In this subtitle, “adult education” means academic instruction and education services below the postsecondary level for individuals:
who are at least 16 years old;
who are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in high school under State law; and
who:
are basic skills deficient;
do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and have not achieved an equivalent level of education; or
are English language learners.
There is an Adult Education and Literacy Services Office in the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning of the Department.
The Adult Education and Literacy Services Office shall be the sole agency in the State responsible for administering and supervising policy and funding for adult education and literacy.
The Adult Education and Literacy Services Office, with the approval of the Secretary, may adopt regulations to carry out this subtitle.
The Department shall be responsible for the development of the components of the State plan required to be submitted under federal law to carry out adult education and literacy services.
The purpose of adult education and literacy services is to:
assist adults to become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and self–sufficiency;
assist adults who are parents or family members to obtain the education and skills necessary:
to become full partners in the educational development of their children; and
to lead to sustainable improvements in the economic opportunities for their family;
assist adults in attaining a secondary school diploma and in the transition to postsecondary education and training, including through career pathways; and
assist immigrants and other individuals who are English language learners by:
improving their English language proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension skills;
improving mathematics skills; and
acquiring an understanding of the American system of government, individual freedom, and the responsibilities of citizenship.
The Adult Education and Literacy Services Office shall distribute competitive grants for adult education and literacy services in accordance with the State plan for services required under the authorizing federal law for adult education and literacy services.
The grants distributed under this section shall be based on need and performance.
Grants under this section may be used for adult education and literacy services, including:
basic skills instruction;
preparation and instruction for obtaining a high school diploma by examination under § 11–808 of this subtitle;
the National External Diploma Program under § 11–807 of this subtitle;
Workplace Literacy Services and workforce preparation activities;
English for speakers of other languages and integrated English literacy and civics education;
family literacy;
literacy instruction; and
integrated education and training.
Funding for the competitive grants under this section shall be as provided in the State budget.
On or before August 1 each year, the Department shall:
compile a list by county of adult education and literacy services grant recipients for adult education and literacy services offered to the public;
distribute the list to the county board and county superintendent or chief executive officer of each local school system in the State; and
post the list on its public website.
In this section, “Program” means the National External Diploma Program adopted under regulations by the Secretary in consultation with the State Board of Education.
The Department and the State Board of Education recognize demonstrated competencies in adults, whether or not those competencies were acquired in a formal school setting.
In response to its recognition of competencies, the Department shall provide alternative requirements and methods of obtaining a Maryland high school diploma.
The Department and the State Board of Education shall award diplomas to the individuals meeting the requirements of this subtitle.
For each fiscal year the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill submitted to the General Assembly, including any proposed supplemental budget, a General Fund appropriation for the Program in an amount not less than the amount of the Governor’s General Fund appropriation for the Program in fiscal year 2006.
In each annual budget, the Governor shall include federal funds, to the extent available, for the Program in an amount not less than the amount of the Governor’s federal fund appropriation for the Program in fiscal year 2006.
An individual may obtain a high school diploma by examination as provided in this section if the individual:
has not obtained a high school diploma;
resides in this State; and
except as provided in subsection (b) of this section:
is not subject to compulsory school attendance under § 7–301 of the Education Article; and
has withdrawn from a regular full–time public or private school program.
An individual is not subject to the requirements of subsection (a)(3) of this section if the individual participates in a GED Option Program administered by the State Department of Education that creates a pathway to a high school diploma by examination for currently enrolled high school English language learner students under the age of 21 years who have experienced interrupted education and have a lower level of English proficiency than their peers.
The Department shall:
offer examinations to individuals who are pursuing a high school diploma under this subtitle at least twice each year at places throughout the State that are reasonably convenient for the applicants; and
allow an individual to choose to take all components of the examination in either English or Spanish.
The examination shall:
be offered in appropriate high school subject areas; and
be of a comprehensive nature as determined by the State Board of Education.
An individual who fails an examination may repeat taking the examination.
A current member of the armed forces is exempt from the residency requirement in subsection (a)(2) of this section and may earn a Maryland high school diploma by achieving a passing score on the examination offered under subsection (c) of this section.
The diploma shall be awarded in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Secretary and the State Board of Education.
In this section, “homeless youth” has the same meaning as provided in the federal McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
An individual is exempt from paying GED testing fees if:
the individual is a homeless youth;
the individual has had a consistent presence in the State for at least 1 year before the individual applies to take the GED test, as evidenced by school, employment, or other records; and
the Department verifies that the individual is a homeless youth.
The Department may use the following individuals to verify that an individual is a homeless youth:
a homeless liaison from a local school system that the individual attended;
a director or a designee of the director of a program in the State funded under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act; or
a director or a designee of the director of a program in the State funded under Title IV, Subtitle B of the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
The Department shall adopt regulations to implement the requirements of this section.
In this section, “MDiplomaWorks pathway” means an alternative pathway to earn a high school diploma in the State.
The MDiplomaWorks pathway is a method to recognize and certify high school diploma achievement through demonstrated academic and career competencies, including workforce experience.
An individual may obtain a high school diploma through the MDiplomaWorks pathway if the individual:
has not obtained a high school diploma;
resides in the State;
is not subject to the compulsory school attendance requirement under § 7–301 of the Education Article; and
has withdrawn from a regular full–time public or private school program.
To earn a high school diploma through the MDiplomaWorks pathway, an individual shall demonstrate equivalency to a Maryland high school diploma by completion of a combination of the following components as approved by the Department:
earning industry–recognized credentials;
demonstrating foundational academic skills through formal assessments;
completing career and technical education coursework; and
completing an on–the–job learning experience.
A high school diploma shall be awarded to an individual who completes the MDiplomaWorks pathway in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Secretary and the State Board of Education.