Maine Education Matters

209: ... and thanks for all the fish.

Matt says goodbye and thank you to all who helped follow and support this podcast over the years. It breaks my heart to have to stop this podcast, but the time it takes to pull together vs the time I have in my life that I need to focus on family or finances ... well... arent balanced. And as such, I need to step away from it. Will it be back? I dunno. Maybe. But in the meantime, keep following what's happening as best as you can, and I hope that if nothing else this little experiment has helped improve the transparency and accessibility of information coming out of Augusta in terms of Education Policy and legislation. With all of my love, Matt

208: Charter School's Back... ALRIGHT!

Matt previews public hearings for the week of March 10, 2025. LD 369, SP0161 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0161?legislature=132] An Act to Grant or Extend Conditional Teaching Certificates Under Certain Circumstances - Sen. James Libby of Cumberland LD 470, SP0209 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0209?legislature=132] An Act to Require School Administrative Units to Adopt Mentoring Programs for Teachers and to Improve Existing Programs - Sen. Joseph Rafferty of York LD 696, SP0313 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0313?legislature=132] An Act to Bolster the Maine Teacher Residency Program - Sen. Teresa Pierce of Cumberland LD 734, HP0476 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0476?legislature=132] An Act to Promote Voter Registration for Students in Maine's High Schools - Rep. Julie McCabe of Lewiston LD 220, HP0143 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0143?legislature=132] An Act to Establish the Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Program in Order to Provide Funding for Students Attending Certain Private Schools and Students Receiving Home Instruction - Rep. Barbara Bagshaw of Windham LD 282, HP0182 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0182?legislature=132] An Act to Raise the Limit on the Total Number of Public Charter Schools - Rep. Gary Drinkwater of Milford LD 420, HP0274 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0274?legislature=132] An Act to Fund the Carleton Project to Provide Additional Access to a Nontraditional Secondary School - Rep. Gregg Swallow of Houlton LD 482, HP0311 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0311?legislature=132] An Act to Expand Educational Opportunities and Broaden Educational Services for Students Enrolled in Equivalent Instruction Programs - Rep. Barbara Bagshaw of Windham LD 512, SP0230 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0230?legislature=132] An Act to Provide Educational Opportunities for Students in Secondary Schools with 200 or Fewer Students - Sen. Stacey Guerin of Penobscot LD 21, SP0034 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0034?legislature=132] An Act to Update the Provision of Law Concerning Student Codes of Conduct in Order to Reflect Best Practices Regarding Behavioral Threat Assessment and Response - Sen. Joseph Rafferty of York LD 168, HP0101 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0101?legislature=132] An Act to Improve Safety in Public Schools by Requiring Silent Electronic Notification Systems in Classrooms - Rep. David Sinclair of Bath LD 808, HP0515 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0515?legislature=132] An Act to Require School Boards and Governing Bodies of Approved Private Schools to Implement Wearable Panic Alert Systems - Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio of Sanford1:00 pm Public Hearing LD 165, HP0098 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0098?legislature=132] An Act to Allow School Boards to Expel or Suspend Students Regardless of Grade Level - Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias LD 513, SP0232 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0232?legislature=132] An Act to Allow the Spouse of a School Board Member to Serve as a Stipend Employee Within the School Board's Jurisdiction - Sen. Marianne Moore of Washington LD 817, HP0524 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0524?legislature=132] An Act to Remove Restrictions That Prohibit School Administrative Units from Making Purchases Through Cooperatives - Rep. Christina Mitchell of Cumberland

207: Doxing, DEI, and Rankin Bass

Matt previews public hearings and work sessions for the week of March 3, 2025. Public Hearings: LD 46, HP0010 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0010?legislature=132]An Act to Establish a Grant Program to Increase Postsecondary Educational Opportunities for Students with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder - Rep. Kelly Murphy of Scarborough - Emergency LD 198, SP0085 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0085?legislature=132]An Act to Prohibit the University of Maine System Campus Police from Issuing a Citation or Summons Related to a Parking Violation to a Visitor of the University of Maine System - Sen. James Libby of Cumberland LD 375, SP0170 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0170?legislature=132]An Act to Require the University of Maine School of Law to Provide an Online Degree Program - Sen. Trey Stewart of Aroostook LD 377, SP0133 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0133?legislature=132]An Act to Establish a University of Maine Medical School and to Dedicate Funds from Raising the Cigarette Tax to the School - Sen. Joseph Baldacci of Penobscot LD 457, SP0190 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0190?legislature=132]An Act to Fund Climate Resiliency Projects Related to the Repair of Campus Infrastructure Used for Active Transportation and Outdoor Recreation - Sen. Anne Carney of Cumberland LD 471, SP0210 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0210?legislature=132]Resolve, to Establish a Pilot Program to Expand Intensive English Language Learner Programs - Sen. Joseph Rafferty of York Work Sessions for March 5, 2025 LD 34, SP0053 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0053?legislature=132]An Act to Increase the Minimum Salary for Teachers - Sen. Teresa Pierce of Cumberland LD 71, HP0035 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0035?legislature=132]An Act Regarding Special Education Funding - Rep. Kristi Mathieson of Kittery LD 98, HP0063 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0063?legislature=132]An Act to Include School Counselors in the Educators for Maine Program - Rep. Michael Brennan of Portland LD 181, HP0114 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0114?legislature=132]An Act to Modify the Calculation of Pupil Counts Used for Determination of School Administrative Unit Operating Costs - Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias LD 193, HP0126 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0126?legislature=132]An Act to Fund Students in Maine Schools Who Are Experiencing Homelessness - Rep. Marshall Archer of Saco LD 501, HP0330 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0330?legislature=132]An Act to Fairly Fund School Administrative Units for Economically Disadvantaged Students - Rep. Kristen Cloutier of Lewiston Work Sessions for March 6, 2025 LD 74, HP0038 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0038?legislature=132]An Act to Update the System of Learning Results Review Timeline - Rep. Michael Brennan of Portland LD 78, HP0042 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0042?legislature=132]An Act to Require Elementary School Students to Learn Cursive Writing - Rep. Joseph Underwood of Presque Isle LD 360, SP0151 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0151?legislature=132]An Act Supporting the Dirigo Reads Literacy Program - Sen. Joseph Baldacci of Penobscot LD 370, SP0162 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0162?legislature=132]An Act to Raise the Minimum State Standard for Mathematics Education for a High School Diploma - Sen. James Libby of Cumberland LD 396, SP0182 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0182?legislature=132]An Act to Provide for a Later Starting Time for High Schools - President. Matthea Daughtry of Cumberland LD 543, HP0362 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0362?legislature=132]An Act to Enhance Maine's Wildlife Conservation Efforts and Preserve Maine's Sporting Heritage by Requiring Hunter Safety Education in Schools - Rep. Donald Ardell of Monticello

206: Here We Go... Again...

Matt previews public hearings for: Judiciary Committee: LD 537 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0356?legislature=132] An Act to Prohibit the Doxing of a Minor and to Authorize a Related Civil Action - Rep. Melanie Sachs of Freeport Education and Cultural Affairs Committee: LD 34 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0053?legislature=132] An Act to Increase the Minimum Salary for Teachers - Sen. Teresa Pierce of Cumberland LD 71 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0035?legislature=132]  An Act Regarding Special Education Funding - Rep. Kristi Mathieson of Kittery LD 98 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0063?legislature=132] An Act to Include School Counselors in the Educators for Maine Program - Rep. Michael Brennan of Portland LD 181 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0114?legislature=132] An Act to Modify the Calculation of Pupil Counts Used for Determination of School Administrative Unit Operating Costs - Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias LD 193 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0126?legislature=132] An Act to Fund Students in Maine Schools Who Are Experiencing Homelessness - Rep. Marshall Archer of Saco LD 501 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0330?legislature=132] An Act to Fairly Fund School Administrative Units for Economically Disadvantaged Students - Rep. Kristen Cloutier of Lewiston LD 74 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0038?legislature=132] An Act to Update the System of Learning Results Review Timeline - Rep. Michael Brennan of Portland LD 78 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0042?legislature=132] An Act to Require Elementary School Students to Learn Cursive Writing - Rep. Joseph Underwood of Presque Isle LD 315 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0215?legislature=132] An Act to Add a Personal Finance Course to the State Graduation Requirements in High Schools - Rep. Ed Crockett of Portland LD 360 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0151?legislature=132] An Act Supporting the Dirigo Reads Literacy Program - Sen. Joseph Baldacci of Penobscot LD 370 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0162?legislature=132] An Act to Raise the Minimum State Standard for Mathematics Education for a High School Diploma - Sen. James Libby of Cumberland LD 396 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/SP0182?legislature=132] An Act to Provide for a Later Starting Time for High Schools - President. Matthea Daughtry of Cumberland LD 543 [https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0362?legislature=132]An Act to Enhance Maine's Wildlife Conservation Efforts and Preserve Maine's Sporting Heritage by Requiring Hunter Safety Education in Schools - Rep. Donald Ardell of Monticello

205: One Small Step for Maine Education Matters...

Matt begins the 132nd Legislative Session review with an announcement that the podcast is changing! How will it change? Glad you asked. The world has changed, in many profound personal ways, and Matt is struggling to find the time to make this podcast what it should be, and what he wants it to be. He wants to keep doing it, but time is valuable and he needs to spend his time wisely and make sure he can mitigate the rising costs of living. So here's what we're going to do: we're stating aMaine Education Matters Patreon [www.patreon.com/MaineEducationMatters] to offer tiered subscriptions for more info on the work that we do for this podcast. For Free: A briefer, more bullet-point version of the podcast will remain free on the main feeds, like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc. This briefer version will be mostly informative about upcoming public hearings and work sessions, to keep you informed of whats coming next. Tier 1: #Faithful17($5/month) Gain access to a podcast with more in-depth look at upcoming legislation, testimony, and policy. Plus, whatever nonsense Matt decides to throw in on that day. Gain access to the Maine Education Matters Legislation Tracker. Tier 2: Happy-ish Hour! Join Matt for a free-flowing conversation about education policy, legislation, leadership, innovation, and anything else that's on your mind! Every week, Matt will send out a link to a meeting room so members can connect and discuss the goings on in Ed policy, innovation, legislation, and more. Plus: all the benefits of the #Faithful17 Tier! Oh, also in this episode...Matt reviews the first Public Hearing for a bill on Military-Connected Students and Students in Unorganized Territories. Thank you for your support!