AUGUSTA, Maine — Rep. Barbara Bagshaw (R-Windham), is warning that state education leaders are steering Maine toward a costly showdown with the federal government, one that could strip schools of millions in federal dollars, shift the bill onto property taxpayers, and leave lawmakers debating bureaucracy and “parental rights” fights while student test scores continue to slide.
Bagshaw, a member of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee in the Maine House of Representatives, has raised concerns about Maine’s refusal to comply with Title IX, alleged FERPA issues, and what she describes as a pattern of the Department of Education seeking less oversight even as spending increases and academic performance declines.
In an Aug. 1, 2025, letter to Education Commissioner Pender Makin, Bagshaw and other Republican lawmakers warned that the Mills administration was “risking federal investment in Maine” by encouraging schools to “defy the federal government,” while pointing to a federal warning that “there will be consequences.”
The letter urged Makin to reverse course “before irreversible damage is done,” arguing that losing federal education dollars could further burden taxpayers already facing rising costs.
Bagshaw has argued that lawmakers are now hearing testimony framed around preparing for the potential loss of federal funding, including efforts she described as “backloading” policy to compensate for money that may disappear.
She also cited a FERPA concern and said she previously provided documentation dated March 28, 2025. Bagshaw said she directly asked administration officials whether Maine could comply with federal requirements to preserve funding, but said she received no clear answer.
In recent hearings, Bagshaw said lawmakers considered LD 2003 and LD 2147, bills she described as “very good sounding,” involving programs such as Upward Bound and emergency broadcasting. She said administration officials indicated they would not fund DEI programs and later described federal support as having “dried up.” When she asked why the funding ended and whether compliance could restore it, Bagshaw said she did not receive a response.
Bagshaw also criticized what she sees as a lack of balance within the Education Committee, which she said is composed of eight Democrats and five Republicans. She argued that minority-party bills are not being heard and that many education proposals are submitted through the majority party and the Department of Education in a way that leaves lawmakers advising the department rather than overseeing it.
She further objected to what she described as the department seeking less oversight into how it spends public funds, pointing to testimony suggesting $250,000 could be saved by reducing reporting requirements, without a clear commitment that savings would be returned.
Bagshaw has repeatedly called attention to declining test scores, saying the Legislature failed to adequately address them last year despite record spending levels. She has also questioned efforts to expand public education access from four-year-olds to potentially three-year-olds, arguing that costs ultimately shift to local school administrative units and drive property tax increases.
With lawmakers preparing to revisit Maine’s Essential Programs and Services funding formula, Bagshaw has said it is “beyond” her how the state can move forward without first addressing Title IX compliance, FERPA concerns, and academic performance.
She has said she supports funding public education, drawing on her background as a longtime teacher, but wants a stronger return on investment and a renewed focus on core academics alongside arts, music and athletics.
As debate continues in Augusta, Bagshaw maintains that without clearer answers on federal compliance and spending oversight, Maine taxpayers could end up paying the price.
