An Act To Improve Science and Engineering Education for Maine's Students
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0464
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: DEVIN, DILL
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6209

Legislative Document 
No. 464 
H.P. 303 
House of Representatives, February 24, 2015 
An Act To Improve Science and Engineering Education for Maine's 
Students 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative DEVIN of Newcastle. 
Cosponsored by Senator DILL of Penobscot. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §6209, first ¶, as amended by PL 2009, c. 647, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
The department in consultation with the state board shall establish and implement a 
comprehensive, statewide system of learning results, which may must include a core of 
standards in English language arts and, mathematics and science for kindergarten to grade 
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 shall 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 provisions for 
instances where course content conflicts with sincerely held religious beliefs and 
practices of a student's parent or guardian.  The system must be adapted to accommodate 
children with disabilities as defined in section 7001, subsection 1-A. 
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §6209, sub-§1-A, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 259, §5, is 
amended to read: 
C.  Science, in those content areas concerning cells and continuity and change. 
Sec. 3.  Rulemaking.  The Commissioner of Education shall amend the 
Department of Education’s Rules Chapter 131, the Maine Federal, State, and Local 
Accountability Standards, and Rules Chapter 132, Learning Result:  Parameters for 
Essential Instruction, to include in the statewide system of learning results and 
assessment a core of science standards for kindergarten to grade 12 aligned to the Next 
Generation Science Standards established through a collaborative, state-led process 
involving the National Research Council of the National Academies, the National Science 
Teachers Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and 
Achieve.  The science standards included in these rules must include science and 
engineering aspects of the Next Generation Science Standards that clarify for students the 
relevance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to everyday life and help 
students become successful analytical thinkers, prepared for college and careers. 
The 2 rules chapters to be amended by the Commissioner of Education in accordance 
with this section are major substantive rules pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
20-A, section 253, subsection 9 and section 6211.  In order to implement the science 
standards as part of the State's system of learning results and assessment beginning with 
the 2016-2017 school year, the Department of Education shall provisionally adopt these 
amended rules on or before December 31, 2015 and shall submit the provisionally 
adopted rules to the Executive Director of the Legislative Council by the deadline 
established for the legislative acceptance period in 2016 in accordance with Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires the Department of Education to include the so-called Next 
Generation Science Standards for kindergarten to grade 12 in the State's system of 
learning results and assessment and directs the Commissioner of Education to amend 
Department of Education rules on or before December 31, 2015 in order to include the 
science standards as part of the State's system of learning results and assessment 
beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.