The following is a news release from the Maine State Charter School Commission.
Newly formed panel to hear from public in Portland, Bangor, Augusta about regional educational needs
Note, 2/29/2012: The press release has been updated to reflect the postponement of the Portland session to March 5. That session was initially scheduled for March 1, but was rescheduled due to an expected snowstorm.
AUGUSTA – The newly formed Maine State Charter School Commission will hit the road in early March to hear from the public about educational needs in each Maine region that could be addressed by a charter school.
The commission is inviting members of the public to attend three sessions scheduled for:
- Portland, March 5 – Deering High School, cafeteria (enter through the back parking area); 370 Stevens Avenue; 6:30 – 8 p.m.
- Bangor, March 8 – United Technologies Center; 200 Hogan Road; 6:30 – 8 p.m.
- Augusta, March 15 – Cross State Office Building, Room 500; 111 Sewall Street; 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The State Charter School Commission is considered an “authorizer” under Maine’s new public charter school law, and can authorize up to 10 public charter schools statewide during the first 10 years of Maine’s charter school law. Local school boards can authorize additional public charter schools that don’t count toward the commission’s 10-school limit.
Under Maine’s public charter school law, an authorizer can issue a request for proposals for a charter school that meets a particular educational need, and any non-profit, non-religious organization can respond.
Those who are unable to attend a public session are invited to offer their input via email, at scscmaine@gmail.com.
For more information about the Maine State Charter School Commission and Maine’s public charter school law, visit the commission’s web page.
Matthew Stone | Maine Department of Education | 207-624-6783