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An Act To Restore Local Control of Education to Towns
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §253, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 669, §1, is repealed.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §2413, sub-§2, ¶K  is enacted to read:
 
K.  A school administrative unit may establish a method of transferring funds to a public charter school that is an alternative to the method provided in this subsection.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 669, §3, is further amended to read:
 
1. General requirements.   Elementary and secondary schools and school administrative units, including an educational program or school located in or operated by a juvenile correctional facility, shall meet all requirements of the system of learning results as established in section 6209 as well as other requirements of this Title and other statutory requirements applicable to the public schools and basic school approval standards. Each school administrative unit shall prepare and implement a comprehensive education plan that is aligned with the system of learning results, focused on the learning of all students and oriented to continuous improvement. The comprehensive education plan must include a plan for transitioning to proficiency-based graduation in accordance with section 4722-A. This plan must also address all other plans required by the department.
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§8, ¶¶B and C, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 669, §5, are repealed.
Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §4722, sub-§§7 and 8, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 669, §6, are repealed.
Sec. 6. 20-A MRSA §4722-A, as amended by PL 2013, c. 439, §4, is repealed.
Sec. 7.  20-A MRSA §6209, sub-§5  is enacted to read:
 
5.  Opt out.     A school administrative unit may elect to establish standards that are an alternative to the core of standards in English language arts and mathematics for kindergarten to grade 12 established in common with the other states pursuant to this section and statewide assessments established pursuant to subsection 1-A.
Sec. 8. 20-A MRSA §13016, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 669, §8, is further amended to read:
 
2. Professional teacher certificates.   A professional teacher certificate may be renewed for 5-year periods in accordance with state board rules, which must require, at a minimum, that the teacher complete at least 6 hours of professional or academic study, or in-service training designed to improve the performance of the teacher in the field for which the teacher holds an endorsement, or in a related subject area, or to improve the teacher's knowledge of, and skill in, standards-based education. Teachers who desire to qualify for a master teacher certificate must coordinate their continuing professional education with the requirements of an applicable teacher action plan.
Sec. 9. 20-A MRSA §13702, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 635, Pt. A, §3, is amended to read:
§ 13702.Local development and implementation of system
Each school administrative unit shallmay develop and implement a performance evaluation and professional growth system for educators. TheA system developed under this section must meet the criteria set forth in this chapter and rules adopted pursuant to this chapter and must be approved by the department.
Sec. 10. 20-A MRSA §15688-A, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. C, §12, is repealed.
 
SUMMARY
This bill repeals the laws governing proficiency-based graduation requirements. It provides that a school administrative unit may elect to opt out of the so-called Common Core State Standards and statewide student assessments. It provides that a school administrative unit may establish a method of transferring funds to a public charter school that is an alternative to the current method. It makes it optional, instead of mandatory, for a school administrative unit to develop and implement a performance evaluation and professional growth system for educators.