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An Act To Expand Educational Opportunities for Maine Students
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §5205, sub-§6-A  is enacted to read:
 
6-A.  Interdistrict enrollment policies.     The school boards of 2 or more school administrative units may adopt mutual policies allowing the transfer of students, with parental approval, among the participating units. The policies must set forth procedures and standards governing the transfers, including but not limited to the school year or years in which the policy applies, application procedures and standards of responsibility for transportation and special education. Each school board adopting a policy under this subsection shall file a copy of the policy with the department prior to the effective date of that policy and shall provide timely notice of the policy to residents of the school administrative unit governed by that school board. For the purposes of chapter 606-B, a student transferred under this subsection is considered a resident of the school administrative unit to which the student transferred.
Sec. 2. Department of Education to convene a stakeholder group to develop a public school choice model. The Commissioner of Education, or a designee of the commissioner, shall convene a stakeholder group and shall invite the participation of a representative from the Maine School Board Association, the Maine Principals' Association, the Maine Education Association and the Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities; a superintendent from a rural part of the State and a superintendent from an urban part of the State, named by the Maine School Superintendents Association; and 6 other members, including parents and others with an interest in education issues, appointed by the Governor. The stakeholder group shall develop a publicly funded school choice model that addresses the difficulties inherent in transportation, funding, educating disadvantaged children and educating and transporting children receiving special education services.
The Commissioner of Education shall report the stakeholder group's findings, including a proposed public school choice model, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters by January 14, 2013. The committee is authorized to introduce a bill related to the report to the First Regular Session of the 126th Legislature.
Sec. 3. Superintendents' agreements revisited.  The Commissioner of Education shall communicate with superintendents and school boards of school administrative units and clarify the law with regard to superintendents' agreements regarding placement of students and interdistrict enrollment policies pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 5205, subsection 6-A.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 125th Legislature, Second Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.