In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
“Disadvantaged child” means a child who:
Because of environmental conditions, is not achieving at a level that is scholastically up to his potential abilities;
Has to compensate for his inability to profit from the normal educational program;
Is 3 years old or older and under 19 and has not graduated from high school;
Has the potential to complete successfully a regular educational program leading to graduation from a high school; and
Because of home and community environment, is subject to language, cultural, and economic disadvantages that make his completion of the regular program leading to graduation unlikely without special efforts by school authorities to provide stimulation of his potential in addition to the efforts involved in providing the regular educational programs.
“Program of compensatory education” means a program adopted by a county board for any of the grades prekindergarten through 12 that:
Is in the form required by this subtitle;
Supplements the regular educational programs of the county board;
Includes a plan for the identification of disadvantaged children; and
Has the purpose of providing stimulation of the intellectual abilities of disadvantaged children.
To the extent that funds are provided in the State budget or are available from other sources, the State Board may establish programs of compensatory education of the following types:
New or modified teacher training curricula to incorporate instruction in methods and techniques:
Developed by competent authorities; and
Designed to enable teachers to identify and teach disadvantaged children effectively;
Research and consultative projects undertaken to assist State agencies and the county boards in carrying out their responsibilities under this subtitle; and
Evaluation, demonstration, and distribution of findings that are related to programs of compensatory education independently or in cooperation with any public or private agency or organization that engages in research and development designed to overcome disadvantage.
The State Superintendent shall:
Supervise and control each program of compensatory education provided in this State;
Take any action necessary to coordinate these programs;
Approve or disapprove, as may be appropriate, each county program application; and
Provide technical and consultative assistance to the county boards.
The State Board shall establish standards to guide county boards in applying for:
Any State funds that are provided in the State budget specifically for the purposes of this subtitle; and
Funds provided under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
These standards apply to the extent that they do not conflict with the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 or regulations adopted under that Act.
Each county board that applies for State funds under this subtitle shall include a comprehensive compensatory education plan in its application that:
Emphasizes a preventive program aimed at disadvantaged or potentially disadvantaged children; and
Has as an ultimate goal:
Teaching disadvantaged or potentially disadvantaged children to read;
Awakening their interest in learning;
Giving them a sense of success in school achievement;
Preventing their alienation from the school; and
Preventing their early departure from school.
State funds to assist in developing and implementing the programs authorized under this subtitle may be provided in the State budget.
A child who participates in a program of compensatory education under this subtitle also may participate in any other potentially beneficial program that is offered in the public schools or otherwise.