School administrative units (SAUs) and private schools approved for tuition purposes are expected to establish regional school calendars in coordination with their local secondary career and technical education school by April 14.
The regional calendar requirement was part of a law enacted by the Maine Legislature in 2011 that expands access to career and technical education in Maine and ensures that students completing career and technical education coursework have greater access to post-secondary opportunities. Specifically, the law addresses scheduling conflicts that pose barriers to students by requiring that those school districts and private schools approved for tuition purposes that share a CTE school adopt a regional school calendar with no more than five dissimilar days. The law became effective Aug. 30, 2012, and establishing the regional calendar is a condition for eligibility for State subsidy.
For 2015-16, both regional school calendars and individual calendars for each SAU must be submitted by the director of the local CTE Center/Region to the Commissioner of Education by April 14 for a decision on approval by June 1. Guidance and templates can be accessed electronically at www.maine.gov/doe/regionalcalendar/.
Given the coordination required for fulfillment of this law, the Maine DOE recommends that school districts initiate discussions as soon as possible including representatives from all affected secondary schools and their associated career and technical education center or region.
For more information including guidance, templates, a waiver process and a link to the complete law, please visit www.maine.gov/doe/regionalcalendar/ or contact Maine DOE’s CTE Specialist Doug Robertson at doug.robertson@maine.gov or 624-6744 or Maine DOE’s CTE Director Margaret Harvey at margaret.harvey@maine.gov or 624-6739.