An Act To Establish a Process for the Consideration and Implementation of Changes to School Curricula

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4710-C  is enacted to read:

§ 4710-C.  Establishment or substantial expansion of mandated instruction or training

A joint standing committee of the Legislature that considers proposed legislation to establish mandated instruction or training for students in elementary or secondary school not required under this Title or rules adopted pursuant to this Title or substantially expand mandated instruction or training for students in elementary or secondary school shall evaluate the proposed legislation in accordance with this section.

summary

This bill requires that, upon referral of proposed legislation to establish or substantially expand mandated instruction or training in public schools, the joint standing committee of the Legislature considering the proposal must request that the Commissioner of Education convene a review committee to review whether the subject of the proposal is already addressed within existing courses of study aligned with the system of learning results and, if it is not, analyze the impact of establishing or substantially expanding the mandated instruction or training, including the availability of resources, staff expertise, the number of required courses of study that already exist and the available hours of instruction. The commissioner is directed to submit a final report to the joint standing committee that includes any legislation required to implement the commissioner's recommendations.