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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" citation="COMAR 13A.02.09.01" title_num="13A" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="09" heading="Adoption of Procedures to Govern School Closings.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Each local board of education shall establish procedures to be used in making decisions on school closings.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The procedures shall ensure, at a minimum, that consideration is given to the impact of the proposed closing on the following factors:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Student enrollment trends;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Age or condition of school buildings;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Transportation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Educational programs;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Racial composition of student body;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Financial considerations;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Student relocation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Impact on community in geographic attendance area for school proposed to be closed and school, or schools, to which students will be relocating.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The procedures shall provide, at a minimum, for the following requirements:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A public hearing to permit concerned citizens an opportunity to submit their views orally or to submit written testimony or data on a proposed school closing. This includes the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The public hearing shall take place before any final decision by a local board of education to close a school;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Time limits on the submission of oral or written testimony and data shall be clearly defined in the notification of the public meeting.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Adequate notice to parents and guardians of students in attendance at all schools that are being considered for closure by the local board of education. The following apply:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>In addition to any regular means of notification used by a local school system, written notification of all schools that are under consideration for closing shall be advertised in at least two newspapers having general circulation in the geographic attendance area for the school or schools proposed to be closed, and the school or schools to which students will be relocating;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The newspaper notification shall include the procedures that will be followed by the local board of education in making its final decision;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The newspaper notification shall appear at least 2 weeks in advance of any public hearings held by the local school system on a proposed school closing.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The final decision of a local board of education to close a school shall be announced at a public session and shall be in writing. The following apply:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The final decision shall include the rationale for the school closing and address the impact of the proposed closing on the factors set forth in Regulation .01B;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>There shall be notification of the final decision of the local board of education to the community in the geographic attendance area of the school proposed to be closed and school or schools to which students will be relocating;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The final decision shall include notification of the right to appeal to the State Board of Education as set forth in Regulation .03.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>