Terms Used In Maryland Code, COURTS AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS 3-816.4

  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
(a) In this section, “educational stability” means the continuous process of identifying and implementing the appropriate educational placement, training, resources, services, and experiences that will address the fundamental needs necessary to ensure the successful educational outcome of a child and contribute to the child’s overall well-being.

(b) The court shall inquire as to the educational stability of a child at a shelter care hearing, adjudicatory hearing, disposition hearing, and any change of placement proceeding.

(c) In determining the educational stability of a child under this section, the court may consider the following factors:

(1) The appropriateness of the child’s current school placement;

(2) The school placement of the child’s siblings;

(3) The minimization of school changes;

(4) The proximity of the school to the child’s placement;

(5) Transportation to and from school;

(6) The proper release and prompt transfer of the child’s education records;

(7) The child’s school attendance;

(8) The identification of and consultation with the child’s educational guardian;

(9) The maintenance of any individual education plan (IEP); and

(10) The child’s appropriate grade level progress or progress toward graduation.