An Act To Empower Parents in the Education of Their Children by Allowing an Opt-out from Standardized Assessments
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0695
Committee Amendment CA_A_H295 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6214

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 471, L.D. 695, Bill, "An Act To 
Empower Parents in the Education of Their Children by Allowing an Opt-out from 
Standardized Assessments" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Clarify Statewide Assessment Program Options' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6214 is enacted to read: 
§6214. Statewide assessment program options 
1. Department. Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, the department shall 
create a report that compiles and clearly outlines the federal and state laws and judicial 
decisions relating to the right or options of a student's parent to excuse the student from a 
statewide assessment program administered pursuant to this chapter. The department 
shall update the report annually to reflect changes in federal and state laws and judicial 
decisions. Prior to January 1st of each year, the department shall disseminate the report 
to all school administrative units and post the report on the department's publicly 
accessible website. 
2. 
Educators. 
An educator may discuss the information disseminated by the 
department to the educator's school administrative unit pursuant to subsection 1 with a 
student's parent regarding the right or options to excuse a student from a statewide 
assessment program and may refer the parent to the principal or another school 
administrator employed by the school administrative unit.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, strikes and replaces 
the bill to require the Department of Education, beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, 
to create an annual report that outlines the federal and state laws and judicial decisions 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT 'A" to H.P. 471, L.D. 695 
relating to the right or options of a student's parent or guardian to excuse the student from 
a statewide assessment program administered as part of the system of learning results. 
This amendment allows an educator to discuss the information published in the 
department's report with a student's parent or guardian and also allows the educator to 
refer the parent or guardian to the school's principal or another administrator employed by 
the school administrative unit. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
( 
Approved: 05/28115 
:tvae 
LD695 
LR 1011(02) 
An Act To Empower Parents in the Education of Their Children by Allowing an Opt-out from 
Standardized Assessments 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ~' ( H-Jers) 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the Department of Education to prepare and disseminate the annual report can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources. 
LRIOII(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1