An Act To Restore Local Control of Education to Towns
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1153
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: McCABE, ALLEY, GIDEON, GILBERT, KINNEY, POWERS, SAUCIER, SHORT, PATRICK
Amends: 20-A MRSA §253, 20-A MRSA §2413, 20-A MRSA §4502, 20-A MRSA §4722, 20-A MRSA §4722-A, 20-A MRSA §6209, 20-A MRSA §13016, 20-A MRSA §13702, 20-A MRSA §15688-A

Legislative Document 
No. 1153 
H.P. 791 
House of Representatives, March 31, 2015 
An Act To Restore Local Control of Education to Towns 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative McCABE of Skowhegan. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: ALLEY of Beals, GIDEON of Freeport, GILBERT of Jay, 
KINNEY of Knox, POWERS of Naples, SAUCIER of Presque Isle, SHORT of Pittsfield, 
Senator: PATRICK of Oxford. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §253, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 669, §1, is repealed. 
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §2413, sub-§2, ¶K is enacted to read: 
K.  A school administrative unit may establish a method of transferring funds to a 
public charter school that is an alternative to the method provided in this subsection. 
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 669, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  General requirements.  Elementary and secondary schools and school 
administrative units, including an educational program or school located in or operated by 
a juvenile correctional facility, shall meet all requirements of the system of learning 
results as established in section 6209 as well as other requirements of this Title and other 
statutory requirements applicable to the public schools and basic school approval 
standards.  Each school administrative unit shall prepare and implement a comprehensive 
education plan that is aligned with the system of learning results, focused on the learning 
of all students and oriented to continuous improvement.  The comprehensive education 
plan must include a plan for transitioning to proficiency-based graduation in accordance 
with section 4722-A.  This plan must also address all other plans required by the 
department. 
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§8, ¶¶B and C, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 669, 
§5, are repealed. 
Sec. 5.  20-A MRSA §4722, sub-§§7 and 8, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 669, §6, 
are repealed. 
Sec. 6.  20-A MRSA §4722-A, as amended by PL 2013, c. 439, §4, is repealed. 
Sec. 7.  20-A MRSA §6209, sub-§5 is enacted to read: 
5.  Opt out.  A school administrative unit may elect to establish standards that are an 
alternative to the core of standards in English language arts and mathematics for 
kindergarten to grade 12 established in common with the other states pursuant to this 
section and statewide assessments established pursuant to subsection 1-A. 
Sec. 8.  20-A MRSA §13016, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 669, §8, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Professional teacher certificates.  A professional teacher certificate may be 
renewed for 5-year periods in accordance with state board rules, which must require, at a 
minimum, that the teacher complete at least 6 hours of professional or academic study, or 
in-service training designed to improve the performance of the teacher in the field for 
which the teacher holds an endorsement, or in a related subject area, or to improve the 
teacher's knowledge of, and skill in, standards-based education. Teachers who desire to 
qualify for a master teacher certificate must coordinate their continuing professional 
education with the requirements of an applicable teacher action plan. 
Sec. 9.  20-A MRSA §13702, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 635, Pt. A, §3, is amended 
to read: 
§13702.  Local development and implementation of system 
Each school administrative unit shall may develop and implement a performance 
evaluation and professional growth system for educators.  The A system developed under 
this section must meet the criteria set forth in this chapter and rules adopted pursuant to 
this chapter and must be approved by the department. 
Sec. 10.  20-A MRSA §15688-A, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. C, 
§12, is repealed. 
SUMMARY 
This bill repeals the laws governing proficiency-based graduation requirements.  It 
provides that a school administrative unit may elect to opt out of the so-called Common 
Core State Standards and statewide student assessments.  It provides that a school 
administrative unit may establish a method of transferring funds to a public charter school 
that is an alternative to the current method.  It makes it optional, instead of mandatory, for 
a school administrative unit to develop and implement a performance evaluation and 
professional growth system for educators.