Title 20-A

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Chemical restraint" means a drug or medication that is not prescribed as the standard treatment of a student's medical or psychiatric condition by…

When constructing a new elementary or secondary school or renovating an existing elementary or secondary school, a school administrative unit shall ensure that the school is equipped with interlocking door controller technology. The State shall provide funds to a school administr…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Educational technician" has the same meaning as in section 13001‑A, subsection 8. [PL 2023, c. 643, Pt. G, §1 (NEW).] B. "Other school support sta…

For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1983, c. 422, §17 (NEW).] 1. School board. "School board" includes boards of directors within school administrative districts, school committees within o…

The closing of a school building by a school administrative unit may only occur under the following conditions. [PL 1983, c. 422, §17 (AMD).] 1. Replaced by new building. The school building has been replaced by other school buildings as part of a school construction project that…

The following shall control the disposition or other use of school buildings which have been closed pursuant to section 4102. [PL 1983, c. 422, §17 (NEW).] 1. Control. The school building shall remain under the control of the school board. 2. Lease, use of proceeds. The school bo…

The proceeds from the sale of school buildings, which were not transferred pursuant to section 4103, subsection 3, shall be utilized in the following manner. [PL 1983, c. 422, §17 (NEW).] 1. General. If the school building was built by the administrative unit, then the proceeds s…

The intent of this subchapter is to encourage school administrative units to place an increased emphasis on instruction and curriculum for all children in public preschool programs to grade 2. This subchapter is not intended as a method of financing existing efforts but as a way …

The initiatives local units may elect to develop may include, but not be limited to, one or more of the following: [PL 1983, c. 576, §1 (NEW).] 1. Class size. Reduce the class size in all classrooms; 2. Teacher training. Provide training programs for teachers in screening, educat…

1. Allowable costs. Allowable costs are the cost of implementing approved plans; these costs may be added to the school unit's subsidizable costs under chapter 606‑B. 2. First and 2nd years. 3. Third and subsequent years.

1. Start-up funding. To the extent the State provides adequate start-up funding, school administrative units may operate public preschool programs or provide for students to participate in such programs in accordance with the requirements of this Title. For the purposes of this s…

The commissioner shall report annually by February 15th to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters on the department's initiatives, incentives and progress to expand public preschool programs.

In accordance with the policy expressed in section 2, every school administrative unit shall raise annually sufficient funds to maintain or support elementary and secondary schools to provide free education for its resident students at all grade levels. These schools shall meet t…

1. General requirements. Elementary and secondary schools and school administrative units, including an educational program or school located in or operated by a juvenile correctional facility, shall meet all requirements of the system of learning results as established in sectio…

1. Two years. A secondary school shall include not fewer than 2 consecutive grades from grades 9 to 12. 2. Junior high school or middle school. A junior high school or middle school is a school that maintains a diversified program of studies of 2 or more consecutive grades from g…

1. Implementation. The commissioner shall determine which schools and school units are in compliance with the basic school approval standards, in accordance with the procedures of the basic school approval rules and the provisions of this Title, and the Maine Human Rights Act. If…

1. General authorization. The state board and the commissioner shall jointly adopt rules establishing accreditation standards for secondary and elementary schools of the State. 2. Intent. Accreditation standards are intended to encourage excellence in school programs. The rules s…

1. Accreditation optional. Any approved school may, through its school board, apply for accreditation. 2. Implementation. The commissioner shall determine which schools and school units meet the requirements of accreditation, in accordance with adopted rules and this Title. 3. Co…

The rules may also establish alternate procedures for accreditation of secondary schools jointly with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges or its successor.

The commissioner may require that schools applying for state accreditation pay the direct costs of the advisory committee, such as housing and meals of visiting committees, but these costs may not include the actual costs, salaries or general overhead expenses of the department.

The commissioner shall confer accreditation to those schools which meet established accreditation standards in accordance with the procedures established by rule. [PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. A, §§ 20, 25 (NEW).] A school may not be accredited until it has been evaluated and recommended…

1. Adoption of rules. Accreditation rules shall be adopted in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375. 2. Advisory committee. The commissioner, with the approval of the state board, shall appoint an advisory committee of professional and lay p…

The commissioner shall provide guidance and technical assistance to school personnel, consistent with available resources, to aid them in meeting basic school approval requirements and established accreditation standards and to achieve general improvement in such areas as curricu…

The language of instruction in elementary and secondary schools shall meet these requirements. [PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. C, §§ 5, 7 (NEW).] 1. Basic language. The basic language of instruction in all schools shall be the English language. 2. Exceptions. A school may provide instructi…

Elementary and secondary schools shall provide special education and related services in accordance with chapters 301 and 303.

Elementary and secondary schools shall provide students with opportunities for learning in multiple pathways that may include the following: [PL 2009, c. 313, §7 (AMD).] 1. Career and technical education. Career and technical education; 2. Alternative education programs. Alternat…

The commissioner shall prescribe by rule the basic courses of study that are in alignment with the system of learning results as established in section 6209 for the elementary and secondary schools, consistent with the requirements of this chapter, and may include minimum time re…

The school board of each school administrative unit may prescribe instructional requirements in addition to minimum state requirements, subject to approval by the commissioner.

(FUTURE CONFLICT: Text as amended by PL 2025, c. 535, §1) Instruction in American history, African American studies, government, citizenship, Maine studies, the history of genocide and Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history must be aligned with the parameter…

Schools may offer instruction in Braille and Unified English Braille as part of the school curriculum. If Braille or Unified English Braille courses are offered, schools shall determine appropriate credit for completion of those courses.

When grades are given for any course of instruction offered by a school, the grade awarded to a student is the grade determined by the teacher of the course and the determination of a student's grade by that teacher, in the absence of clerical or mechanical mistake, fraud, bad fa…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Braille" means the system of reading and writing through touch. [PL 2021, c. 571, §4 (AMD).] B. "Student" means any student who is blind or any st…

By the school year that begins in the fall of 2012 all school administrative units shall develop and implement a system of interventions for kindergarten to grade 12 that provide each student who is not progressing toward meeting the content standards of the parameters for essent…

1. Agricultural studies. Agricultural studies may be taught in and infused or integrated into the curriculum of public and private elementary and secondary schools. Agricultural studies may address, but need not be limited to: A. The importance of agriculture in the State's histo…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Alphabet knowledge" means the ability to name, distinguish shapes of, write and identify the sounds of the letters of the alphabet. [PL 2015, c. 3…

1. Mobile learning lab. The department shall establish a mobile learning lab for science, technology, engineering and mathematics that will allow students in all areas of the State to engage in hands-on learning. The department may enter into a public-private partnership in the c…

The basic course of study for the elementary schools must provide for the instruction of all students in life and career readiness, English language arts, world languages, health education and physical education, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and visual and …

The basic course of study for the junior high schools or middle schools must provide for the instruction of all students in life and career readiness, English language arts, health education and physical education, mathematics, science and technology, social studies, visual and p…

A junior high school or middle school, when providing career or educational programming materials and guidance for students and parents, shall include an electronic link to the publicly accessible website of the Department of Labor, Center for Workforce Research and Information c…

1. Comprehensive program of instruction. A secondary school shall provide a comprehensive program of instruction, which must meet the requirements of this chapter and the parameters for essential instruction and diploma requirements established under section 6209. The program mus…

1. Minimum instructional requirements. The instructional requirements leading to a high school diploma must be part of a program of at least 4 years that meets the requirements established by this section and any other instructional requirements established by the commissioner an…

The secondary course of study must include instruction in health, safety and physical education, as prescribed by the commissioner, and physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants, narcotics and other dangerous drugs such as fenta…

Instruction in the use and application of computer skills shall be available to secondary school students. Each school administrative unit shall develop, with the approval of the commissioner, standards for computer literacy, proficiency and performance levels which shall be requ…

Each school administrative unit operating a secondary school shall provide career and technical instruction through a career and technical education center or region in accordance with chapter 313.

Each school administrative unit: [PL 1985, c. 178 (AMD).] 1. Required to offer. Shall offer one 2-year sequence in a world language; and 2. Encouraged to offer. Is encouraged to offer one or more additional world languages as part of its secondary school program. 3. American sign…

Secondary schools may provide additional instruction in career and technical education and other subjects not included within the career and technical education courses of study operating pursuant to chapter 313.