2018-04-06 Update
2018-03-05 -
Weekly update -
An Important Look Ahead for those intersted in
education.
The Education and Cultural Affairs Committee has been very involved with the status of the proficiency based diploma system. We have spent a great part of the last month debating its merits and its liabilities.
To that end, two important - similar but different - bills are being heard on Monday, April 9, 2018.
PUBLIC HEARING: Monday, April 09, 2018, 1:30 PM, Cross Building, Room 202
L.D. 1898 - Bill "An Act To Amend Maine's High School Diploma Standards and Ensure Maine Students Meet State Standards upon Graduation" (HP1336) (Presented by Representative GINZLER of Bridgton)
L.D. 1900 - Bill "An Act To Repeal Proficiency-based Diplomas" (HP1338)
Feel free to write to your represenative, submit testimony, or deliver testimony at this hearing.
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Minimum Wage
Bill -
LD 1757 - "An Act To Protect
Maine's Economy by Slowing the Rate at Which the State's Minimum Wage Will
Increase and Establishing a Training and Youth Wage"
This is an important bill. It has surfaced
repeatedly during the two years since the election. And it’s
complex. On the one hand, we want to be sure that employers continue
to employ, while we also want to be sure that employees can earn a
reasonable wage.
However, the voters of Maine have clearly
expressed an opinion - that the minimum wage should rise in steps to
$12.00 an hour. The mandate of that referendum was clear.
Child Development Services Bill
LD 1870. "An Act To
Reorganize the Provision of Services for Children with Disabilities from
Birth to 5 Years of Age
After hearing several related
discussions and proposals regarding the status and the future of Child
Development Services, the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee finally
passed a divided report to create a task force for reforming this
important and vital service.
This was a long process. Child
Development Services was originally developed 40 years ago to serve the
development needs of youngsters in two age categories - ages brith to
three and then ages three to five when the child entered
school. Early identification of child development needs is
essential, as the earliest years of life are so important to later
educational success.
In recent years, CDS has been overwhelmed and
underfunded. Other states serve developmentally delayed students
from within currently existing school structures. Alternatively, Maine had
a history of creating a quasi-independent state agency to manage, oversee,
and deliver services to these children.
The movement of CDS to the
DOE is a huge undertaking. Such an endeavor takes time, planning,
and funding. The Education and Cultural Affairs Committee felt that
such an endeavor warrants a the review and planning of a task force.
House Calendars
Weekly Calendar of Legislative Events/Meetings
Bill
Text can be found using this link called Directory of
Bills
Bill
Text
Link to Bill Status
Bill Status
Events Calendars
Click this link ot see an events calendar - Events
Or, see the calendar in the side bar to the left.
As
always, feel free to contact me at rfuller@mainenet.org
