// EFFECTIVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 PER CHAPTER 849 OF 2017 //

(a)    There is a Maryland Education Development Collaborative.

(b)    The Collaborative is a body politic and corporate and is an instrumentality of the State.

(c)    The purposes of the Collaborative are to:

(1)    Advise and make recommendations to the State Board, the General Assembly, and local school systems regarding statutory and regulatory policies necessary to promote 21st–century learning and to enhance socioeconomic and demographic diversity across the State’s public schools;

(2)    Study and promote policies or programs that increase the opportunity for enhancing socioeconomic and demographic diversity of student enrollment through 21st–century learning opportunities across all public schools and between local school systems in the State;

(3)    Support the collecting and transmitting of knowledge and technology between local school systems, the State Board, and local and State policymakers of evidence–based best practices, public school programs and designs, and 21st–century learning that support the essential elements of a world–class education system where:

(i)    Children come to school ready to learn, and extra support is given to struggling students to ensure that all have the opportunity to achieve high standards;

(ii)    A world–class teaching profession supports world–class instructional systems in which every child has access to effective teachers and is expected to achieve;

(iii)    A highly effective, intellectually rigorous system of career and technical education is available to those preferring an applied education;

(iv)    Students who intend to pursue higher education are fully prepared to attend a public institution of higher education without the need for remedial coursework; and

(v)    Individual education reforms are connected and aligned as parts of a clearly planned and carefully designed comprehensive system;

(4)    Foster partnerships between public schools, private businesses, universities, government, and nonprofit entities to develop and support the implementation of modern public school designs, 21st–century curricula, positive school culture, and restorative discipline to promote socioeconomic and demographic diversity and 21st–century learning in public schools in the State; and

(5)    Authorize funds and innovation grants to support and develop, through pilot programs, initiatives, and research studies, 21st–century public school programs, modern public school designs, and 21st–century curricula, technologies, and practices in the State.

(d)    The Collaborative shall perform the following functions and duties:

(1)    Collaborate with local school systems, State and local government, employers, community organizations, parents, institutions of higher education, educators, organizations representing educators, and other stakeholders in the State to provide a research and development approach to 21st–century learning opportunities in the State’s public schools;

(2)    Work in partnership with stakeholders to:

(i)    Disseminate information on best practices, programs, and resources;

(ii)    Provide technical assistance and training;

(iii)    Collaborate on the collection, analysis, and integration of statewide, local school system, and school level data regarding 21st–century learning and socioeconomic diversity; and

(iv)    Promote interagency efforts that support 21st–century learning and enhance socioeconomic diversity;

(3)    Assist local school systems or cohorts of public schools in assessing opportunities to enhance socioeconomic diversity; and

(4)    Develop a database of evidence–based programs and initiatives existing in the State’s public schools that enhance 21st–century learning and socioeconomic diversity.