Education

failed · Maine · House Jun 2, 2025

LD 1881: An Act To Ensure The Rights Of Parents Of Minor Children In Education

LD 1881 ensures parents of minor children in Maine schools have specific rights regarding their child's education and well-being. It requires schools to provide parents access to all school activity information, health records, instructional materials (including virtual learning content), and health screening forms before they are given to students. Parents may also refuse their child’s participation in non-educational activities or request alternatives, while schools cannot adopt policies that block parental notification about a student’s health or discourage parental involvement in critical decisions. The bill includes an exception allowing schools to withhold information if disclosure would risk child abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates parental access to educational materials and participation rights, enhancing parental involvement in K-12 education policy, directly supporting educational access and curriculum transparency.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

Track

signed · Maine · Senate May 29, 2025

LD 21: An Act To Update The Provision Of Law Concerning Student Codes Of Conduct In Order To Reflect Best Practices Regarding Behavioral Threat Assessment And Response

This bill requires Maine school boards to update their student codes of conduct to include specific policies for identifying, assessing, and responding to students who may pose a threat of violence to themselves or others. It mandates procedures covering interventions, student supports, disciplinary actions, and placement decisions - including removal from classrooms or school buses - when appropriate. The changes align school practices with current best practices in behavioral threat assessment and response. School boards are directly affected, as they must adopt these updated policies by law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires school codes to include behavioral threat assessment best practices, strengthening student safety protocols and school policy effectiveness.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Testing & Assessment

failed · Maine · Senate Jun 3, 2025

LD 1716: An Act To Require Family Life Education To Include A Human Growth And Development Curriculum

This bill requires Maine schools offering comprehensive family life education to include a human growth and development curriculum starting no later than third grade. The curriculum must feature two specific videos: an ultrasound showing early fetal development of the brain, heart, and sex organs, and a video detailing fertilization and fetal development stages from conception to birth. Schools that fail to comply may face civil lawsuits initiated by the Attorney General. The bill applies to all schools providing required family life education, adding these video components without altering existing course standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates specific human growth curriculum in family life education, advancing K-12 curriculum standards per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

Track

failed · Maine · Senate Jun 3, 2025

LD 369: An Act To Grant Or Extend Conditional Teaching Certificates Under Certain Circumstances

This bill (LD 369) allows Maine's Commissioner of Education to extend conditional teaching certificates for educators facing serious personal or community issues, such as public health emergencies, illness, or extended inability to teach. School districts must submit documented proof (e.g., medical notes or superintendent requests) to request these extensions. It also adds a new pathway for issuing conditional certificates to individuals with at least 5 years of full-time college teaching experience in Maine, and removes fees for fingerprinting these applicants. The changes directly affect current and prospective teachers in Maine's conditional certification program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends teaching certificates during hardships and creates new pathway for experienced educators, supporting teacher retention and access to classroom roles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

failed · Maine · House Jun 3, 2025

LD 660: An Act To Provide Transparency And Public Access To Public School Curricula

LD 660 requires Maine public school administrative units to post detailed curriculum and student data online for public access. It mandates schools to display 3 years of enrollment, subject offerings, and state assessment proficiency data on their websites, while prohibiting curriculum decisions based on student characteristics like race, gender, or disability. The bill also requires full transparency for state-funded professional development, including public posting of materials, schedules, attendance records, and costs for third-party contractors. This directly affects all Maine public schools, their administrative units, and the state education department, which must maintain centralized online portals for all curriculum materials and related expenses.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires curriculum transparency, prohibits bias-based decisions, and mandates public data access - enhancing accountability and equitable educational access per topic description.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Testing & Assessment Tags Government Transparency

Track

failed · Maine · House Jun 4, 2025

LD 339: Resolve, To Provide Funds To The Maine Indian Education School District To Develop A Wabanaki-Centered Curriculum

LD 339 allocates $100,000 annually from the General Fund to the Maine Indian Education School District to develop and implement a Wabanaki-centered curriculum specifically for Native American high school students. The bill requires the school district to administer a pilot program in partnership with state-approved high schools across Maine, using funds for curriculum development, staff, transportation, and support services. It mandates the Department of Education to coordinate with the school district to share the curriculum with appropriate high schools statewide and requires a report to the Education Committee by December 3, 2025, detailing dissemination and fund usage. This resolution directly affects the Maine Indian Education School District, its partner schools, and Native American students in Maine’s public education system.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $100,000 annually from General Fund for curriculum development, directly funding an educational program per budgetary appropriation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $100,000 annually for Wabanaki-centered curriculum development, directly funding a new educational program to enhance curriculum access for Native American students, advancing educational equity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

Track

failed · Maine · House Jun 9, 2025

LD 1760: An Act To Promote Public Education In Maine By Amending The Laws Governing Student Transfers

LD 1760 amends Maine law to clarify and expand options for elementary students to attend public schools in different school districts. The bill allows students living in areas without nearby public schools to transfer to adjacent districts in Maine or neighboring states if space is available, with the home district covering tuition and transportation costs. It also specifies that students can transfer to other districts for capacity reasons with the receiving district's consent, and ensures students in districts with school contracts (under Section 2701) can attend those schools with home district payment. The bill requires receiving districts to notify home districts of accepted students, aiming to increase access to public education for families in remote or underserved areas.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands student transfer options between districts for access, aligning with 'expands educational access' indicator95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

signed · Maine · House Jun 12, 2025

LD 1163: An Act To Foster Career And Technical Education In Maine Schools By Creating An Additional Pathway To Certify Industrial Arts Teachers

This bill creates a new certification pathway for Maine teachers to earn an endorsement in industrial arts education, specifically for hands-on, lab-based instruction. It directly affects current or prospective teachers seeking to teach in fields like automotive repair, welding, electrical work, carpentry, or computer-aided design. To qualify, teachers must complete an apprenticeship, earn a 2-year technical degree, and document minimum hours of paid work experience and hands-on trade training in their specific specialty. The endorsement allows certified teachers to instruct in these career-focused subjects within Maine public schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates new certification pathway for industrial arts teachers, expanding CTE teacher availability and supporting hands-on career education programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Teachers

signed · Maine · House Jun 13, 2025

LD 974: Resolve, To Increase The High School Graduation Rate By Creating The Maine Promise Initiative

LD 974 creates the Maine Promise Initiative, a state program aiming for 95% high school graduation rates by 2030 (within 4 or 6 years). It specifically targets improving graduation rates for vulnerable groups, including unhoused students, Native American students, and those in child welfare or juvenile justice systems. The Department of Education must form a working group to develop a strategic plan and report progress to the Education Committee by December 2025, with a one-time $100,000 appropriation to support the initiative's creation. The bill does not mandate specific educational changes but sets measurable goals and reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates Maine Promise Initiative targeting 95% graduation rate by 2030, specifically for vulnerable groups (unhoused, Native American, child welfare/juvenile justice), with funding for strategic planning.92% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

signed · Maine · House Jun 13, 2025

LD 1701: An Act To Support The Implementation Of Learning Standards And Results In Public Schools

LD 1701 establishes the Learning Results Implementation Advisory Committee within Maine's Department of Education. The committee will make recommendations on curricula, resources, and staff training related to racial and ethnic studies (including Wabanaki, African American, Asian American, Hispanic, Franco-American, and Jewish histories), financial literacy, civics, and health care. It also directs the department to provide $500,000 in fiscal year 2026-27 for grants to public schools and nonprofits implementing programs based on the committee's recommendations. The bill affects Maine public school educators and students by shaping required learning content and resources, with funding supporting implementation through grants and a dedicated specialist position.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $500,000 in FY2026-27 for school grants, directly funding public education programs through state budget appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $500k for school grants and establishes committee to advance inclusive curricula (racial/ethnic studies, civics, health), directly strengthening educational standards and programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum