Title 20-A, Title 20-A

The state policy on public education is as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. State responsibility for public education. In accordance with the Constitution of Maine, Article VIII, the Legislature shall enact the laws that are necessary to assure that all school adminis…

The adopting of rules, conducting of adjudicatory hearings and issuing of licenses by the state board, department or commissioner shall be in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, except as specified in this Title.

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Expenditure" means any local appropriation financed by the property tax, motor vehicle excise tax, state-municipal revenue sharing program or any …

A school board shall establish a policy for the disposal of personal school property valued at more than $5,000. The policy must include a provision that member municipalities be notified of any planned property disposal under this section.

In order to support a culture of research and development and elevate the professionalism of the State's education practitioners, the commissioner shall encourage school administrative units to pursue continuous improvement processes to identify opportunities to innovate school s…

1. Committee established. The Public Higher Education Systems Coordinating Committee, referred to in this section as "the committee," is established to promote efficiency, cooperative effort and strategic planning between the University of Maine System and the Maine Community Col…

The Department of Education is established to: [PL 1989, c. 700, Pt. B, §5 (AMD).] 1. Supervise public education. Supervise, guide and plan for a coordinated system of public education for all citizens of the State based on the system of learning results as established in section…

The department shall include the following: [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. State Board of Education. The State Board of Education; 1-A. Commissioner of Education. The Commissioner of Education; 2. Maine Education Council. 3. Maine State Commission for Higher Education Facili…

1. Commissioner's appointments. The following officials are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the commissioner: A. Deputy Commissioner; [PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. D, §7 (AMD).] B. [PL 1997, c. 266, §2 (RP).] C. [PL 1993, c. 410, Pt. F, §2 (RP).] D. [PL 1993, c. 410, Pt. F, §2 …

A rule authorized or provisionally adopted pursuant to this Title after January 1, 2005 that proposes to regulate private schools is a major substantive rule and subject to legislative review in accordance with Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. An amendment to a rule adopted …

The appointment and term of service of the commissioner shall be as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Appointment. The commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over educati…

The commissioner is the chief executive officer of the department. In that capacity, the commissioner has primary responsibility for the following: [PL 1987, c. 395, Pt. A, §45 (NEW).] 1. Enforcing regulatory requirements. Enforcing applicable regulatory requirements for school a…

An office shall be provided for the commissioner at the seat of government.

The duties of the commissioner shall be as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. General duties. The commissioner shall exercise the powers and perform the duties granted to the department and enforce the requirements of this Title and shall devote full time to the duties …

The commissioner shall have the following educational duties. [PL 1983, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. General duty. The commissioner may inspect and have general supervision over all public schools and shall advise and direct superintendents and school boards in the discharge of thei…

1. Pamphlet of laws. The commissioner shall: A. Compile the amended school laws of the State in pamphlet form and distribute them to municipal and school officers; and [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] B. Prepare and issue biennially, with such content as the commissioner deems ap…

1. Report to Governor and Legislature. The commissioner shall prepare and deliver to the Governor and Legislature an annual report on the status of public education in the State regarding the implementation of the system of learning results as established in section 6209, includi…

1. Issuance of diploma. The commissioner shall issue a high school equivalency diploma to a person who: A. Is at least 17 years of age and: (2) Has demonstrated, through procedures prescribed by the commissioner, attainment of a general educational development comparable to that …

The commissioner shall issue a Department of Education diploma to a student who qualifies for the diploma pursuant to this section. A Department of Education diploma has the same legal status as a diploma awarded by a school administrative unit. [PL 2013, c. 439, §2 (NEW).] 1. El…

1. Petition or request. The commissioner shall inspect a school or schools in a school administrative unit or a private school approved for tuition purposes that enrolls 60% or more publicly funded students and report the findings and recommendations to the appropriate school boa…

1. Petition percentage. A request for an inspection of schools to test air quality is subject to the criteria established in section 258‑A, except that a petition by 50% of the parents of the children of one school is sufficient to initiate an inspection by the commissioner. 2. N…

The commissioner may adopt rules regarding tuition charges, accounting, audits, contracts and other aspects of schooling privileges between receiving schools approved for tuition purposes and sending school administrative units. [PL 1985, c. 797, §9 (NEW).] The commissioner may a…

The commissioner shall provide technical assistance to school administrative units that request assistance in the provision of violence prevention and intervention training programs for teachers, school staff and students. The assistance must emphasize conflict resolution educati…

1. Prototype guidelines, policies and protocols. The commissioner, in consultation with state and local emergency services officials and representatives of school personnel and school board members, shall develop prototypical guidelines, policies and protocols for school administ…

The State Board of Education is established by Title 5, section 12004‑C, subsection 1. The State Board of Education shall be an autonomous body and shall maintain an office in Augusta. The appointments, terms and expenses of the State Board of Education members shall be as follow…

The State Board of Education is intended to act as a body with certain policy-making, administrative and advisory functions. In those capacities, the board has the primary responsibility for the following: [PL 1987, c. 395, Pt. A, §47 (NEW).] 1. Formulating policy. Formulating po…

The state board shall organize and meet as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Organization. The state board shall organize annually by electing one of their members as chairman and one as vice-chairman. They may also elect other officers. 2. Meetings. Meetings of the s…

The state board shall adopt a seal. The seal may be used by the commissioner to authenticate documents or copies of documents.

The state board shall be responsible for the following records. [PL 1987, c. 395, Pt. A, §49 (AMD).] 1. Records. The state board shall keep a complete record of the minutes of its meetings and other procedures. 2. Report.

The state board shall have the following powers and duties. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. General authority. The state board shall have only the powers specifically stated in this Title. 2. Advisory role. The state board shall advise the commissioner concerning matters cont…

The state board may adopt rules to carry out its responsibilities under this Title.

The Governor may accept a gift of money, real or personal property, from any source, and grants-in-aid from the Federal Government to assist in carrying out the purposes of this chapter.

1. Authority. The University of Maine System may acquire real estate, construct, operate, manage and equip radio, transmission and microwave television facilities and interconnect with any other radio or television network or station within or without this State for the purpose o…

1. Programs. The commissioner may produce or contract for educational television programs. 2. Fees. The commissioner may charge a fee from users of the instructional programs offered by an interactive television system. 3. Dedicated fund. The commissioner may expend all fee payme…

This chapter may be known and cited as "the Student Information Privacy Act."

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2015, c. 256, §1 (NEW).] 1. Aggregate student data. "Aggregate student data" means data that is not personally identifiable and that is collected or reported at t…

1. Prohibitions. An operator may not knowingly engage in any of the following activities with respect to the operator's website, service or application without explicit written or electronic consent from a student's parent or an eligible student: A. Use student data to engage in …

School boards shall perform the following duties. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. General duties. They shall have the duties prescribed to them in this Title. 1-A. Adoption of policies. They shall adopt policies that govern the school administrative units. 2. Management of sc…

The following provisions apply to members of a school board. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Employee" means a person who receives ongoing moneta…

The term of newly elected school board members shall start: [PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).] 1. After election. Immediately upon being elected and sworn in; or 2. Fixed date. On a fixed date established by the voters on an appropriate article at a properly called town meeting, t…

A contract made by a school board shall follow the requirement of Title 30-A, section 2605.

The following provisions shall apply to the selection of superintendents. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Eligibility requirements. Only those persons who hold a state certificate of superintendence grade, issued in accordance with chapter 501 or 502, are eligible to become …

A school board may discharge a superintendent before the expiration of the contract term. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Requirements. The superintendent may be discharged only: A. For cause; [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] B. After due notice and investigation; and [PL 19…

1. School unions. The union committee shall establish a policy to guide the relative amount of service to be performed by the superintendent in each unit. 2. Community school district. In community school districts, the district school committee shall also establish a policy to g…

1. Office. The school board or union committee shall provide for an office for the superintendent, office assistants, supplies, utilities and other office expenses. 2. Salary. The school board or union committee shall fix the superintendent's salary.

The superintendent is responsible for the ongoing administration of the school administrative unit and for ensuring that the operation of the schools conforms to policies and rules as adopted by the school board and to state laws and rules. The superintendent also is the ex offic…