A group of Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill that would improve transparency in Maine’s program allowing students to attend a public school outside of their home district through what is known as a Superintendent Agreement.
LD 1588, sponsored by Rep. Barbara A. Bagshaw (R-Windham), would require all school administrative units throughout the state to produce an annual report by July 1 detailing how many transfers were approved and denied.
Districts would also be required to identify whether a given student requested to transfer in or out of the district. For any denials, the school administrative unit would need to explain why they rejected the family’s request.
All information included in these reports would be de-identified, meaning that “any potential personal identifying information of a student” would need to be removed.
The Maine Department of Education would then be required to publish this data online, including the de-identified explanations of any rejections.
Cosponsoring this bill are Senate Republican Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook), Rep. Roger Clarence Albert (R-Madawaska), Rep. Alicia Collins (R-Sidney), Rep. Abigail W. Griffin (R-Levant), Rep. Tammy L. Schmersal-Burgess (R-Mexico), Rep. Michael Soboleski (R-Phillips), Sen. Matt Harrington (R-York), Sen. Jim Libby (R-Cumberland), and Sen. Marianne Moore (R-Washington).
A public hearing has not yet been scheduled for LD 1588, although the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee can be expected to announce one at some point in the coming weeks.
Click Here for More Information on LD 1588
This, however, is not the only legislation introduced so far this session that aims to make the Superintendents Agreement program more accessible to Maine students and their families.
Under current state law, students may be denied such a transfer if either of the superintendents involved deems that it is not a child’s “best interest.” All it takes is a thumbs down from either superintendent for the transfer to be blocked.
State law does not specify what actually constitutes a transfer being “in the student’s best interest,” leaving this language almost entirely up to a given superintendent’s discretion.
[RELATED: Two Bills Would Strengthen School Choice for Maine Students through Superintendent Agreements]
A bill introduced by Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) would amend the laws governing this program to return the decision about what is in a children’s best interest to their parents, only allowing superintendents to deny a transfer if adequate space is unavailable.
LD 607 stipulates that a transfer may only be denied if the receiving school does not physically have the space to accept a new student, or if doing so would require additional staff.
The draft legislation also clarifies that parents and guardians would be solely responsible for transporting students to and from school.
Because transfers could only be denied on an objective basis, the existing appeals process would be eliminated.
[RELATED: This Bipartisan Bill Looks to Improve Maine’s Public School Student Transfer Program]
Another bill introduced earlier this year aims to amend the Superintendents Agreement process to reduce friction for Maine students.
Because these agreements are currently required to be renewed annually, families must continue submit a transfer request every year for students to maintain continuity in their education.
Should LD 218 — a bipartisan piece of legislation — be approved, however, these agreements would automatically be renewed each year without the need for students and their families to repeatedly seek approval.
While these agreements could still be terminated under certain circumstances — for example, if a student is not regularly attending class or is consistently disruptive — making renewal automatic would ease the process for many Maine families making use of this program.
Public hearings have already been held for both of these bills, but the Education Committee has not yet scheduled any work sessions for them.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="37875 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=37875">3 Comments
The last thing the public schools is anything showing how they are grooming your kids, r just how bad teachers really are, totally unqualified to reach. Heck more than a few should not even be near kids, imo.
“A bill introduced by Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) would amend the laws governing this program to return the decision about what is in a children’s best interest to their parents.” Were Mills to vacate her job, Laurel Libby looks to be a first rate candidate to be Governor.
I will throw my support behind Robert “ Bobby “ Charles for governor .
Whoever the republicans / the voters choose in the gubernatorial primary it can’t be Billy Joe Jim Bob from West Jabib .
A lot will depend on the “ Jungle Primary “ Scam that Joe Baldacci is trying to push through the back door of the legislature . . If “ that “ happens , along with the ranked choice deal , we could very well wind up with a Pingree – Bellows choice which would likely thrill the tranny kissing democrats .
Maybe we can get Charles for Governor and he then appoints Libby for Secretary of State . Two terms of Charles and then we run Libby .
There could possibly be a four terms of a Republican governor .
Wouldn’t that be spectacular !