Public education in Maine

in  Maine

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K-12 education in Maine

Education facts
State superintendent:
Pender Makin
Number of students:
185,739
Number of teachers:
15,222
Teacher/pupil ratio:
1:12
Number of school districts:
174
Number of schools:
617
Graduation rate:
86.4%
Per-pupil spending:
$12,147
See also
Maine Department of Education • List of school districts in Maine • Maine • School boards portal

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Public education in the United States
Public education in Maine
Glossary of education terms
Note: The statistics on this page are mainly from government sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. Figures given are the most recent as of June 2015, with school years noted in the text or footnotes.

## Contents

* 1 Common Core
* 2 General information
* 2.1 Schools by type
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 Enrollments by region type
* 4 Academic performance
* 4.1 NAEP scores
* 4.2 Graduation, ACT and SAT scores
* 4.3 Dropout rate
* 5 Educational choice options
* 5.1 Developments
* 5.1.1 Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)
* 6 Education funding and expenditures
* 6.1 Revenue breakdowns
* 6.2 Expenditure breakdowns
* 6.3 Personnel salaries
* 7 Organizations
* 7.1 State agencies
* 7.2 Unions
* 8 Taxpayer-funded lobbying
* 9 Transparency
* 10 Studies and reports
* 10.1 Quality Counts 2014
* 10.2 State Budget Solutions education study
* 11 School districts
* 11.1 District types
* 11.2 School board composition
* 11.2.1 Term limits
* 11.3 Elections
* 11.3.1 Path to the ballot
* 12 Recent legislation
* 13 Education ballot measures
* 14 In the news
* 15 See also
* 16 External links
* 17 Footnotes

The Maine public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2013 Maine had 185,739 students enrolled in a total of 617 schools in 255 school districts. There were 15,222 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 12 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. There was roughly one administrator for every 204 students, compared to the national average of one administrator for every 295 students. On average Maine spent $12,147 per pupil in 2013, which ranked it 15th highest in the nation. The state's graduation rate was 86.4 percent in 2013.[1][2][3]

HIGHLIGHTS

* In the 2012-2013 school year, Maine had one of the highest number of teachers relative to students in the country, with a ratio of 1:12. It also had a high number of administrators relative to students, 1:203.5.

### Common Core[edit]

Common Core, or the Common Core State Standards Initiative, is an American education initiative that outlines quantifiable benchmarks in English and mathematics at each grade level from kindergarten through high school. The Maine Department of Education adopted the standards on April 4, 2011. Full implementation took place during the 2012-2013 academic year.[4][5]

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) signed a bill in June of 2015 requiring the state to pull out of its partnership with the Smarter Balanced Consortium, which provided Common Core-aligned state testing for the 2014-2015 school year. As a result, the state was required to find a new testing provider or develop its own tests for the 2015-2016 school year.[6]

## General information[edit]

See also: General comparison table for education statistics in the 50 states and Education spending per pupil in all 50 states

The following chart shows how Maine compared to three neighboring states with respect to the number of students, schools, teachers per pupil and administrators per pupil for the 2012-2013 school year. The chart also displays that information at the national level. At $12,147, Maine had the lowest spending per pupil among its neighboring states in the 2012-2013 school year.

Further comparisons between these states with respect to performance and financial information are given in other sections of this page.

Regional comparison, 2012-2013

State | Schools | Districts | Students | Teachers | Teacher to pupil ratio | Admin. to pupil ratio | Per pupil spending*
Maine |  617  |  255  |  185,739  |  15,222  |  1:12.2  |  1:203.5  |  $12,147
Massachusetts |  1,854  |  404  |  954,773  |  70,636  |  1:13.5  |  1:206.6  |  $14,515
New Hampshire |  481  |  288  |  188,974  |  14,925  |  1:12.7  |  1:341.3  |  $13,721
Vermont |  318  |  361  |  89,624  |  8,403  |  1:10.7  |  1:185.8  |  $16,377
United States | 98,454 | 18,093 | 49,771,118 | 3,109,101 | 1:16 | 1:294.1 | $10,700
*Per pupil spending data reflects information reported for fiscal year 2013.
Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 2 - Number of operating public schools and districts, state enrollment, teacher, and pupil teacher ratio, by state: School year 2012–13"
United States Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013 (Table 20)"

Note: In comparing dollar amounts across the states, it is important to note that the cost of living can from state to state and within a state. The amounts given on this page have not been adjusted to reflect these differences. For more information on "regional price disparities" and the Consumer Price Index, see the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

### Schools by type[edit]

Education policy on Ballotpedia

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Education policy in the U.S.

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Public education in the U.S.

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Higher education by state

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School choice in the U.S.

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Education statistics

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State information
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

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School board elections portal
Glossary of education terms
School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

See also: Number of schools by school type in the United States

The table below breaks down each of the different types of schools in Maine and nearby states. Of the 98,454 schools in the United States, 89,031 were classified as regular schools. After regular schools, magnet schools and charter schools were the most prevalent non-traditional schools in the country, at 6,079 and 5,986, respectively.

Also listed are the numbers of schools in each state that are classified as "Title I" schools. These are public schools that have been specially targeted to correct achievement gaps in public schools.[7]

In Maine, there were 587 regular schools as of 2013. The second most prevalent type of school in the state was vocational schools, with 27 schools.

Number of schools by type, 2012-2013

State  |  Total schools  |  Regular  |  Special education  |  Vocational  |  Alternative  |  Charter  |  Magnet  |  Title I
Maine |  617  |  587 |  3  |  27 |  0  |  2  |  1  |  529
Massachusetts |  1,854  |  1,774  |  21  |  39  |  20  |  77  |  †  |  1,053
New Hampshire |  481  |  481  |  0  |  0  |  0  |  22  |  †  |  419
Vermont |  318  |  302  |  0  |  15  |  1  |  †  |  2  |  241
United States |  98,454 | 89,031 | 2,034 | 1,403 | 5,986 | 6,079 | 3,151 | 68,140
† Not applicable. Some states/jurisdictions do not have charter school authorization and some states/jurisdictions do not designate magnet schools.
‡ Reporting standards were not met due to data that were missing for more than 20 percent of schools in the state or jurisdiction.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), "Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey," SY 2012–13 Provisional Version 1a

## Demographics[edit]

See also: Demographic information for all students in all 50 states

The following table displays the ethnic distribution of students in Maine as reported in the National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data for 2012-2013.[8]

During the 2012-2013 school year, just over half of all students in K-12 public schools nationwide were white. About a quarter of the students in the country were Hispanic, with black students making up about 16 percent of the student population.

In Maine, the majority of students were white. White students totaled 169,722, which was about 91.4 percent of the student population in the state. There were 5,637 black students in Maine, which accounted for 3 percent of the total student population.

Public education enrollment by race/ethnicity, 2012-2013

State  |  Pop. category  |  Am. Indian
/Alaska Nat.  |  Asian  |  Black  |  Hawaiian
/Pac. Islander  |  Hispanic  |  White  |  Two or more races
Maine |  Number  |  1,521  |  2,875  |  5,637  |  181  |  3,185  |  169,722 |  2,618
Percentage  |  0.82%  |  1.55%  |  3.03%  |  0.1%  |  1.71%  |  91.38% |  1.41%
Massachusetts |  Number  |  2,292  |  56,517  |  81,806  |  1,020  |  156,976  |  630,150  |  26,012
Percentage  |  0.24%  |  5.92%  |  8.57%  |  0.11%  |  16.44%  |  66%  |  2.72%
New Hampshire |  Number  |  582  |  5,541  |  3,579  |  132  |  7,810  |  167,342  |  3,988
Percentage  |  0.31%  |  2.93%  |  1.89%  |  0.07%  |  4.13%  |  88.55%  |  2.11%
Vermont |  Number  |  257  |  1,603  |  1,759  |  65  |  1,373  |  82,401  |  2,166
Percentage  |  0.29%  |  1.79%  |  1.96%  |  0.07%  |  1.53%  |  91.94%  |  2.42%
United States |  Number  | 533,098 | 2,363,484 | 7,798,560 | 179,935 | 12,064,310 | 25,366,857 | 1,390,514
Percentage**  | 1.07% | 4.76% | 15.69% | 0.36% | 24.28% | 51.04% | 2.80%
**Note: This is the percentage of all students in the United States that are reported to be of this ethnicity.
Source: United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD), State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey, 2012-2013"

### Enrollments by region type[edit]

See also: Student distribution by region type in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 30 percent of all public school students in the country attended city schools during the 2012-2013 school year. About 40 percent attended suburban schools. Approximately 11.5 percent of all students attended schools in towns, while about 18.7 percent attended rural schools.[9]

A majority of students in Maine attended rural schools during the 2012-2013 school year. Approximately 28 percent of the state's students attended city or suburban schools, compared to the approximately 72 percent who attended rural or town schools.

Student distribution by region type, 2012-2013 (as percents)

State  |  City schools  |  Suburban schools  |  Town schools  |  Rural schools
Maine |  12%  |  16.2%  |  17%  |  54.7%
Massachusetts |  16.9%  |  72.2%  |  1.5%  |  9.5%
New Hampshire |  14.6%  |  36.9%  |  14.1%  |  34.4%
Vermont |  6.4%  |  9.1%  |  28.4%  |  56%
U.S. averages |  30% | 39.8% | 11.5% | 18.7%
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), "Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey," SY 2012–13 Provisional Version 1a, accessed May 28, 2015

## Academic performance[edit]

Education terms

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For more information on education policy terms, see this article.

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School board elections portal
Glossary of education terms
School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

### NAEP scores[edit]

See also: NAEP scores by state

The National Center for Education Statistics provides state-by-state data on student achievement levels in mathematics and reading in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The table below presents the percentage of fourth and eighth grade students that scored at or above proficient in reading and math during school year 2012-2013. Compared to three neighboring states (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont), Maine had the smallest share of students who scored at or above proficient in math and reading.[10]

Percent of students scoring at or above proficient, 2012-2013

| Math - Grade 4 | Math - Grade 8 | Reading - Grade 4 | Reading - Grade 8
Maine | 47% | 40% | 37% | 38%
Massachusetts | 58% | 55% | 47% | 48%
New Hampshire | 59% | 47% | 45% | 44%
Vermont | 52% | 47% | 42% | 45%
United States |  41% | 34% | 34% | 34%
Source: United States Department of Education, ED Data Express, "State Tables"

### Graduation, ACT and SAT scores[edit]

See also: Graduation rates by groups in state and ACT and SAT scores in the United States

The following table shows the graduation rates and average composite ACT and SAT scores for Maine and surrounding states during the 2012-2013 school year. All statements made in this section refer to that school year.[10][11][12]

In the United States, public schools reported graduation rates that averaged to about 81.4 percent. About 54 percent of all students in the country took the ACT, while 50 percent reported taking the SAT. The average national composite scores for those tests were 20.9 out of a possible 36 for the ACT, and 1498 out of a possible 2400 for the SAT.[13]

Maine schools reported a graduation rate of 86.4 percent during the 2012-2013 school year, the second-lowest among its neighboring states.

In Maine, more students took the SAT than the ACT in 2013, earning an average SAT score of 1380.

Comparison table for graduation rates and test scores, 2012-2013

State  |  Graduation rate, 2013  |  Average ACT composite, 2013  |  Average SAT composite, 2013
Percent  |  Quintile ranking**  |  Score  |  Participation rate  |  Score  |  Participation rate
Maine |  86.4% |  First  |  23.5  |  8%  |  1380 |  95%
Massachusetts |  85%  |  Second  |  24.1  |  22%  |  1553  |  83%
New Hampshire |  87.3%  |  First  |  23.8  |  19%  |  1567  |  70%
Vermont |  86.6%  |  First  |  23  |  26%  |  1540  |  61%
United States |  81.4% | 20.9 | 54% | 1498 | 50%
**Graduation rates for states in the first quintile ranked in the top 20 percent nationally. Similarly, graduation rates for states in the fifth quintile ranked in the bottom 20 percent nationally.
Sources: United States Department of Education, "ED Data Express"
ACT.org, "2013 ACT National and State Scores"
The Commonwealth Foundation, "SAT scores by state, 2013"

### Dropout rate[edit]

See also: Public high school dropout rates by state for a full comparison of dropout rates by group in all states

The high school event dropout rate indicates the proportion of students who were enrolled at some time during the school year and were expected to be enrolled in grades nine through 12 in the following school year but were not enrolled by October 1 of the following school year. Students who have graduated, transferred to another school, died, moved to another country, or who are out of school due to illness are not considered dropouts. The average public high school event dropout rate for the United States remained constant at 3.3 percent for both school year 2010–2011 and school year 2011–2012. The event dropout rate for Maine was higher than the national average at 3.5 percent in the 2010-2011 school year. The dropout rate was lower than the national average at 3.2 percent in the 2011-2012 school year.[14]

## Educational choice options[edit]

See also: School choice in Maine

School choice options in Maine included charter schools, a limited voucher program, an inter-district enrollment policy and some online learning programs. In addition, about 9.35 percent of school-age children in the state attended private schools in the 2011-2012 academic year, and an estimated 2.67 percent were homeschooled in 2012-2013.

### Developments[edit]

#### Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)[edit]

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

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Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Media coverage and commentary
U.S. Supreme Court 2019-2020 term

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Blaine Amendment (U.S. Constitution)
Blaine amendments in state constitutions

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School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

See also: Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which concerned whether the government can exclude religious institutions from student-aid programs. The case related to Article X, Section 6 of the Montana Constitution, also known as Montana’s Blaine Amendment.[15]

In its 5-4 opinion, the court held that the application of Article X, Section 6 violated the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution. The majority held Article X, Section 6 barred religious schools and parents who wished to send their children to those schools from receiving public benefits because of the religious character of the school.[16]

The case addressed the tension between the free exercise and Establishment clauses of the U.S. Constitution--where one guarantees the right of individuals' free exercise of religion and the other guarantees that the state won't establish a religion--and the intersections of state constitutions with state law and with the U.S. Constitution.

Maine is not one of the states with a Blaine Amendment.

## Education funding and expenditures[edit]

See also: Maine state budget and finances

Breakdown of expenditures by function in fiscal year 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

According to the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), states spent an average of 19.8 percent of their total budgets on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. In addition, the United States Census Bureau found that approximately 45.6 percent of the country's school system revenue came from state sources, while about 45.3 percent came from local sources. The remaining portion of school system revenue came from federal sources.[17][18]

Maine spent approximately 16.9 percent of its budget on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. The state school systems' revenue came primarily from local funds. When compared to its neighboring states, Maine spent the second lowest percentage of its total budget on public education.

Comparison of financial figures for school systems, fiscal year 2013

State | Percentage of budget | Per pupil spending | Revenue sources
Percent federal funds |  Percent state funds |  Percent local funds
Maine |  16.9% |  $12,147  |  7.5%  |  40.2%  |  52.3%
Massachusetts |  11.2%  |  $14,515  |  5.1%  |  40.2%  |  54.7%
New Hampshire |  23.4%  |  $13,721  |  5.7%  |  35.5%  |  58.8%
Vermont |  32%  |  $16,377  |  7.1%  |  88.4%  |  4.5%
United States |  19.8% | $10,700 | 9.1% | 45.6% | 45.3%
Sources: NASBO, "State Expenditure Report" (Table 8).
U.S. Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division Reports" (Table 5 and Table 8).

### Revenue breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system revenues in the U.S. to compare all states.

According to the United States Census Bureau, public school system revenues totaled approximately $598 billion in fiscal year 2013.[18]

In Maine, the primary source of school system revenue was local funding, at $1.4 billion. Maine's total revenue, when compared to its neighboring states, was the second lowest during fiscal year 2013.

Revenues by source, fiscal year 2013 (amounts in thousands)

State | Federal revenue | State revenue | Local revenue | Total revenue
Maine |  $196,466  |  $1,046,527  |  $1,361,267 |  $2,604,260
Massachusetts |  $818,054  |  $6,428,534  |  $8,732,961  |  $15,979,549
New Hampshire |  $163,890  |  $1,020,089  |  $1,691,687  |  $2,875,666
Vermont |  $114,697  |  $1,431,621  |  $72,591  |  $1,618,909
United States |  $54,367,305 | $272,916,892 | $270,645,402 | $597,929,599
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division Reports" (Table 1)

### Expenditure breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system expenditures in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public school system expenditures totaled approximately $602 billion in fiscal year 2012.[19]

Public education expenditures in Maine totaled approximately $2.5 billion in fiscal year 2012. When compared to neighboring states, Maine reported the second lowest total expenditures.

Expenditures by type, fiscal year 2012 (amounts in thousands)

State | General expenditures | Capital outlay | Other | Total expenditures
Maine |  $2,330,842  |  $121,420  |  $83,940  |  $2,536,202
Massachusetts |  $14,151,659  |  $1,117,723  |  $302,920  |  $15,572,302
New Hampshire |  $2,643,256  |  $159,997  |  $52,826  |  $2,856,080
Vermont |  $1,497,093  |  $46,008  |  $25,192  |  $1,568,294
United States | $527,096,473 | $48,773,386 | $25,897,123 | $601,766,981
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2011–12 (Fiscal Year 2012)" (Table 5)

### Personnel salaries[edit]

See also: Public school teacher salaries in the United States

Note: Salaries given are averages for the state. Salaries may vary between a state's urban, suburban, and rural districts and should be adjusted for cost of living. For example, a MacIver Institute study of average teacher salaries in 60 metropolitan areas found that salaries in New York City were the third-highest in absolute figures but 59th-highest when adjusted for the cost of living.[20]

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average national salary for classroom teachers in public elementary and secondary schools declined by 1.3 percent from the 1999-2000 school year to the 2012-2013 school year. During the same period in Maine, the average salary decreased by one percent.[21]

Estimated average salaries for teachers (in constant dollars**)

| 1999-2000 | 2009-2010 | 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 | Percent difference
Maine | $48,597  | $49,216  | $48,126  | $48,119  |  -1%
Massachusetts | $63,656  | $73,945  | $72,915  | $73,129  | 14.9%
New Hampshire | $51,567  | $54,912  | $55,079  | $55,599  | 7.8%
Vermont | $51,600  | $52,394  | $52,160  | $52,526  | 1.8%
United States | $57,133 | $58,925 | $56,340 | $56,383 | -1.3%
**"Constant dollars based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, adjusted to a school-year basis. The CPI does not account for differences in inflation rates from state to state."

## Organizations[edit]

### State agencies[edit]

See also: Maine Department of Education

The mission statement of the Maine Department of Education reads:[22]

“  |  The Maine Department of Education's mission is to provide leadership and to collaborate with educators and learning communities in order to ensure that every learner has the opportunity to be successful. The Department is working toward an education system that engages and challenges every student, is customized to each student's individual needs and harnesses the power of technology to enhance and individualize learning.[23] |  ”

|
|

The Commissioner of Education is the chief official of the Department of Education and is nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the state legislature. Debra Plowman was appointed as acting commissioner in 2016. However, the actual power of the commissioner is vested in the office of the acting deputy commissioner, held by Bill Beardsley. Beardsley was initially appointed acting commissioner on October 16, 2015, by Gov. Paul LePage (R). After Beardsley's temporary term had expired, LePage appointed him acting deputy commissioner and transferred most of the powers of the commissioner to himself and Deputy Commissioner Beardsley.[24][25][26][27]

The Maine State Board of Education "acts in an advisory capacity to the Commissioner of Education in matters concerning state education laws and makes education policy recommendations to the legislative and executive branches of state government."[28]

### Unions[edit]

In 2012 the Fordham Institute and Education Reform Now assessed the power and influence of state teacher unions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their rankings were based on 37 different variables in five broad areas: resources and membership, involvement in politics, scope of bargaining, state policies and perceived influence. Maine ranked 22nd overall for union power and influence, or "average," which was in the third of five tiers.[29]

The main union related to the Maine school system is the Maine Education Association (MEA), an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA). For the 2003 tax period MEA had $6.47 million in total revenue, $6.63 million in total expenses and $2.63 million in total assets.[30]

List of local Maine school unions:[31]

* Maine Education Association
* Portland Educators Association
* Medomak Valley Education Association
* Oxford Hills Teachers Association
* Bangor Education Foundation
* Sabattus Education Association

## Taxpayer-funded lobbying[edit]

See also: Maine government sector lobbying

The main education government sector lobbying organization is the Maine School Boards Association.

## Transparency[edit]

Maine’s audit reports are published online by the Department of Audit. The Maine Department of Audit's primary responsibility is to audit the state's financial statements and federal program expenditures.[32]

## Studies and reports[edit]

### Quality Counts 2014[edit]

See also: Education Week survey

Education Week, a publication that reports on many education issues throughout the country, began using an evaluation system in 1997 to grade each state on various elements of education performance. This system, called Quality Counts, uses official data on performance from each state to generate report cards for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report card in 2014 uses six different categories:

1. Chance for success
2. K-12 achievement
3. Standards, assessments and accountability
4. The teaching profession
5. School finance
6. Transitions and alignment

Each of these six categories had a number of other elements that received individual scores. Those scores were then averaged and used to determine the final score in each category. Every state received two types of scores for each of the six major categories: A numerical score out of 100 and a letter grade based on that score. Education Week used the score for the first category, "chance for success," as the value for ranking each state and the District of Columbia. The average grade received in the entire country was 77.3, or a C+ average. The country's highest average score was in the category of "standards, assessments and accountability" at 85.3, or a B average. The lowest average score was in "K-12 achievement", at 70.2, or a C- average.

Maine received a score of 78.8, or a C+ average in the "chance for success" category. This was above the national average. The state's highest score was in "school finance" at 83.9, or a B average. The lowest score was in "the teaching profession" at 67.8, or a D+ average. Maine had the second lowest score for "standards, assessments and accountability" in the country at 69.6. The chart below displays the scores of Maine and its surrounding states.[33]

Note: Click on a column heading to sort the data.

Public education report cards, 2014

State | Chance for success | K-12 achievement | Standards, assessments and accountability | The teaching profession | School finance | Transitions and alignment
Maine | 78.8 (C+) | 72.6 (C) | 69.6 (C-) | 67.8 (D+) | 83.9 (B) | 82.1 (B-)
Massachusetts | 91.4 (A-) | 83.7 (B) | 88.4 (B+) | 78.7 (C+) | 83.5 (B) | 75.0 (C)
New Hampshire | 88.0 (B+) | 78.8 (C+) | 76.0 (C) | 63.9 (D) | 81.4 (B-) | 78.6 (C+)
Vermont | 86.4 (B) | 77.3 (C+) | 82.7 (B) | 70.6 (C-) | 86.0 (B) | 71.4 (C-)
United States average | 77.3 (C+) | 70.2 (C-) | 85.3 (B) | 72.5 (C) | 75.5 (C) | 81.1 (B-)
Source: Education Week, "Quality Counts 2014"

A full discussion of how these numbers were generated can be found here.

### State Budget Solutions education study[edit]

See also: State spending on education v. academic performance (2012)

State Budget Solutions examined national trends in education from 2009 to 2011, including state-by-state analysis of education spending, graduation rates and average ACT scores. The study showed that the states that spent the most did not have the highest average ACT test scores, nor did they have the highest average graduation rates. A summary of the study is available here. The full report can be accessed here.

## School districts[edit]

See also: School board elections portal

### District types[edit]

School districts in Maine are divided into six different types:[34]

* School administrative districts serve two or more participating cities, towns or plantations and make up the majority of school district in Maine.
* Community school districts are school administrative units formed between two or more participating cities, towns, or plantations for any combination of grades K-12.
* Incorporated school districts serve a single city or town.
* Interstate school districts provide for the construction and operation of schools.
* Applied technology regions are established institutions that provide vocational education.
* Indian school districts are independent school district governments that elect tribal school committee governs each school under the laws applicable to school administrative units.

### School board composition[edit]

School board members are elected by residents of the school district. School boards are composed of at least one member from each municipality or sub-district otherwise stated. In municipalities with annual elections, directors serve three-year terms. In municipalities with biennial elections, directors serve four-year terms. Should a vacancy occur, an interim board member is selected until the next election.[35]

#### Term limits[edit]

While Maine imposes term limits on statewide offices, they do not impose them on school board members.

### Elections[edit]

See also: Maine school board elections, 2021

No Maine school districts within Ballotpedia's coverage scope are holding school board elections in 2021.

#### Path to the ballot[edit]

Candidates for local school boards in Maine must:[36]

* Collect a minimum of 300 signatures from registered Maine voters. They must also have each petition verified by its circulator.
* Have all aforementioned signatures certified by the applicable registrar of voters prior to filing with the Secretary of State.
* Have the registrar of voters in the municipality where you are registered to vote complete the "Certification of Unenrollment."
* Sign a "Candidate’s Consent" before a notary public.
* Present the petitions to the Secretary of State for review.
* Comply with the campaign finance law regarding registration, record keeping and reporting requirements.

## Recent legislation[edit]

The following is a list of recent education bills that have been introduced in or passed by the Maine state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

## Education ballot measures[edit]

See also: Education on the ballot and List of Maine ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following statewide ballot measures relating to education.

1. Maine Asbestos and Air Quality Hazards in State Facilities and Public Schools, Question 9 (1989)
2. Maine Baxter School for the Deaf Safety Improvements, Question 8 (1994)
3. Maine Bond Interest for York County Vocational Education Center, Referendum Question No. 1 (1970)
4. Maine Boys' Training Center, State Prison and Stevens School, Referendum Question No. 5 (1965)
5. Maine Capitalize School Revolving Renovation Fund, Question 4 (2001)
6. Maine College and Vocational-Technical Classroom Facilities, Referendum Question No. 2 (1967)
7. Maine Colleges and Vocational-Technical Institutes Student Housing and Dining, Referendum Question No. 4 (1967)
8. Maine Common Core Referendum (2015)
9. Maine Community College System Building Upgrade Bond, Question 5 (2013)
10. Maine Cost-Sharing Taxes for Education, Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 6 (1978)
11. Maine Educational Facilities and Land Acquisition, Referendum Question No. 9 (1969)
12. Maine Educational Television Network, Referendum Question (1962)
13. Maine Educational and Cultural Improvements, Question 3 (2007)
14. Maine Emergency School Maintenance Problems, Question No. 3 (1990)
15. Maine Farmington State College Women's Dormitories, Referendum Question No. 2B (1968)
16. Maine Fort Kent State College Multi-Purpose Building, Referendum Question No. 1 (1967)
17. Maine Foundation Program School Subsidies, Referendum Question No. 4 (1969)
18. Maine Gould Academic Building Appropriations Use, Referendum Question No. 4 (1970)
19. Maine Higher Education Campuses Improvements, Question 6 (2005)
20. Maine Higher Education Loans, Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 2 (1967)
21. Maine Higher Education Loans, Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 (1971)
22. Maine Higher Education Loans to Parents, Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 2 (1982)
23. Maine Leavitt Hall at Maine Maritime Academy Renovation, Referendum Question No. 2 (1977)
24. Maine Maritime Academy Dining Facility, Referendum Question No. 1 (1963)
25. Maine Maritime Academy Dormitories, Referendum Question No. 2A (1968)
26. Maine Maritime Academy Pier Reconstruction, Question 5 (1987)
27. Maine Native American Reservation School, Water and Sewage Facilities, Referendum Question No. 1 (1968)
28. Maine Northern Vocational-Technical Institute Dormitory, Referendum Question (1978)
29. Maine Old Age Assistance and Minimum Education, Referendum Question (1937)
30. Maine Public Learning Centers Improvements, Question 6 (2001)
31. Maine Question 4, University of Maine System Bond Issue (2018)
32. Maine Question 5, Community Colleges Bond Issue (2018)
33. Maine Repeal of the School Consolidation Laws (2008)
34. Maine School, Technical and Vocational Centers Construction, Referendum Question No. 6 (1967)
35. Maine School, Technical and Vocational Centers Construction, Referendum Question No. 7 (1969)
36. Maine School Building Authority Bond Issue Adjustment, Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 (1981)
37. Maine School Building Authority and Municipal Debt Limits, Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 (1955)
38. Maine School Building Construction, Referendum Question No. 2 (1970)
39. Maine School Building Construction, Referendum Question No. 2 (1974)
40. Maine School Bus Acquisition, Question 8 (1987)
41. Maine School Compliance with Educational Reform Law and Mental Health Institute Activity Building, Bond Issue 4 (1986)
42. Maine School Consolidation Referendum (2008)
43. Maine School Consolidation Repeal and Replacement, Question 3 (2009)
44. Maine School Finance and Tax Reform, Question 1 (2003)
45. Maine School Finance and Tax Reform Carry-over, Question 1 (2004)
46. Maine School Revolving Renovation Fund, Sprinkler Grants and Homeless Center for Teenagers, Question 1 (2002)
47. Maine State Guaranteed Loans for Private Colleges, Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 1 (1969)
48. Maine State Insured School Building Authority Loans, Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 4 (1969)
49. Maine State Teachers College Student Housing, Referendum Question No. 2 (1961)
50. Maine State Teachers Colleges Student Housing, Referendum Question No. 3 (1963)
51. Maine Statewide Library Information System, Question 1 (1996)
52. Maine Tax on Incomes Exceeding $200,000 for Public Education, Question 2 (2016)
53. Maine Teachers Colleges and Vocational-Technical Schools Student Housing and Dining, Referendum Question No. 1 (1965)
54. Maine Technical Colleges Infrastructure Improvements, Question 6 (1999)
55. Maine Telecommunications Infrastructure and Classroom Technology Equipment, Question 3 (1995)
56. Maine Training Equipment for Technical Colleges, Question 7 (1994)
57. Maine Tuition for Unemployed, Full-Time Technical College Students, Question 5 (1992)
58. Maine University, Community College, Maritime Academy and State Library Improvements, Question 5 (2003)
59. Maine University Buildings, Bond Issue 3 (1984)
60. Maine University Capital Improvements, Referendum Question No. 4 (1965)
61. Maine University Classroom Expansion and Improvement, Referendum Question No. 1 (1969)
62. Maine University Classroom Expansion and Improvement, Referendum Question No. 2 (1972)
63. Maine University Classroom Expansion and Improvement, Referendum Question No. 3 (1970)
64. Maine University Classroom Facilities Expansion, Referendum Question No. 4 (1967)
65. Maine University Construction and Renovations, Referendum Question No. 3 (1977)
66. Maine University Housing, Referendum Question No. 3 (1959)
67. Maine University Housing, Referendum Question No. 3 (1965)
68. Maine University Housing Renovation, Referendum Question No. 1 (1975)
69. Maine University Research and Advanced Study Building, Referendum Question No. 7 (1967)
70. Maine University System Academic Improvements, Question 4 (1994)
71. Maine University System Bond, Question 2 (2013)
72. Maine University System Construction and Upgrades, Question 6 (1988)
73. Maine University System Facilities Upgrade, Bond Issue 9 (1986)
74. Maine Veterans' Mortgage Loans and School Building Authority Bond Issue Adjustments (1976)
75. Maine Vocational-Technical Institutes Buildings and Maritime Academy Tugboat, Bond Issue 1 (1984)
76. Maine Vocational-Technical Institutes Construction Projects, Referendum Question No. 4 (1977)
77. Maine Vocational-Technical Institutes Equipment and Land Purchases, Bond Issue 7 (1985)
78. Maine Vocational-Technical Institutes System Capital Improvements, Question 5 (1989)
79. Maine Vocational-Technical Institutes and Boys Training Center Funding, Referendum Question No. 2 (1970)
80. Maine Vocational-Technical Institutes and Maritime Academy Improvements, Referendum Question (1980)
81. Maine Vocational High Schools Capital Expenses, Question 3 (1998)
82. Maine Vocational Technical and Reservation Schools Funding, Referendum Question No. 1 (1972)
83. Maine York County Regional Vocational Education Center, Referendum Question No. 6 (1965)

## In the news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Maine education policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Public education in Maine - Google News

## See also[edit]

* Historical public education information in Maine
* Maine state budget and finances
* Maine Department of Education
* List of school districts in Maine
* School choice in Maine
* Charter schools in Maine
* Maine
* Education Policy in the U.S.

## External links[edit]

* Maine Department of Education (MDOE)
* Maine State Board of Education
* Yearly AYP status of Maine schools (MDOE)
* MDOE Legislation and Rulemaking

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD); Table 2.—Number of operating public schools and districts, state enrollment, teacher and pupil/teacher ratio by state: School year 2012-13," accessed May 29, 2015
2. ↑ National Association of State Budget Officers, "State expenditure report, Fiscal years 2012-2014," accessed July 14, 2015
3. ↑ United States Department of Education, "ED Data Express," accessed May 29, 2015
4. ↑ Common Core State Standards Initiative, "Core Standards in your State," accessed June 12, 2014
5. ↑ Maine Department of Education, "Maine Learning Results: Updated To Reflect the Common Core Standards," accessed June 17, 2014
6. ↑ Education Week, "Maine Leaves Common-Core Test Consortium," June 22, 2015
7. ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "Title I - Improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged," accessed May 29, 2015
8. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD), State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey, 2011-2012," accessed May 7, 2014
9. ↑ U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), "Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey, SY 2012–13 Provisional Version 1a," accessed March 2, 2016
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 United States Department of Education, ED Data Express, "State Tables," accessed May 13, 2014
11. ↑ ACT, "2012 ACT National and State Scores," accessed May 13, 2014
12. ↑ Commonwealth Foundation, "SAT Scores by State 2013," October 10, 2013
13. ↑ StudyPoints, "What's a good SAT score or ACT score?" accessed June 7, 2015
14. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD), State Dropout and Graduation Rate Data File, School Year 2010-11, Provision Version 1a and School Year 2011-12, Preliminary Version 1a," accessed May 13, 2014
15. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue: "Petition for a writ of certiorari," accessed July 3, 2019
16. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, decided June 30, 2020
17. ↑ NASBO, "State Expenditure Report," accessed July 2, 2015
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 U.S. Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division Reports," accessed July 2, 2015
19. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2011–12 (Fiscal Year 2012)," accessed July 2, 2015
20. ↑ Maciver Institute, "REPORT: How much are teachers really paid?" accessed October 29, 2014
21. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 211.60. Estimated average annual salary of teachers in public elementary and secondary schools, by state: Selected years, 1969-70 through 2012-13," accessed May 13, 2014
22. ↑ Maine Department of Education, "Inside DOE," accessed May 20, 2014
23. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
24. ↑ Maine Revised Statutes, "Title 20-A, Part 1, Chapter 3, Subchapter 2, Section 251," accessed May 20, 2014
25. ↑ Maine Department of Education, "Commissioner's Office," accessed May 20, 2014
26. ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Superintendents urge LePage to appoint permanent education commissioner," accessed July 31, 2016
27. ↑ Portland Press Herald, "LePage signs order that keeps embattled education chief in office," accessed August 1, 2016
28. ↑ Maine State Board of Education, "About the Maine State Board of Education," accessed May 20, 2014
29. ↑ Thomas E Fordham Institute, " How Strong Are U.S. Teacher Unions? A State-By-State Comparison," October 29, 2012
30. ↑ Center for Union Facts, "Maine Education Association," accessed May 12, 2010
31. ↑ Center for Union Facts, "Maine teachers unions," accessed May 12, 2010
32. ↑ Department of Audit, "Home page," accessed October 24, 2009
33. ↑ Education Week "Quality Counts 2014," accessed February 19, 2015
34. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Maine," accessed July 11, 2014
35. ↑ MSBA Handbook, "School Structure and Governance," accessed July 11, 2014
36. ↑ Maine Secretary of State, "Maine Candidate Guide," accessed July 11, 2014

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