This rule establishes the substantive school approval standards pertaining to public schools. Public schools comprise: schools governed by a school board of a school administrative unit, including authorized public charter schools; career and technical education regions; schools in the Unorganized Territory; magnet schools; the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Governor Baxter School for the Deaf; and any school located in or operated by a juvenile correctional facility. This rule establishes procedures for comprehensive reviews of these school administrative units and schools by which the Commissioner will determine compliance with applicable standards and methods of enforcement for ensuring compliance.
Note: Although listed here due to its regional nature, it should be noted that 20-A M.R.S. §8451 states that a career and technical education region "shall function as an extension of the secondary schools and middle schools located within the region's boundaries."
Each school administrative unit shall provide a free, public education for its resident students and shall meet all school approval requirements of Title 20-A, Maine Revised Statutes (20-A M.R.S.), other statutes, rules applicable to the operation of public schools, and the requirements of this rule.
Parents shall be responsible for the education of a child not educated at public expense. Students are not required to meet the content standards of the system of Learning Results established in Maine Department of Education Regulation 131 unless enrolled in a public school, a private school approved for attendance purposes pursuant to 20-A M.R.S. §2902, or in a private school approved for tuition purposes that enrolls at least 60% publicly funded students pursuant to 20-A M.R.S. §2951(6).
05-071 C.M.R. ch. 125, § 1