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ME LD1719

ME LD1719
An Act Regarding Superintendent Agreements for Transfer Students


summary

Introduced
04/17/2025
In Committee
04/17/2025
Crossed Over
06/13/2025
Passed
Dead
06/16/2025

Introduced Session

132nd Legislature

Bill Summary

This bill modifies the provisions of law governing requests to transfer a student from one school administrative unit to another school administrative unit. The bill clarifies when during the school year a student's parent may request a transfer for the current school year or for the following school year. The bill clarifies that a transfer request is initiated with the superintendent of the school administrative unit where the student resides and that the superintendent must consult with the superintendent of the school to which the student's parent is requesting the student be transferred before approving or denying the transfer. The bill also clarifies that both superintendents must approve the transfer and if one denies the transfer request, the transfer request is denied. The bill modifies the existing processes for reviewing transfer request determinations. In current law, a parent may request that the Commissioner of Education review a transfer decision, and the commissioner must review the superintendents' decisions, communicate with the parties and either approve or deny the request. In current law, a parent may also request the commissioner's decision be reviewed by the State Board of Education, which must either approve or deny the transfer request. The bill modifies this process by establishing different standards of review for a case where a request is denied by only one of the superintendents versus a case where both superintendents have denied the request. The bill specifies that only requests that have been denied by one but not both superintendents may be referred to the state board for an additional review after the commissioner has reviewed the superintendents' determinations. The bill also provides that, for the determinations of the commissioner that may be referred to the state board, the superintendents involved and the student's parent are authorized to request that the state board review the commissioner's decision. The bill provides additional details concerning the subject matter of the reviews conducted by the commissioner and the state board, the materials that must be reviewed, with whom the commissioner may confer and the effect of the commissioner's and state board's determinations on the status of the transfer request.

AI Summary

This bill modifies the legal process for students transferring between school administrative units in Maine. It establishes new rules for how and when parents can request student transfers, requiring that requests for the current school year can be made at any time, while requests for the following school year can only be submitted after April 15th. The bill mandates that transfer requests must be initiated with the superintendent of the student's current school administrative unit, who must then consult with the superintendent of the proposed transfer school. Both superintendents must approve the transfer, and if either denies it, the transfer is not approved. The bill also creates a detailed review process for denied transfer requests, allowing parents to first request a review by the Commissioner of Education. If only one superintendent has denied the transfer, the Commissioner will review whether the transfer is in the best interest of the student and if proper procedures were followed. Parents or superintendents can then request a review by the State Board of Education, which will examine the procedural aspects of the transfer decision. If both superintendents deny the transfer, the Commissioner can only review whether proper procedures were followed, and the decision becomes final. The bill aims to provide a clear, structured approach to student transfer requests with multiple levels of review to ensure fairness and proper process.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Died Between Houses, Jun 16, 2025 (on 06/16/2025)

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