Since 1970, Maryland's high school seniors have had the opportunity to learn about the legislative process by serving as student pages in the House of Delegates and the Senate of Maryland during the annual session of the Maryland General Assembly. The program was begun by House Speaker Thomas Hunter Lowe and approved by the Maryland State Board of Education. Each year, 120 pages and 36 alternates are selected from across the State to represent their schools and counties in Annapolis.

The Student Page Program is nonpatronage; selection is done through the local school systems. Each county in Maryland has a county page coordinator who is appointed by the local superintendent of schools. This person is responsible for organizing and conducting the process used by the county's public and nonpublic schools to select the students who will serve as pages and alternates.

Each county is allocated at least one page and one alternate position and receives additional positions based on its high school senior student population. Interested students apply through their schools in September of their senior year, and selection is completed by October 31 of each year.

All applicants must:

reside in the State of Maryland and attend a Maryland public   or nonpublic high school (One "at-large" page position is   available for students who reside in Maryland but attend   schools outside the State or who receive their schooling at   home. These students must apply directly to the MGA Page   Coordinator no later than October 1 of each year.) be a high school senior and at least 16 years of age have or obtain a social security number exhibit an interest in government and history have a record of good conduct be competent, courteous, reliable, and efficient have an average or above average scholastic record wear appropriate dress and exhibit good personal grooming be outgoing and like to meet people

Each page serves two nonconsecutive weeks in either the House of Delegates or the Senate. During the 13 weeks of session, from the second week in January to early April, each page serves one week during the first eight weeks and returns for a second week during the last five. The duties of the page revolve around the schedule of the chamber to which he/she is assigned. Whenever their assigned chamber is in session, pages must be present.

Duties include keeping the members' bill books up to date; distributing materials on the floor to the members; running errands; answering the phone and assisting visitors; and delivering messages to the members. Pages do not work in delegates' or senators' offices. This work is done by staff members and college interns.

Each page is paid a stipend of $44 per day worked to cover expenses. Lodging and meals must be paid by the page. Lodging is arranged by the Page Office for all pages outside Anne Arundel County who request housing. If an Anne Arundel County page would like to stay in page housing, it is arranged on a space available basis. Pages stay in homes within walking or a short driving distance of the State House. The cost is $18 per night. If a page is going to lodge with family or friends in the Annapolis area, written permission of a parent or guardian must be submitted to the Page Office. Transportation is the responsibility of the page.

If you have questions about the selection procedures for your county, contact your county page coordinator. If you need the name of your county page coordinator or have questions about the program in Annapolis, contact:

Cornelia C. Watson
MGA Page Coordinator
Human Resources Office
311 Legislative Services Building
90 State Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401-1991
Phone: 410-946-5128
Washington Area: 301-970-5128
Toll Free: 1-800-492-7122
cornelia.watson@mlis.state.md.us