An Act To Support the Efficient Implementation of Maine's Learning Results (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1425
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: CUMMINGS, WESTON, BURNS
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6202, 20-A MRSA §6206

Legislative Document 
No. 1425 
H.P.989 
House of Representatives, March 22, 2005 
An Act To Support the Efficient Implementation of Maine's 
Learning Results 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative CUMMINGS of Portland. 
Cosponsored by Senator WESTON of Waldo and 
Representative: BURNS of Berwick. 
Printed on recyc led paper 
17J~ 
'frl.7l/~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, Maine's system of learning results has established 
high 
standards 
for 
student 
achievement 
and 
high 
school 
graduation; and 
Whereas, Maine Education Assessment and other performance 
data demonstrate that there is a significant gap between student 
achievement 
and state standards, 
jeopardizing the ability of 
thousands of Maine students to earn a high school diploma by the 
2008 deadline established by the Legislature; and 
Whereas, all Maine school districts are expected to meet the 
same 
learning 
standards 
and 
to 
do 
so 
according 
to 
state 
requirements; and 
Whereas, efficient implementation of the system of 
resul ts 
requires 
widespread 
changes 
in 
traditional 
organization and educational practices; and 
learning 
school 
Whereas, moving to a standards-based public education system 
requires 
support 
services 
not 
currently widely 
available 
to 
school districts; and 
Whereas, Maine 
already 
has 
a 
variety 
of 
nongovernment 
organizations that have developed efficient approaches to service 
delivery but lack the resources to provide large-scale support to 
Maine schools; and 
Whereas, successful 
and efficient 
implementation 
of 
the 
system 
of 
learning 
results 
requires 
that 
there 
be 
rapid 
collaborative development of high-quality products, policies and 
procedures 
that 
support 
state 
requirements 
and 
widespread 
dissemination 
of 
these 
policies 
and 
procedures 
to 
avoid 
unnecessary duplication of effort, including training in their 
use; and 
Whereas. successful 
and efficient 
implementation 
of 
the 
system 
of 
learning 
results 
requires 
support 
services 
that: 
operate 
locally, 
regionally 
and 
statewide; 
are 
based 
on 
individual district needs but consistent with state requirements; 
are flexible and responsive and designed to address local needs 
when and where needed; allow people to learn with and from each 
other in a safe, professional environment; build the capacity of 
local districts to act on achievement data to improve student 
learning; and create and disseminate products that can be used by 
educators throughout the State, such as teacher-developed lessons 
and organizational strategies for successful implementation; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Page l-LR2169(1) 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, 
safety; now, therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. I. 20-A MRSA §6202, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
immediately 
health and 
3. 
Implement&..tign suPport and services. 
The 
department 
shall contract with Maine nongovernment education organizations 
that manage existing state and regional networks that support and 
service the efficient implementation of the system of learning 
results. 
The organizations shall create and manage: 
A. 
Programs, 
services and other activities developed in 
response to district-identified needs and consistent with 
learning results rules; 
B. 
Teacher-to-teacher networks that: 
(1) 
Train 
teachers 
as 
leaders 
in 
local 
standards 
implementation; 
(2) 
Increase teachers' 
application of standards 
~n 
curriculum, instruction and assessment at the classroom 
and school levels to improve student attainment of the 
learning results; and 
(3) 
Identify, 
recognize 
and 
disseminate 
models 
of 
exemplary 
implementation 
of 
the 
learning 
results 
standards; 
C. 
Programs that work with other education organizations at 
state and regional levels to meet specific school district 
needs; 
D. 
Programs 
that 
support 
teachers, 
administrators 
and 
school districts in analyzing assessment results 
and 
in 
developing 
local, 
regional 
and 
statewide 
programs 
and 
processes to increase student achievement of the learning 
results. 
Each organization receiving funds as a result of this section 
shall collect evaluation data annually directly from the school 
districts served, use this data to develop additional services 
and support and report progress to the department and to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over education and cultural affairs. 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §6206, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. 
D, §§3 and 4, is amended to read: 
§6206. 
Educational costs 
Costs relating to the development of 
program, printing, distribution, analysis 
results for each school administrative unit 
the department. 
the state assessment 
and dissemination of 
saall must be paid by 
Costs associated with the implementation support and service 
of the learning results under section 6202, subsection 3 qualify 
for funds from the Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational 
Services under section 15684. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This 
bill 
provides 
financial 
support 
to 
existing 
nongovernment 
education organizations 
that create 
and 
manage 
statewide 
and 
regional 
networks 
that provide 
Maine 
learning 
results implementation support and services to Maine educators 
and school systems.