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Highlights of LD 1640 (as amended)

1. The proposed enabling legislation for public charter schools in Maine allows certain educational bodies to approve the establishment of charter schools, a new type of public school, to be a part of the State’s program of public education.  A charter school ‘pilot program’ permits up to 20 charter schools to be authorized over 10 years.  A charter school will operate on a renewable 5 year term, with a major review required prior to renewal.

2. Charter schools may be conversions of existing public schools or programs, or may be new schools started by nonprofit groups, including former nonprofit, nonsectarian schools.  A chartering authority may be a local school board or one of six eligible units of the University of Maine system (UMaine Orono, Fort Kent, Farmington, Presque Isle, Machias, University of Southern Maine).  Maine universities acting as chartering authorizers may only approve 5 of the 20 permitted charter schools.

3. Charter schools are created to offer students and parents more education options to meet the diversity of learning needs of Maine’s children.  They are open to all students without admissions tests.  They must be non-religious in programs, practices and policies.  During the pilot phase, all 20 charter schools must “seek to expand learning opportunities for disengaged students who are underserved by the current system,...” such as students who have a history of high absenteeism; are at least one year behind their expected grade level or who are otherwise at serious risk of academic failure; or who have other special needs.  Charter schools are subject to the Maine system of learning results and NCLB.

4. Charter school teachers have the right to organize and bargain collectively in a separate unit.  All full-time teachers must have appropriate Maine teaching certificates.

5. Charter schools will be funded by per pupil allocations from state and local resources, which will be sent to the public district or public charter school chosen for each child.  The administrative unit in which the student resides may retain up to 2% of the per pupil allocation to cover administrative costs.

6. Charter schools in Maine will not be allowed to contract with for-profit educational management organizations; nor may they be established as home-based programs.  A charter school may not enroll more than 10% of the public school students per grade level in a school administrative unit, except for conversions of existing public schools.

7. Charter schools in Maine will be eligible for the Federal Charter School Grant Program.  Charter schools in Maine may accept students from out-of-state on a space available basis and charge them tuition.  They may offer residential programs.  Charter schools may specialize in serving a particular age group, geographic area, or a student population with specific needs.  They may be formed as regional collaboratives by multiple school administrative units.

To contact MACS: macs@mainecharterschools.org