Source: https://innovation.ed.gov/resources/state-nonpublic-education-regulation-map/maine-state-regulations/
Timestamp: 2019-07-18 22:13:49
Document Index: 692204428

Matched Legal Cases: ['§2907', '§250', '§13019', '§4701', '§2911', '§6004', '§5001', '§6353', '§6353', '§5724', '§6602', 'Art. 8', 'Art. 1', '§5804', '§5807', '§5001', '§3', '§5001', '§3', '§5001', '§3', '§5001', '§5001']

Maine State Regulations - Office of Innovation & Improvement
Home » Resources » State Regulation of Private and Home Schools » Maine State Regulations
Updated November 20, 2012 State Regulation of Private Schools (Revised July 2009) is the last full report.
A nonprofit institution may operate as an approved nontraditional limited-purpose school if it demonstrates a commitment to the educational process and to the state’s youths by having: 1) a governing board composed of a cross-section of the community; 2) an established educational plan; 3) a written curriculum with appropriate goals, objectives, and instructional strategies; 4) specific instructional time commensurate with the educational activities planned; 5) facilities that comply with state health, safety, and fire codes; 6) an instructional staff certified by the State Department of Education where appropriate, and endorsement by professional boards in areas where the state does not have certification standards or professional standards agreed upon by the department and the respective institution; 7) school health services that include a registered nurse in residence when students are in attendance, or the appointment of a school or consulting physician; 8) established written emergency and safety procedures, including periodic fire drills whenever appropriate; 9) unique up-to-date equipment necessary to the services provided; 10) a demonstrated commitment to work cooperatively with state public schools in an effort to meet the specific needs of Maine students regarding their aspirations; and 11) scholarship assistance for the state’s youths. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20-A, §2907.1. Code Me. R. §250.
The chief administrator employed by a private school approved for attendance purposes is required to hold a principal’s certificate. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20-A, §13019-B.
English is the basic language of instruction in all schools except that, subject to the commissioner’s approval, schools may provide transitional instruction using bilingual techniques for students of limited proficiency in English and providing proficiency in English as a second language. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20-A, §4701.
Private schools are exempt from the state’s criminal law prohibiting dissemination of obscene material to minors if exhibited for purely educational purposes. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 17, §2911.2.
By April 15 and October 15 of each year, the principal of each private school must report to the commissioner the number of students attending the school. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20-A, §6004.
A student is credited with attendance at a private school only if a certificate showing the name, residence, and attendance of the student at that school has been signed by the school administrator and filed with the school officials of the local administrative unit. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20-A, §5001-A.3.A.(2).
Chief administrative officers shall keep uniform records of the immunization status of each student. The records shall be part of the student’s permanent records. By December 15 of each year, each chief administrative officer shall submit to the director of the Bureau of Health, on a form provided, a summary report of the immunization status of the students entering school. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20-A, §6353.5.
Upon notice from a public health official that a student’s presence presents a clear danger to the health of others, a chief administrative officer shall cause the student to be excluded from school during the period of danger or until the student is immunized. Private schools may adopt more stringent immunization requirements. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20-A, §6353.3, 4, 6.
Health and remedial services, instructional materials, and equipment provided with appropriated public funds, as well as the admission of students to the nonpublic schools must be provided without distinction as to the race, creed, color, or national origin of the pupil and of their teachers. Instructional materials or instructional equipment may be loaned to pupils in nonpublic schools or their parents if similar instructional materials or equipment is available for public school students within a local school district. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 30-A, §5724.9.
The state is authorized to administer programs under the Child Nutrition Act benefiting private school students, provided the state is not required to appropriate state funds for meals served in private schools. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20-A, §6602.
Constitutional Provisions: The Maine Constitution states that it is the legislature’s “duty to encourage and suitably endow academies, colleges, and seminaries of learning within the state,” provided that the legislature has the right to grant any further powers to “limit or restrain any of the powers vested in any such literary institution, as shall be judged necessary to promote the best interests thereof.” Maine Constitution, Art. 8, Sec. 1.
The Maine Constitution provides that “all religious societies in this state, whether incorporate or unincorporate, shall at all times have the exclusive right of electing their public teachers, and contracting with them for their support and maintenance.” Maine Constitution, Art. 1. Sec. 3.
Tuition rates charged to school administrative units for publicly placed students in private elementary and secondary schools are regulated. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20-A, §§5804-5806.
Private schools may adjust their tuition rates for the cost of removing architectural barriers to comply with the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 with prior approval of the commissioner. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20-A, §5807.
The student’s parent or guardian must provide a written notice of intent “to the school officials of the administrative unit in which the student resides and to the commissioner within 10 calendar days of the beginning of home instruction.” Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20A, §5001, A sub §3A.(4).
The notice of intent must include 1) the name, signature and address of the student’s parent or guardian; 2) the name and age of the student; 3) the start date of the home instruction program; 4) a statement of assurance that the home instruction program will provide annually at least 175 days of instruction in the following subject areas: English and language arts, math, science, social studies, physical education, health education, library skills, fine arts, Maine studies (in one grade level between grades six and 12), and demonstrated proficiency in the use of computers (in one grade level between grades seven and 12); and 5) a statement of assurance that the home instruction program will include an annual assessment of the student’s academic progress. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20A, §5001, A sub §3A.(4).
The student’s parent or guardian must file a letter with “the school officials of the administrative unit in which the student resides and the commissioner” on or before September 1 of each subsequent year of home instruction. The file must state the intent to continue the home instruction program and include forms of the annual assessment of the student’s academic progress. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20A, §5001, A sub §3A.(4).
The following forms of annual assessment meet state requirements: 1) a standardized achievement test administered through the administrative unit in which the student resides or through other arrangements approved by the commissioner; 2) a test developed by the school officials of the administrative unit in which the student resides and agreed to by the school officials of the administrative unit prior to submission of the written notice of intent that is appropriate to the student’s home instruction program; 3) a review and acceptance of the student’s progress by an identified individual who holds a current Maine teacher’s certificate; 4) a review and acceptance of the student’s progress based on, but not limited to, a presentation of an educational portfolio of the student to a local-area homeschooling support group whose membership for this purpose includes a currently certified Maine teacher or administrator; or 5) a review and acceptance of the student’s progress by a local advisory board selected by the superintendent of the administrative unit in which the student resides that includes one administrative unit employee and two home instruction tutors. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20A, §§5001-A sub 3A (1)(4)(b).
A student’s parent or guardian must keep copies of the notice of intent to provide home instruction and the file submitted each year, including the forms of annual assessment, until the home instruction program concludes. The records must be made available to the commissioner upon request. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. title 20A, §§5001-A sub 3A (1)(4)(c).
Maine DOE: Legislation and Rulemaking
Maine DOE: Rule Chapters for the Department of Education
Maine Legislature – Revised Statutes Title 20-A: Education