The Maine Legislature’s Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA) held public hearings for four Democrat-led bills on Tuesday aimed at increasing race-based education requirements for Maine schools and increasing costs for Maine taxpayers.
While Maine faces a federal lawsuit and funding loss for refusing to comply with President Donald Trump’s order barring men from women’s sports, Maine Democrats appear intent on running afoul of one of his other orders, “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” by promoting more race-based education requirements.
LD 339
LD 339, from Rep. Michael Brennan (D-Portland), drew six Democratic co-sponsors along with support from Passamaquoddy Tribal Rep. Aaron Dana, and aims to use taxpayer funds for a “Wabanaki-centered curriculum for Native American high school students.”
The bill directs the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) to collaborate with the Maine Indian Education school district to create the new curriculum and distribute it to “state-approved” high schools. The curriculum will be targeted at Native American students, though the bill does not specify how the curriculum will specifically be “for” these students or whether other students will also be taught using the new curriculum.
Under the proposal, the Indian Education District would administer a pilot program on the curriculum and present a report on the program to the Education Committee by December.
Maine taxpayers would pay $200,000 per year for the program, with the bill authorizing one $100,000 funding appropriation per year in 2025 and 2026.
LD 957
Rep. Eleanor Sato’s (D-Gorham) LD 957 would add Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history to the state’s growing list of race-based education requirements, including Wabanaki Studies and African American studies.
Rep. Sato’s bill would incorporate the new course of study into the MDOE’s Maine Studies and American History requirements, where other race-based education programs have already been included.
The required curriculum must include the history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders both in Maine and across the country; their impact on civil rights, government, art, science, and humanities; and information on notable members of those groups.
The bill drew five Democratic co-sponsors, along with Rep. Dana and, strangely, two Republicans, Reps. Stephen Wood (R-Greene) and Russell White (R-Ellsworth).
In public testimony, the bill also drew support from multiple everyday Mainers.
“Our schools can’t present a complete picture of American history without including
the experiences — both uplifting and heartbreaking — of those who have too often
been overlooked. Maine schools could lead the way in broadening students’
knowledge about all Americans, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. By
teaching their histories, we celebrate the uniqueness of our country, and why the word
United is in its name,” said Terry Gerritsen of Camden.
The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) testified neither for nor against the bill, urging the legislature to allow the MDOE to implement new requirements as needed through its own process without legislative intervention.
“We encourage the legislature to allow the DOE’s existing curriculum review process to guide any changes to the Learning Results, rather than mandating specific content through legislation,” he added.
There was no fiscal note attached to Sato’s bill, so it is not yet clear how much the new education requirements will cost Maine taxpayers, though the curriculum will be developed by a volunteer advisory committee.
LD 1202
Democrats in the legislature have often claimed that not enough is being done to implement the existing African American studies curriculum requirement.
Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Cumberland) wants to fix that with LD 1202, and wants $1.2 million from Maine taxpayers to deal with what she states is a pressing issue.
Her bill drew nine co-sponsors from her party and would establish a new “African American Studies Advisory Council” that would work with schools and the MDOE to ensure compliance with the required African American studies curriculum.
The council would largely focus on making recommendations and providing reports related to African American studies and will analyze statewide data to determine the general level of compliance with the requirement.
It would consist of 13 members, some from the state legislature, some educators, and some members of activist groups. The bill does not specify whether the council members will be paid or volunteers, but it does seek a significant appropriation of funds to “support the work” of the council, suggesting that the members may be compensated.
The bill also directs the MDOE to study a possible new requirement for educators to obtain credentials in African American studies.
Sen. Talbot Ross has a history of pushing for new taxpayer-funded, race-based permanent advisory councils. She sponsored a bill that ultimately led to the creation of Maine’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous, and Maine Tribal Populations (PCRITP). She currently sits on the board of that committee.
The PCRITP testified in favor of LD 1202, advocating for another permanent advisory council to drain taxpayer funds.
“An education rooted in understanding our shared history is foundational to
lasting societal change. Providing resources, solid guidance, and ensuring that
our goals are met in teaching African American Studies is essential to making
Maine a better place for all of us,” said the PCRITP.
LD 1474
Rep. Laurie Osher (D-Orono) put forward LD 1474, aimed at tightening Wabanaki studies requirements.
The bill drew support from seven Democratic co-sponsors, Rep. Aaron Dana, and Sen. Marianne Moore (R-Washington). It establishes a new Wabanaki studies specialist position in the MDOE to ensure compliance with the curriculum requirement.
If Rep. Osher’s bill passes, teachers would be required to take courses in Wabanaki studies in order to obtain the necessary credentials.
The bill demands the appropriation of funds for the new MDOE position and to contract Wabanaki advisors to develop the curriculum. No fiscal note was attached to the bill, leaving taxpayers in the dark about how much money will be appropriated by the bill.
The Wabanaki Alliance urged the ECA to support the bill.
“The bills before you today uplift the stories, cultures, histories, and modern day
experiences of people you may not often learn about or feel connected to growing up
in Maine. When you know the journey of another who was once a mystery to you it is
harder to judge, hate, cast aside, or dismiss them. It is beneficial for all students to
learn about all of their neighbors,” said the group.
Equality Maine, a nonprofit known for supporting radical LGBTQ programs for children, also supported Osher’s bill.
“We are staunchly in favor of efforts to support full implementation of Wabanaki Studies in Maine schools. By incorporating diverse perspectives, experiences, and narratives into the curriculum, schools can create a learning environment that is inclusive, engaging, and empowering for all students,” said Equality Maine Executive Director Gia Drew.
The Maine School Management Association testified against the bill, citing concerns about the new requirements it imposes on teachers, while supporting many of its goals.
“At the moment, Maine schools are already facing a severe educator workforce shortage, and the state board is already working with the field to adopt new rules that we hope will strengthen the teaching profession and offer new pathways for certification. We worry that adding another additional requirement for aspiring educators could represent another barrier potentially keeping them from pursuing these vital, important careers,” said the group.
All four bills appear to have a strong chance of passing through the Democrat-controlled legislature, particularly with some of them drawing bipartisan support. If they pass, the measures would increase education spending across the state at a time when Maine taxpayers already face a potentially catastrophic loss of federal education funds, which would place the full burden of education spending on local and state taxpayers.
Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) and the MDOE could immediately regain federal education funding by barring biological males from girls’ sports and spaces. Instead of complying with federal Title IX anti-discrimination laws by protecting women’s spaces, the Mills Administration has taken legal action against the federal government.
