Thank you for your interest in
Public Charter School Options
 for
Maine Children

Briefing Book for Legislators
Click Here

Senate Votes Charter School Bill Down

In a sad commentary on our Government's concern for the children not currently served well by public education in Maine, the Senate voted 20-14 to "adhere" to their previous decision, not to allow public charter schools in Maine.

We thank all of you, our supporters in the Senate and House, in Administration, in Public and Private Education, and in all walks of life across Maine, for your continuing efforts to bring charter schools to Maine.

MACS is already debriefing our campaign this session and looking ahead to the January 2010 second session when we'll have a new opportunity to pass a charter school bill.

We plan to keep fighting for the rights of all students and parents, of all income levels, to have choices within Maine's system of public education.

Click Here for the Senate Role Call

Friday, June 5, Noon: happily, unexpectedly,
The Maine House voted in favor of LD 1438!
Now the bill is back to the Senate where the opponents are waiting!
Click Here for the House Role Call

Thursday, June 4:  Sadly, but not unexpectedly,
The Senate Voted Against LD 1438 - "Ought Not to Pass"
by a vote of 22 to 13.
Click Here for the Senate Role Call

The Maine Senate is expected to vote on LD 1438 on Monday! 
Now is the time to contact your Senator and encourage them to support public charter schools in Maine!
Contact MACS if you need help addressing any of their concerns.

May 20 Poll by Critical Insights of Portland shows
70% of Maine People support charter schools. 
Click Here for the Report (see p. 35).

Kennebec Journal Editorial
May 28
Charter schools vote: Schools are for kids
Click Here

 Portland Press Herald Editorial May 22
Legislature should back charter school law.
Maine stands to lose too much by resisting
this reasonable reform effort.
Click Here

The Education Committee, reacting to the fears of opponents, voted 8-5 "Ought Not to Pass" at its second Work Session on LD 1438 on May 20.
The bill now goes to the Senate for a vote, which could be any time within the next two weeks.
Please call or write your Senator to support Charter Schools in Maine!
Click Here for Senate Contact Information

Voting for LD 1438 were Rep. Casavant, Sen. Weston, Rep. Johnson, Rep. Nelson, Rep. Wagner  -  Thank You!

Sound Bytes vs Sound Data
Steady yourself with
Answers to Opponents' Spin
Click Here

May 8, 2009
Portland Press Herald Editorial
Casco Bay High's future should be secure
Portland's alternative high school has produced superior results for less.
"Casco Bay High is a perfect example of what can be achieved through public charter schools, and figuring out how to make the funding for such schools work better across districts would be a great help."
For Full Editorial, Click Here

Published: May 7, 2009
The Harlem Miracle
By DAVID BROOKS, Op-Ed Columnist
For Full OP-ED, Click Here

Report on the Public Hearing before the Legislature's Education Committee May 5
Click Here

Support Grows! Read Below:

Kennebec Journal Editorial Supports Charter Schools in Maine - April 27
Click Here

School Reform Means Doing What's Best for Kids

Let's have an honest assessment of charter schools.
OP Ed in Wall Street Journal  - April 22
by US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Click Here

Bangor Daily News Article - April 20
Click Here

LD 1438 is Here!
 "An Act to Permit Public Charter Schools in Maine"
Senator Dennis Damon is the prime sponsor, and co-sponsors are Senators Justin Alfond and Peter Mills and Representatives John Piotti, Alan Casavant, Gary Knight, Kathleen Chase, and David Richardson.  If any of these live in your district, please take a moment to send them a note of thanks!
LD 1438 Highlights
LD 1438 Text

President Obama Quote - 2/25/09
In his address to a Joint Session of Congress Tuesday night,
the President declared,
“… we know that our schools don't just need more resources. They need more reform. That is why this budget creates new incentives for teacher performance, pathways for advancement, and rewards for success. We'll invest in innovative programs that are already helping schools meet high standards and close achievement gaps. And we will expand our commitment to charter schools.”

National Charter School Conference
Washington, DC June 12-24.
www.nationalcharterconference.org
MACS will be sending a delegation!
If you are interested in attending, call 763-3576 ASAP!

Why Charter Schools Now, for Maine?
What Has Changed?
What Will Change?
Click Here to Find Out!

Bill Gates Supports Charter Schools
School Reform That Works
By Bill Gates
Wednesday, January 28, 2009; A15

Bill Gates released an annual letter this week outlining the state of his foundation and its goals for 2009. Click Here for excerpts from the section on education as reported in the Washington Post.
For his full letter, Click Here.

Democrats Now Rule
in Maine as in Washington. 
Supporting public charter schools should be high on the legislative agenda for change -
in education, in social equity, and in economics. 

President-Elect Obama said: "I doubled the number of charter schools in Illinois despite some reservations from teachers unions. I think it's important to foster competition inside the public schools."  (Presidential Debate, 10/08)

Obama Picks Arne Duncan, Chicago Public School Chief as U.S. Secretary of Education
EdWeek, Dec. 16 - "In choosing Arne Duncan as his nominee for U.S. secretary of education, President-elect Barack Obama signaled today that his administration intends to take what both men see as a pragmatic, non-ideological approach to improving the nation’s schools.
During a press conference announcing the Chicago school system’s chief executive as his choice, the president-elect praised Mr. Duncan’s willingness to support controversial policies, such as shutting down low-performing neighborhood schools and expanding charter schools."

Bill Gates Supports the President-elect’s Positions on Education, specifically:
     “focusing on teachers who really do the job well, (and) allowing charter schools to be expanded, both because there are some great ones and because they serve as a model.” (Interview with Wolf Blitzer, CNN, 12/4/08) “We need to keep investing to improve the lives of the people who have been left out.... The greatest antidote to inequity in American life is a good system of public education.... There are public schools and charter schools serving some of the most disadvantaged students in the country, and yet they are recruiting great teachers, making the curriculum more rigorous, using data to see what works, and graduating students ready for college....That’s why I believe some of the highest-leverage, long-term investments come from improving public education, especially for low-income and minority students.”
Excerpts from Gates’ speech to George Washington University, 12/4/08
FMI Click Here

Environmentalists Take Note!
In support of a sustainable future, the first
Green Charter Schools National Conference
was held November 7-9 in Madison, Wisconsin.
FMI Click Here    

 As Presidential Candidates, Both Obama & McCain Supported Charter Schools!
Support for charter schools is a true bipartisan effort, strongly supported by both Democratic and Republican Presidents and the Congress
since initiated by President Clinton in 1996.

Democrat Barack Obama supports Public Charter Schools!
FMI Click Here

Republican John McCain supports Public Charter Schools!
FMI Click Here

Why Discuss School Choice Now?
WE MUST! - Click Here to Find out Why!

* The Legislature's Alternative Education Committee - Final Report

Get Maine Students out of their BOXES! 
Click Here for MAC's Handout at the Juice Conference

Charter Schools could Fuel the Creative Economy
 with Creative Workers! 
 

Click Here: for Recent Stories on the Success of Public School Options in Other States!
 

Is Maine's Graduation Rate Inflated?
     What is it, really.
Click on "Maine's Need" on the left sidebar for two reports.

Please Note:  Maine is one of only 10 states without public charter schools
Maine children are certainly missing out!
Another legislative season will soon be underway, and MACS is currently working to educate citizens and policy makers about the importance of:
1)  charter schools as a vehicle for public school choice.
2)  charter schools as a vehicle for public school improvement.
3)  related concepts such as funding the child's education, not the system.

Twice as many registered voters favor charter schools as oppose them. The more people learn about charter schools, the more they like them.

Source: State of the Charter School Movement 2005