An Act To Allow a Student Attending Private School Access to Public School Cocurricular, Interscholastic and Extracurricular Activities
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0903
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: PICCHIOTTI, MASON, CRAFTS, CROCKETT, DAVIS, KNIGHT, MORISSETTE, O'CONNOR, SANDERSON, WHITTEMORE
Amends: 20-A MRSA §5021-A

Legislative Document 
No. 903 
H.P. 662 
House of Representatives, March 8, 2011 
An Act To Allow a Student Attending Private School Access to 
Public School Cocurricular, Interscholastic and Extracurricular 
Activities 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative PICCHIOTTI of Fairfield. 
Cosponsored by Senator MASON of Androscoggin and 
Representatives: CRAFTS of Lisbon, CROCKETT of Bethel, DAVIS of Sangerville, KNIGHT 
of Livermore Falls, MORISSETTE of Winslow, O'CONNOR of Berwick, SANDERSON of 
Chelsea, Senator: WHITTEMORE of Somerset. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §5021-A is enacted to read: 
§5021-A.  Standards for participation in public schools by students enrolled in 
equivalent instruction programs in private schools with fewer than 30 
students 
A school administrative unit shall conform to the following standards in making 
public school resources and services available to a student enrolled in an equivalent 
instruction program.  For the purposes of this section, "student enrolled in an equivalent 
instruction program" means a student otherwise eligible to attend school in that school 
administrative unit, including a student who resides in the unorganized territory, when the 
student is enrolled in an equivalent instruction program in a private school that enrolls 
fewer than 30 students and is recognized as an equivalent instruction alternative under 
section 5001-A, subsection 3, paragraph A, subparagraph (1), division (a) or (b). 
1.  Participation in cocurricular activities.  A student enrolled in an equivalent 
instruction program is eligible to participate in cocurricular activities sponsored by the 
local school unit as long as the following requirements are met. 
A.  The student or the student's parent or guardian, on behalf of the student, applies in 
writing to and receives written approval from the principal of the school or the 
principal's designee.  Participation may not be unreasonably withheld. 
B.  The student agrees to meet established behavioral, disciplinary, attendance and 
other rules applicable to all students. 
2.  Participation in extracurricular and interscholastic activities.  A student 
enrolled in an equivalent instruction program, if that student applies in writing, is eligible 
to try out for extracurricular and interscholastic activities sponsored by the local school 
unit as long as the following requirements are satisfied. 
A.  The student agrees to abide by rules of participation equivalent to those applicable 
to regularly enrolled students participating in the activity and provides evidence that 
the rules of participation are being met. 
B.  The student complies with the same physical examination, immunization, 
insurance, age and semester eligibility requirements as regularly enrolled students 
participating in the activity.  All required documentation must be made available 
upon request by the local school unit. 
C.  The student meets academic standards equivalent to those established for 
regularly enrolled students participating in the activity and provides evidence that the 
academic standards are being met. 
D.  The student abides by the same transportation policy as regularly enrolled 
students participating in the activity. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides that a student enrolled in an equivalent instruction program in a 
private school that enrolls fewer than 30 students is eligible to participate in public school 
cocurricular, extracurricular and interscholastic activities.