtitle 5 of this article in the county that is identified under subsection (d)(2) of this section shall govern working conditions at the innovative regional school.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The employee organization and the public school employer in the county that is identified under subsection (d)(2) of this section may mutually agree to negotiate amendments to the existing bargaining agreement to address the needs of the innovative regional school.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Innovative regional schools established under this section are not subject to the approval of the State Board or the State Superintendent under § 4–109 of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>Except as otherwise provided in this section, innovative regional schools shall comply with the regulations and provisions of law governing other public schools.</text>
  </level>
</section>
