2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 20-A: EDUCATION › Part 3: ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION › Chapter 211: ATTENDANCE › Subchapter 5: STUDENTS EXPERIENCING EDUCATION DISRUPTION › 20-A §5163. Continuing educational progress during and after education disruption

§5163. Continuing educational progress during and after education disruption
1.  Education disruption due to interim program placement.
The responsible school at the time a student is placed in an interim program shall:
A. Within 5 school days of becoming aware of the placement:
(1) Make available to the student individual educational materials such as curricula and assignments designed to enable the student to continue the student's educational programming; or
(2) Sign an academic programming agreement; and   [PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW).]
B. Within 10 days of becoming aware of the placement, work with the student, the parent or guardian and others such as juvenile community corrections officers and community case managers to develop or update a school work recognition plan for the student.   [PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW).]
[PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW).]
2.  Responsibility after placement.
The responsible school for a student who is returning to educational programming following placement in an interim program shall:
A. If the responsible school is the same school as the school that was responsible during the placement, update the school work recognition plan at the time of return to educational programming to reflect the actual educational experiences, achievement and credit or recognition granted to the student by the interim program or by the responsible school pursuant to an academic programming agreement; or   [PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW).]
B. If the responsible school is a different school from the school that was responsible during the placement, review the student's records and the school work recognition plan developed and updated during the placement and update it to reflect the actual educational experiences, achievement and credit or recognition granted to the student by the placement or by the responsible school pursuant to an academic programming agreement.   [PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW).]
[PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW).]
3.  Education disruption.
The responsible school shall:
A. Within 10 school days of the school's or program's becoming aware that the student is enrolling in the 3rd school or program in a school year or is experiencing education disruption, work with the student, parent or guardian and staff of other schools and programs in which the student participated to develop or update a school work recognition plan; and   [PL 2021, c. 445, §9 (AMD).]
B. [PL 2021, c. 445, §9 (RP).]
C. Within 5 school days of the school's or program's becoming aware that a student is experiencing a period of absence due to education disruption or multiple transfers, make available to the student individual educational materials, including but not limited to curricula and assignments designed to enable the student to continue the student's educational programming.   [PL 2021, c. 445, §9 (NEW).]
[PL 2021, c. 445, §9 (AMD).]
4.  Education disruption due to homelessness or foster care placement.
[PL 2021, c. 445, §10 (RP).]
5.  Staff assistance.
For every student who experiences education disruption, professional staff in the responsible school must be assigned to ensure the complete transfer of all records, grades and full and partial credits and all academic material, including an academic programming agreement, if applicable, from the interim program or prior school or program in which the student was placed or that the student attended to the responsible school no later than 5 school days after the student enrolls in the responsible school.
[PL 2021, c. 445, §11 (AMD).]
5-A.  Mentorship.
For every student experiencing education disruption that leads to enrollment in a new responsible school, the new responsible school shall provide the student with an adult staff or volunteer mentor to facilitate the student's transition.
[PL 2021, c. 445, §12 (NEW).]
6.  Identification of responsible school.
For purposes of implementing this section:
A. The responsible school for a student at the time the student enters an interim program is the school in which the student is enrolled at the time of entrance to the interim program. If the student is not enrolled at the time of entrance to the interim program, the responsible school is the one in which the student would be enrolled pursuant to chapter 213;   [PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW).]
B. The responsible school for a student during the placement is the same as the school described in paragraph A;   [PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW).]
C. The responsible school for a student at the time the student returns to regular educational programming following placement is the school in which the student is enrolled or is entitled to be enrolled;   [PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW).]
D. The responsible school for a student who enrolls in a 3rd or subsequent educational program in a single school year is the school in which the student enrolls; and   [PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW).]
E. The responsible school for a student who experiences education disruption due to homelessness or foster care placement is the school in which the student is enrolled or is entitled to be enrolled.   [PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW).]
[PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2013, c. 439, §15 (NEW). PL 2021, c. 445, §§9-12 (AMD).