An Act To Add Ten Days to the School Year
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0470
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: MILLS
Amends: 20-A MRSA §4801

Legislative Document 
No. 470 
S.P.157 
February 1, 2007 
An Act To Add Ten Days to the School Year 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator MILLS of Somerset. 
Prinleu 011 reqcleJ paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
I 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the subject of this legislation needs to be addressed before that 90-day 
limit occurs; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4801, sub-§l, as amended by PL 2005, c. 662, Pt. A, §10, 
II 
is further amended to read: 
1. Number. A school administrative unit shall make provision for the maintenance 
of all of its schools for at least ~ 
days a year. At least ~ 
days sHaH must be 
used for instruction. In meeting the requirement of a 180 d~' 190-day school year, no 
more than 5 days may be used for in-service education of teachers, administrative 
meetings, parent-teacher conferences, records' days and similar activities. 
A. 
The commissioner may reduce or waive the minimum number of days required 
on application from a school board. The application must be supported in writing 
with a statement of the reasons for the request. 
B. 
Notwithstanding any other section of the statutes, school committees, with the 
approval of the commissioner, may adopt or amend rules necessary to implement an 
extended school year at the local level. The commissioner may make appropriate 
adjustments, not to exceed the allowable subsidy, to insure fair and equitable 
treatment in the distribution of state aid. 
C. 
Notwithstanding this subsection, the commissioner shall promulgate adopt a rule 
to provide that local school units may allow secondary school students to graduate up 
to 5 school days prior to the regular end of the school year. 
D. 
A school administrative unit, operating under a plan approved by the 
commissioner, may provide for the use of up to 5 of the ~ 
instructional days 
required by this section to be used for screening incoming first year students for the 
purpose of identifying children with disabilities and students at risk of school failure 
as required by state or federal law. 
E. 
Notwithstanding this subsection and any other provision of law, for school years 
1991-92 and 1992-93, a school administrative unit may reduce the number of days 
for the maintenance of all its schools by 5 days a year. A school administrative unit 
that decides to reduce the number of school days for school year 1991-92 or 1992-93, 
or both, shall notify the commissioner in writing of its plan. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited In the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill extends the school year by 10 days starting in the school year beginning in 
2007.