The following is a news release from the Maine State Charter School Commission.
Commission adds sessions in Presque Isle, Machias to hear from public about rural educational needs
AUGUSTA – The Maine State Charter School Commission will travel to Aroostook and Washington counties in early April to hear from the public about regional educational needs that could be addressed by charter schools.
The commission has scheduled two additional public input sessions and is inviting members of the public to attend sessions scheduled for:
- Presque Isle, April 5 – Northern Maine Community College, Hunt Lecture Hall, Christie Building, 33 Edgemont Drive; 6:30 – 8 p.m.
- Machias, April 9 – University of Maine at Machias, Room 102, Science Building, 116 O’Brien Avenue; 6:30 – 8 p.m.
The charter school commission held sessions in Augusta, Bangor and Portland in March.
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 law’s first 10 years. 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.
Jennifer Pooler | Maine Department of Education | 207-624-6638