Education Committee Meeting to Review Dept. of Education Budget, School District Reorganization and
September 15, 2009 -
AUGUSTA – The Joint Stand Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs will be holding work sessions on September 17th and September 18th to review the Department of Education’s budget, the education portion of the McKinsey Report: “Maine: Delivering Efficient Government,” and will receive a status report on school district reorganization. This status report will include information on the November referendum vote to repeal the law and what the next steps would be.
“We must be prepared for the countless challenges we will face when the session begins in January” said Senator Justin Alfond, Senate Chair of the Education Committee. “We know a cut to education is pending. These two days will give the committee more information to work with, allow us to set priorities and identify opportunities to be creative.”
The committee will also discuss the Reinventing Schools Coalition ("RISC") approach to learning, and connections between the work occurring in Maine since the adoption of the Learning Results and the next steps in transitioning to a standards-based system. There will be a requirements overview of the federal Response to Intervention (“RTI”) and a status report on implementing RTI in Maine schools, as
well as an overview reports for the University of Maine System “New Challenges, New Directions” initiative. This will include information on implementing a plan to create a way for the University of Maine System to economically meet the higher education needs of Maine people.
“Our top priority is Maine students. We need to ensure that our students receive a relevent, quality education that prepares them for the path they choose in life,” Senator Alfond said.
The Education Committee work sessions will be held in room 202 of the Cross State Office Building, on Thursday, September 17, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Friday, September 18, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
