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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-135" title_number="7" title_name="Public Schools" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="General Provisions">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Open–source” means material with either freely obtainable source code, a license for modification, or permission for free distribution.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Open–source phonics organization” means any nonprofit organization, institution of higher education, or public library that produces or distributes free, open–source phonics materials in the State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Phonics” has the meaning stated in § 4–136 of this article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>“Program” means the Open–Source Phonics Matching Grant Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is an Open–Source Phonics Matching Grant Program in the Department.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The purpose of the Program is to provide matching funds to open–source phonics organizations to provide free, open–source phonics learning materials to be used by adults to tutor students in the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Department shall administer the Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An open–source phonics organization may submit an application for a grant on the form that the Department requires.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An application for a grant shall include a plan to ensure that the open–source phonics organization is able to provide free, open–source phonics learning materials that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Are consistent with best practices in literacy education, including the science of reading; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Enable adults to tutor students in the State.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Department shall disburse grants to open–source phonics organizations.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Periodically, the Department shall review the open–source phonics learning materials provided under this section to ensure the materials are consistent with best practices in literacy education, including the science of reading.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Department shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>On or before December 1, 2025, and every other year thereafter, report to the General Assembly on the effectiveness of the Program in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Collect statistics and other information necessary for this purpose.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>For each fiscal year, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $150,000 to the Program.</text>
  </level>
</section>
