K-12 areas of instruction required by statute in Maryland
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This page features information about K-12 areas of instruction required by state statute in Maryland public schools.
Background
State education officials may develop content standards and curricula, depending on the state, in order to facilitate instruction in public schools. In some states, lawmakers also adopt required areas of instruction by statute.
K-12 content standards and curriculum development
State or local education officials may develop K-12 curricula for classroom instruction that generally includes lessons and materials used in a particular course of study.[1] Depending on the state, K-12 curricula may reflect or incorporate state content standards—educational learning and achievement goals that state education officials either require or recommend that local schools satisfy in K-12 instruction.
Areas of instruction required by statute
Some state laws require the inclusion of specific areas of instruction in K-12 public school curricula. In these cases, lawmakers—rather than state education officials—mandate certain education requirements for students. Laws governing specific areas of instruction in K-12 curricula vary by state.
Statutorily required areas of instruction in Maryland
The following table provides information about selected areas of instruction required by statute in Maryland, as of 2023. The statutes provided may not be comprehensive. The statutory text is provided below the table.
Statutorily required areas of instruction in Maryland | ||
---|---|---|
Area(s) of instruction | Statute(s) | |
Computer science | Maryland Education Code Ann. § 4-111.4 (2022) | |
Oral health education | Maryland Education Code Ann. § 4-111.2 (2022) | |
Agriculture science | Maryland Education Code Ann. § 4-111.3 (2022) | |
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future; includes college and career readiness | Maryland Education Code Ann. § 1-303 (2022) |
Maryland Education Code Ann. § 4-111.4 (2022):
" | Computer Science Course
|
” |
Maryland Education Code Ann. § 4-111.2 (2022):
" | Oral Health Education
(2) Develop a process to monitor implementation of oral health education...[2] |
” |
Maryland Education Code Ann. § 4-111.3 (2022):
" | Agriculture Science
|
” |
Maryland Education Code Ann. § 1-303 (2022):
" | Requirements for Foundation of World-Class Education System
(2) High–quality diverse teachers and school leaders in every school, requiring:
(3) An instructional system that is benchmarked to world–class standards and fully aligned from prekindergarten through 12th grade to a college and career readiness standard, including:
(4) A system designed to meet the needs of all students so they can be successful, including the capability to:
(5) Additional supports and services for students who need them to stay on track for college and career readiness, including:
(6) Equitable learning outcomes regardless of a student’s family income, race, ethnicity, disability, or other characteristics; |
” |
See also
- K-12 areas of instruction required by statute in the states
- K-12 curriculum authority, requirements, and statutes in the states
- K-12 education content standards in the states
- Overview of trends in K-12 curricula development
- Use of the term critical race theory (CRT)
External links
Footnotes