SENATE UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTS LOCAL DECISION MAKING BY SUPERINTENDENTS

Measure limits DOE Commissioner’s authority to overrule and bypass superintendent decisions

AUGUSTA–Today, in a unanimous vote, the Senate affirmed local control by superintendents to limit overreach by the Commissioner of the Department of Education to unilaterally bypass or overrule superintendents’ decisions on student transfers.

“Passing this bill strengthens local control and  improves the relationship between superintendents and parents,” said Senator Rebecca Millett of Cape Elizabeth, the Senate Chair of the Education Committee. “Furthermore it improves transparency.”

Currently, superintendents from the sending and receiving schools must agree to allow a student to change schools. In 2012 more than 90 percent of transfer requests were approved at the local level.

If denied a transfer request, parents can appeal the local decision to the Education Commissioner. In 2012, 92 decisions were appealed to Commissioner Stephen Bowen, and he overruled the superintendents in 86 cases, siding with superintendents only six times.

With passage of this bill, superintendents and parents can appeal the Commissioner of Education’s decisions to the Board of Education.
Millett added, “This appeal process will allow for further vetting and consideration of important decisions impacting students.”

The bill, LD 530, “An Act To Ensure That the Standard of a Student’s Best Interest Is Applied to Superintendent Agreements for Transfer Students,” faces more votes in the Senate and the House.

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