An Act Regarding Educational Standards for Maine Students
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1396
Committee Amendment CA_A_H315 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6209

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A" to H.P. 946, L.D. 1396, Bill, "An Act 
Regarding Educational Standards for Maine Students" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 3 (page 1, lines 34 to 39 and page 2, lines 
to 20 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §6209, first~, as amended by PL 2015, c. 40, §5, is further 
amended to read: 
Nothing in this section requires any school administrative unit to use all or any part of 
standards adopted under this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
state funds may be withheld from a school administrative unit or school for refusal to 
adopt or use the standards established under this section. The department in consultation 
with the state board shall by rule establish and implement a comprehensive, statewide 
system of learning results, which may must include a core of standards in English 
language arts aruI~ mathematics, science and social studies for kindergarten to grade 12 
established in common "'lith the other states, as set forth in this section and in department 
rules implementing this section and other cUlTicular requirements. The department lffilSt 
shall establish accountability standards at all grade levels in the areas of mathematics; 
reading and writing; social studies; 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, a public charter school as defined in 
section 2401, subsection 9 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 
cUlTicular 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 I-B. The commissioner 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROFS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A" to H.P. 946, L.D. 1396 
may not adopt any model curricula that are aligned with the content standards adopted 
under this section.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, makes a technical 
change to the bill to reflect changes in law enacted by Pubiic Law 2015, chapter 40. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/30115 
~c: 
LD 1396 
LR 1487(02) 
An Act Regarding Educational Standards for Maine Students 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendmentf/' I H-3151 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
( / 
jI 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Undetennined current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Undetennined current biennium cost increase - local school administrative units 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The cost to the Department of Education to implement the requirements ofthis legislation can not be determined at 
this time but is expected to be significant. 
This bill requires the Department of Education to: 
1) Stop the adoption and implementation of the common core standards as the State's content standards for English 
language arts and mathematics and void any prior actions taken to adopt or implement the common core state 
standards. 
2) Furnish SAD's with assessments for elementary and secondary schools that were implemented during the 2013-
2014 school year in time to be used during the 2015-2016 school year. 
3) Replace current standards in English language arts and mathematics with new standards that are consistent with the 
standards in effect in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2009 and adopt or develop assessments that are aligned 
with the content standards to be used in the 2016-2017, 2017-18 and 2018-2019 school years. 
4) Adopt new content standards in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies that are distinct and 
independent from standards previously adopted by the department so that they are in place for the 2019-2020 school 
year. 
5) Adopt or develop assessments for elementary and secondary schools in English language arts and mathematics that 
are aligned with the new content standards for use beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. 
6) Provide administrative support to 4 committees established to review and approve the new content standards and 
assessments adopted or developed by the department in English language arts, mathematics, science and social 
studies. 
LR1487(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of2 
The requirements and fiscal impact of this legislation on local school administrative units is less clear. This 
legislation does not require SAD's to use all or any part of the content standards developed or adopted by the 
department. However, this bill voids the State's content standards for English language arts and mathematics that 
were formulated to align with the common core state standards as well as any assessment related to the Smarter 
Balanced Assessment Consortium or Partnership for Assessment of Readiness. for College and Careers. Therefore, 
the SAD's will need to make some adjustments to their current content standards and assessments, whether they 
choose to adopt the content standards and assessments that will be developed by the department or to adopt their own 
set of standards and assessments. 
LR1487(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 2 of2