2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 20-A: EDUCATION › Part 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS › Chapter 3: DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION › Subchapter 2: COMMISSIONER › 20-A §255. School administrative unit; reports, records, information

§255. School administrative unit; reports, records, information
1.  Pamphlet of laws.
The commissioner shall:
A. Compile the amended school laws of the State in pamphlet form and distribute them to municipal and school officers; and   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
B. Prepare and issue biennially, with such content as the commissioner deems appropriate, circulars of information and advice to school officers relating to new school laws.   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
2.  Record books.
The commissioner shall furnish to the school officers of each school administrative unit proper blank books in which they shall keep complete and itemized records of all matters relating to moneys appropriated, received and expended for schools. These books shall remain the property of the State.
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
3.  Forms.
The commissioner shall:
A. Prepare and print forms for all returns required by law or deemed necessary by the commissioner;   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
B. On March 1st, forward to each superintendent forms for the annual school return as provided in section 6004; and   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
C. On May 1st, forward to each superintendent forms for the returns required by sections 6051 and 6052.   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
4.  Maintaining records.
The commissioner shall preserve all school reports of this State and of other states which the commissioner may receive, the returns from the various municipalities and institutions of learning and books, apparatus, maps, charts, works on education, plans for school buildings, models and other articles of interest to school officers and teachers as may be obtained without expense to the State.
[PL 1983, c. 862, §51 (AMD).]
5.  Information.
The commissioner shall:
A. Obtain information on school systems in this State and other states and other countries and the condition and progress of public education throughout the world;   [RR 2009, c. 2, §41 (COR).]
B. Disseminate this information, with practical hints upon the conduct of schools, improved systems of instruction and the true theory of education by public addresses, circulars and articles prepared for the press;   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
C. Disseminate this information by outlines, suggestions and directions concerning the management, discipline and methods employed in teaching to teachers and school officers of the State; and   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
D. Do all in the commissioner's power to awaken and sustain an interest in education among the people and to stimulate school officers, teachers and other educational personnel to well directed efforts in their work.   [PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. B, §§2, 4 (AMD).]
[RR 2009, c. 2, §41 (COR).]
6.  Parental involvement initiatives; post.
Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, a school administrative unit that adopts a parental involvement initiative may submit a copy of that initiative to the department, and the commissioner shall post that initiative on the department's publicly accessible website. The commissioner also shall post on the department's publicly accessible website links to the publicly accessible websites of those school administrative units that have chosen to adopt districtwide parental involvement initiatives as school board policy and that have submitted those initiatives to the department.
[PL 2011, c. 571, §2 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1981, c. 693, §§5,8 (NEW). PL 1983, c. 806, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 859, §§B1-B2,B4 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 862, §51 (AMD). RR 2009, c. 2, §41 (COR). PL 2011, c. 571, §2 (AMD).