ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER: 69
POLICY CODE: IHBH
Summary: The Maine Department of Education is proposing a new major substantive rule entitled “Chapter 140: Public Charter Schools.” A summary of the rule, the public hearing date, time and place, and the comment deadline are as follows.
This rule provides standards and procedures for implementation of Title 20-A, Chapter 112 relating to the authorizing, oversight and operation of public charter schools in Maine. The rule requires public notice of the activities of authorizers and charter schools, establishes student enrollment procedures, sets standards for the operation of authorizers, provides criteria for determining the independence of a charter school governing board from an education service provider, sets standards for petitions relating to conversion of a noncharter public school to a public charter school, and clarifies the funding of public charter schools.
The proposed rule is available online at: http://www.maine.gov/education/rulechanges.htm.
Hard copies may be obtained by contacting Deborah Friedman, Director, Policy and Programs, at the Maine Department of Education at 207-624-6620 or by email at Deborah.Friedman@maine.gov.
A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, 9 a.m. to noon in Room 103 of the Cross State Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta, Maine.
Written comments may be submitted via email to Deborah.Friedman@maine.gov or via mail to:
Deborah Friedman, Director, Policy and Programs
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
COMMENT DEADLINE: 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, 2011
Pleased to learn that Public Charter Schools will become a legal reality in Maine. Note that Quasi-Private Academies in Maine have been operating like charter schools in that they receive public tuition money for students to attend these academies. It is time to level the public playing field.
Richard Larson
Machias, Maine