An Act To Adopt the Common Core State Standards Initiative
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1800
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6209

Legislative Document 
No. 
S.P.705 
InSenate, February 25,2010 
. An Act To Adopt the Common Core State Standards Initiative 
(EMERGENCY) 
Refer~nce to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
9tf}(J~ 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the. Senate 
,Presented by Senator ALFONDof Cumberland. (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Primed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble.' Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, national education reform includes the so;"called "Common Core State 
'Standards Initiative" standards for kindergarten to grade 12, which are internationally 
benchmarked and build toward college and career readiness by the time of high sch'ool 
graduation; and 
Whereas, Maine's current system of learning results established under the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6209, and its system of assessment, do not include 
the Common Core State Standards Initiative standards; and 
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Whereas, immediate enactment of this legislation is necessary to ensure the State's 
eligibility to apply for a significant amount of federal funding for continued education 
):eform, which is jeopardizedby significant and continuing reductions in state funding for 
education; and 
Whereas, in thejudgmentofthe Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning' of the Constitution of Maine and reqliire, 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 §6209, first l!jf, as conected by RR 2007, c. 1, §8, )S 
amended to read: 
The department in consultation with the stat,e board shall establish and implement a 
comprehensive, statewide system of learning results, which may include a core of 
standards in English language arts and mathematics for kindergarten to grade 12 
established in common with the other states, as set forth in this section and in department 
rules implementing this section and other curricular requirements. The. department must 
establish accountability standards at all grade levels in the areas of mathematics; reading; 
and science and technology. The department shall establish parameters for essential 
instruction and graduation requirements in English language arts; mathematics; science 
and technology; social studies; career and education' development; visual and performing 
arts; health, physical education and wellness; and world languages. Only students in a 
public school or a private school approved for tuition that enrolls at least 60% publicly 
funded students, as determined by the previous school year's October and April average 
enrollment, are required to participate in the system of learning results set forth in this 
section and in department rules implementing this section and other curricular 
requirements. The commissioner shall develop accommodation' provisionsJor instances 
where course content' conflicts with sincerely, held religious beliefs and practices of a 
student's parent or guardia~. The system must be adapted to accommodate children with 
disabilities as defined in section 7001, subsection I-A. 
Sec. 2. Emergencyrulemaking. In accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 5, section 8054, the Commissioner of Education may adopt emergency rules to 
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include in the statewide system of learning results and assessment a core of standards in 
Engl ish language m1s and mathematics for kindergal1en to grade 12 established in 
common with the other states. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This, bill allows the Depm1ment of Education to include the so-called "Common Core 
State Standards Initiative" standards for kindergm1en to grade 12 in the State's system of 
learning results and assessment and grants·the Commissioner of Education the authority 
to adopt emergency rules in order to impl.ement the standards.