Maine Education Matters: Recent Episodes

Matthew Shea

Matt Drewette-Card and Courtney Belolan, two educational leaders in Maine, give their thoughts on all things education-related in Maine, be it the laws and rules of education to the politics of such.

Matt says goodbye and thank you to all who helped follow and support this podcast over the years.

It breaks my heart to have to stop this podcast, but the time it takes to pull together vs the time I have in my life that I need to focus on family or finances ... well... arent balanced. And as such, I need to step away from it.

Will it be back? I dunno. Maybe. But in the meantime, keep following what's happening as best as you can, and I hope that if nothing else this little experiment has helped improve the transparency and accessibility of information coming out of Augusta in terms of Education Policy and legislation.

With all of my love,

Matt

Matt previews public hearings for the week of March 10, 2025.

LD 369, SP0161

An Act to Grant or Extend Conditional Teaching Certificates Under Certain Circumstances - Sen. James Libby of Cumberland

LD 470, SP0209

An Act to Require School Administrative Units to Adopt Mentoring Programs for Teachers and to Improve Existing Programs - Sen. Joseph Rafferty of York

LD 696, SP0313

An Act to Bolster the Maine Teacher Residency Program - Sen. Teresa Pierce of Cumberland

LD 734, HP0476

An Act to Promote Voter Registration for Students in Maine's High Schools - Rep. Julie McCabe of Lewiston

LD 220, HP0143

An Act to Establish the Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Program in Order to Provide Funding for Students Attending Certain Private Schools and Students Receiving Home Instruction - Rep. Barbara Bagshaw of Windham

LD 282, HP0182

An Act to Raise the Limit on the Total Number of Public Charter Schools - Rep. Gary Drinkwater of Milford

LD 420, HP0274

An Act to Fund the Carleton Project to Provide Additional Access to a Nontraditional Secondary School - Rep. Gregg Swallow of Houlton

LD 482, HP0311

An Act to Expand Educational Opportunities and Broaden Educational Services for Students Enrolled in Equivalent Instruction Programs - Rep. Barbara Bagshaw of Windham

LD 512, SP0230

An Act to Provide Educational Opportunities for Students in Secondary Schools with 200 or Fewer Students - Sen. Stacey Guerin of Penobscot

LD 21, SP0034

An Act to Update the Provision of Law Concerning Student Codes of Conduct in Order to Reflect Best Practices Regarding Behavioral Threat Assessment and Response - Sen. Joseph Rafferty of York

LD 168, HP0101

An Act to Improve Safety in Public Schools by Requiring Silent Electronic Notification Systems in Classrooms - Rep. David Sinclair of Bath

LD 808, HP0515

An Act to Require School Boards and Governing Bodies of Approved Private Schools to Implement Wearable Panic Alert Systems - Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio of Sanford1:00 pm Public Hearing

LD 165, HP0098

An Act to Allow School Boards to Expel or Suspend Students Regardless of Grade Level - Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias

LD 513, SP0232

An Act to Allow the Spouse of a School Board Member to Serve as a Stipend Employee Within the School Board's Jurisdiction - Sen. Marianne Moore of Washington

LD 817, HP0524

An Act to Remove Restrictions That Prohibit School Administrative Units from Making Purchases Through Cooperatives - Rep. Christina Mitchell of Cumberland

Matt previews public hearings and work sessions for the week of March 3, 2025.

Public Hearings:

LD 46, HP0010An Act to Establish a Grant Program to Increase Postsecondary Educational Opportunities for Students with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder - Rep. Kelly Murphy of Scarborough - Emergency

LD 198, SP0085An Act to Prohibit the University of Maine System Campus Police from Issuing a Citation or Summons Related to a Parking Violation to a Visitor of the University of Maine System - Sen. James Libby of Cumberland

LD 375, SP0170An Act to Require the University of Maine School of Law to Provide an Online Degree Program - Sen. Trey Stewart of Aroostook

LD 377, SP0133An Act to Establish a University of Maine Medical School and to Dedicate Funds from Raising the Cigarette Tax to the School - Sen. Joseph Baldacci of Penobscot

LD 457, SP0190An Act to Fund Climate Resiliency Projects Related to the Repair of Campus Infrastructure Used for Active Transportation and Outdoor Recreation - Sen. Anne Carney of Cumberland

LD 471, SP0210Resolve, to Establish a Pilot Program to Expand Intensive English Language Learner Programs - Sen. Joseph Rafferty of York

Work Sessions for March 5, 2025

LD 34, SP0053An Act to Increase the Minimum Salary for Teachers - Sen. Teresa Pierce of Cumberland

LD 71, HP0035An Act Regarding Special Education Funding - Rep. Kristi Mathieson of Kittery

LD 98, HP0063An Act to Include School Counselors in the Educators for Maine Program - Rep. Michael Brennan of Portland

LD 181, HP0114An Act to Modify the Calculation of Pupil Counts Used for Determination of School Administrative Unit Operating Costs - Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias

LD 193, HP0126An Act to Fund Students in Maine Schools Who Are Experiencing Homelessness - Rep. Marshall Archer of Saco

LD 501, HP0330An Act to Fairly Fund School Administrative Units for Economically Disadvantaged Students - Rep. Kristen Cloutier of Lewiston

Work Sessions for March 6, 2025

LD 74, HP0038An Act to Update the System of Learning Results Review Timeline - Rep. Michael Brennan of Portland

LD 78, HP0042An Act to Require Elementary School Students to Learn Cursive Writing - Rep. Joseph Underwood of Presque Isle

LD 360, SP0151An Act Supporting the Dirigo Reads Literacy Program - Sen. Joseph Baldacci of Penobscot

LD 370, SP0162An Act to Raise the Minimum State Standard for Mathematics Education for a High School Diploma - Sen. James Libby of Cumberland

LD 396, SP0182An Act to Provide for a Later Starting Time for High Schools - President. Matthea Daughtry of Cumberland

LD 543, HP0362An Act to Enhance Maine's Wildlife Conservation Efforts and Preserve Maine's Sporting Heritage by Requiring Hunter Safety Education in Schools - Rep. Donald Ardell of Monticello

Matt previews public hearings for:

Judiciary Committee:

LD 537 An Act to Prohibit the Doxing of a Minor and to Authorize a Related Civil Action - Rep. Melanie Sachs of Freeport

Education and Cultural Affairs Committee:
LD 34 An Act to Increase the Minimum Salary for Teachers - Sen. Teresa Pierce of Cumberland

LD 71 An Act Regarding Special Education Funding - Rep. Kristi Mathieson of Kittery

LD 98 An Act to Include School Counselors in the Educators for Maine Program - Rep. Michael Brennan of Portland

LD 181 An Act to Modify the Calculation of Pupil Counts Used for Determination of School Administrative Unit Operating Costs - Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias

LD 193 An Act to Fund Students in Maine Schools Who Are Experiencing Homelessness - Rep. Marshall Archer of Saco

LD 501 An Act to Fairly Fund School Administrative Units for Economically Disadvantaged Students - Rep. Kristen Cloutier of Lewiston

LD 74 An Act to Update the System of Learning Results Review Timeline - Rep. Michael Brennan of Portland

LD 78 An Act to Require Elementary School Students to Learn Cursive Writing - Rep. Joseph Underwood of Presque Isle

LD 315 An Act to Add a Personal Finance Course to the State Graduation Requirements in High Schools - Rep. Ed Crockett of Portland

LD 360 An Act Supporting the Dirigo Reads Literacy Program - Sen. Joseph Baldacci of Penobscot

LD 370 An Act to Raise the Minimum State Standard for Mathematics Education for a High School Diploma - Sen. James Libby of Cumberland

LD 396 An Act to Provide for a Later Starting Time for High Schools - President. Matthea Daughtry of Cumberland

LD 543An Act to Enhance Maine's Wildlife Conservation Efforts and Preserve Maine's Sporting Heritage by Requiring Hunter Safety Education in Schools - Rep. Donald Ardell of Monticello

Matt begins the 132nd Legislative Session review with an announcement that the podcast is changing! How will it change? Glad you asked.

The world has changed, in many profound personal ways, and Matt is struggling to find the time to make this podcast what it should be, and what he wants it to be. He wants to keep doing it, but time is valuable and he needs to spend his time wisely and make sure he can mitigate the rising costs of living.

So here's what we're going to do: we're stating aMaine Education Matters Patreon to offer tiered subscriptions for more info on the work that we do for this podcast.

For Free:

A briefer, more bullet-point version of the podcast will remain free on the main feeds, like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc. This briefer version will be mostly informative about upcoming public hearings and work sessions, to keep you informed of whats coming next.

Tier 1: #Faithful17($5/month)

Gain access to a podcast with more in-depth look at upcoming legislation, testimony, and policy. Plus, whatever nonsense Matt decides to throw in on that day.

Gain access to the Maine Education Matters Legislation Tracker.

Tier 2: Happy-ish Hour!

Join Matt for a free-flowing conversation about education policy, legislation, leadership, innovation, and anything else that's on your mind!

Every week, Matt will send out a link to a meeting room so members can connect and discuss the goings on in Ed policy, innovation, legislation, and more.

Plus: all the benefits of the #Faithful17 Tier!

Oh, also in this episode...Matt reviews the first Public Hearing for a bill on Military-Connected Students and Students in Unorganized Territories.

Thank you for your support!

Matt reviews some of the names, and names only, of upcoming bills for the 132nd Legislative Session.

Audio updated (1/4/2025)

Matt talks about cell phone bans, AI, and Edutopia's 10 Most Significant Education Studies from 2024.

Hey there, faithful seventeen listeners!

Yes! We're coming back for the 132nd First session starting in January. Matt talks about a few upcoming episodes and what to expect-ish for this next session.

This episode was produced and edited by Matt Drewette-Card

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Matt & Matt discuss the goings on at the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee from Feb 13, 2024 - Feb 26, 2024. Plus: Matt drinks more Moxie, and Matt drops a tease for our next episode.

Hosted by Matt Drewette-Card and Matthew Shea

This episode was produced and edited by Matt Drewette-Card.

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Matt and Matt celebrate the 200th episode of Maine Education Matters and are joined by former co-hosts Courtney Belolan and Lady Julie Smyth. Plus: Matt holds up a promise.

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Matt & Matt review the public hearings and worksessions for the week of January 29th, including some not-brief briefings and then preview the next week. Plus: a hair story!

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Matt & Matt review the worksessions and public hearings for the week of January 22, 2024, and preview the week of January 29, 2024. Plus: lots of time travel talk and a tuba is mentioned.

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Matt and Matt review the Worksessions from January 16, 2024, and preview the Public Hearings and Work Sessions for January 23, 24, and 25.

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Matt & Matt review the Public Hearings from January 9 & January 11, and preview the Worksessions for January 16.

Follow along with all of the legislation for this session here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FjDDXGrg98_BwdzBimm8xh54JJFlbEhQG3fB8i4yT6M/edit?usp=sharing

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Matt and his new(?) cohost preview the 2nd session of the 131st Maine Legislature by looking at some of the upcoming titles and no other contexts!

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Matt doesn't feel like working (#onbrand) so he's reposting his already recorded "Pathway to Legislation" episode from December 2022, as we get ready for the 2nd session of the 131st Legislature in Maine.

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Matt dives into a few more of the bills that were passed in the 1st session of the 131st Legislative session.

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Matt recaps some of the bills passed in the first session of Maine's 131st Legislative Session, using the "Annual Legislative Update" from Drummond Woodsum (https://dwmlaw.com/) as a guide.

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We're back!!!

Season 9 is upon us, and Maine Education Matters is BACK! This episode, Matt describes some upcoming episodes to "wet our whistles" in preparation for the 2nd Session of the 131st Legislature, including:

2023 Recap and Review
2024 Carryover Bills
2024 Bill Titles
Path of Legislation
Education and Cultural Affairs Committee Members
Study Groups

For more info on the 1st Session of the 131st Legislature, click here for our spreadsheet of all of the bills we followed: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FjDDXGrg98_BwdzBimm8xh54JJFlbEhQG3fB8i4yT6M/edit?usp=drive_link

Thanks for downloading and listening!

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Matt begins to look back at what was the first session of the 131st legislature by reviewing some of the bills that were passed, enacted, and signed.

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Matt talks about some bills being carried over to the next session, congratulates the new Maine State Butterfly, puts in a request for the Maine Department of Education, and spends a lot of time talking about... time.

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Matt @DrewetteCard returns to his ASMR practices and reviews the Work Session votes from the week of May 15 and previews the Work Sessions for the week of May 22.

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Matt @DrewetteCard looks ahead to the week of May 15 and the nearly 30 bills going to Work Session. Plus Matt dives back into the May 11 Public Hearings (Parents Rights in Education Day) because there was some what-what-what moments that left him stunned.

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Matt @DrewetteCard previews 3 of the 4 days of Public Hearings for the week of May 8, 2023. The 4th day (May 11th) was covered extensively in podcast #185.

Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FjDDXGrg98_BwdzBimm8xh54JJFlbEhQG3fB8i4yT6M/edit?usp=sharing

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Matt @DrewetteCard previews the May 11 public hearing day which is all about parents rights in education, curriculum transparency, and ideology in the classroom. Matt reviews each of the 7 bills being heard that day, and has some help to (ack) discuss the various (ack ack) acts and enactments (ack ack ack) of the day. Ack. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maineeducationmatters/support

Matt @DrewetteCard spends a lot longer than anticipated in previewing the May 4th Public Hearing.

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Matt @DrewetteCard spends way more time than he meant to in preparing for the public hearings and worksessions on May 1, 2, 3, and 4. It's gonna be another special and hard week at the committee, so get yourselves ready and if you can, provide testimony! The Committee members need to hear from you, our #faithful17 listeners!

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Matt @DrewetteCards returns to Rant Island in this episode of reviewing the Work Sessions and Public Hearings for the week of April 24-28.

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Matt @DrewetteCard drops a SURPRISE bonus episode that highlights the public hearing happening on April 24, 2023 at the JUDICIARY committee. The Public Hearing for LD 1412 "RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Establishing That All Maine Residents Have Equal Rights Under the Law" is happening at 9am on Monday, April 24, 2023.

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Matt @DrewetteCard reviews the Maine Education and Cultural Affairs work session from April 19, 2023, and previews their week of April 24. It's gonna be a bumpy week, and Matt really isn't ready for it.

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Matt @DrewetteCard previews the Public Hearings and Work Sessions for the week of April 17, 2023. Plus, Matt rants for a bit.

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Matt @DrewetteCard recaps the April 10 work session from the Education and Cultural Affairs committee, which covered all of the bills related to immunizations and vaccinations (religious/philosophical exemptions, COVID mandates, etc), and engages in some slight ranting.

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Matt @DrewetteCard previews the April 10 Work Session (#VAXDAY votes!), the Public Hearings on April 11, 12,and 13, and dives into "Major Substantive Rules" and how they differ from more common Acts and Resolves.

Plus, Matt discusses some of the emerging themes coming out of this legislative session, and has some thoughts on them.

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Matt @DrewetteCard previews the upcoming Public Hearings and Work Session for the week of April 4, 2023. And the first day is all about immunizations and religious and philosophical exemptions for those immunizations. Matt has some thoughts... .

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Matt @DrewetteCard races through the public hearings and work sessions for the week of March 27, 2023.

Get all the info on the bills here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FjDDXGrg98_BwdzBimm8xh54JJFlbEhQG3fB8i4yT6M/edit?usp=sharing

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Matt @DrewetteCard previews the Public Hearings for March 21, 22, and 23. There are too many to list in the number of characters I'm allowed to enter into these notes. For the record: this box allows for 4000 characters. And there wasn't enough room.

Check our spreadsheet for details on the specific LDs that are being heard: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FjDDXGrg98_BwdzBimm8xh54JJFlbEhQG3fB8i4yT6M/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks for listening!

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Matt (@DrewetteCard) previews the Public Hearings and Work Sessions for March 14, 15, 16, 2023

Click here to access the Maine Education Matters Bill Tracking Spreadsheet

Education and Cultural Affairs Committee Page

Tuesday, March 14: Public Hearing

LD 335: An Act to Improve Educator Certification Response Times
LD 712: An Act to Extend or Waive Requirements for Certain Teaching Certificates
LD 753: An Act to Allow Retired Teachers and Educational Technicians to Be Recertified
LD 829: An Act to Improve Behavioral Health Support for Students in Public Schools

Wednesday, March 1: Public Hearing

LD 213 (Emergency): An Act to Maintain the Authority of the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering
LD 669: An Act to Create the Public Art Fund
LD 830: Resolve, Directing the Maine Community College System to Study Providing On-campus Housing on All Campuses
LD 881: Resolve, Directing the University of Maine System to Study the Development of a Course Regarding the Use of Manufactured Wood Products
LD 897: An Act Regarding the University of Maine System Hiring Practices

Thursday, March 16: Work Session

LD 100: An Act to Require an Annual Financial Audit of a Private School Approved for Tuition Purposes
LD 253: An Act to Add Health and Physical Education Requirements to High School Diploma Standards
LD 386: An Act to Assist Schools with Heating and Transportation Fuel Costs During the School Year
LD 570: Resolve, to Provide Information to Maine's School Administrators and Maine Communities About the Financial Advantages of Modern Wood Heating

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Matt @DrewetteCard previews the upcoming week of public hearings and work sessions (March 6, 2023).

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Matt (@DrewetteCard) deviates from the normal Public Hearing / Work Session talk and previews 5 bills that when they come before the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee could have a significant impact on the education landscape:

LD 51: An Act to Restore Religious and Philosophical Exemptions to Immunization Requirements
LD 52: An Act to Allow Certain School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property
LD 123: An Act to Eliminate the Educational Purposes Exception to the Prohibition on the Dissemination of Obscene Matter to Minors
LD 618: An Act to Eliminate Critical Race Theory, Social and Emotional Learning and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from School Curricula
LD 678: An Act to Require Parental Approval for Public School Employees to Use a Name or Pronoun Other than a Child's Given Name or Pronoun Corresponding to the Gender on the Child's Birth Certificate

Follow along with all of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee bills here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FjDDXGrg98_BwdzBimm8xh54JJFlbEhQG3fB8i4yT6M/edit?usp=sharing

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Matt @DrewetteCard reviews the testimony from the public hearing on February 9, 2023, focusing on these bills:

LD33: An Act to Expand Access to Career and Technical Education Opportunities for Middle School Students
LD156: An Act to Require Outdoor Recess Time for Students from Grade 6 to Grade 8
LD253: An Act to Add Health and Physical Education Requirements to High School Diploma Standards
LD257: An Act to Provide for a Later Starting Time for High Schools

Keep track of ALL Education-related legislation here: 131st Maine Education Bills (via Maine Education Matters)

Thanks for listening!

Twitter: @DrewetteCard, @MaineEdMatters

Facebook: www.facebook.com/maineeducationmatters

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Matt @DrewetteCard reviews Work Session VOTES from 2/7/23, quickly previews the Public Hearings on 2/14 and 2/16, and rambles on about high school start times for a bit. Someone needs a nap... or coffee... or both.

Keep track of the 131st Legislature's Edu-Related Bills here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XrDJiFjbnm11I_DrBvS8dq08xNtrBZrjRIXp3exZBXs/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks for listening!

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Matt previews the February 7 & 9, 2023 Public Hearings.

February 7

LD 64, HP0039An Act to Ensure In-state Tuition for Postsecondary Students Who Are Registered to Vote in the State - Rep. Shelley Rudnicki of Fairfield
LD 173, HP0114An Act Regarding the Responsibility for Technology Instruction Marketing Costs by the Maine Community College System - Rep. Dick Campbell of Orrington
LD 174, HP0115An Act to Return the Name of the Maine Community College System to the Maine Technical College System - Rep. Dick Campbell of Orrington

February 9

LD 33, SP0025An Act to Expand Access to Career and Technical Education Opportunities for Middle School Students - Sen. Joseph Rafferty of York
LD 79, HP0049An Act to Ensure a High-quality Education for Students with Disabilities by Clarifying the Definition of "State Agency Client" and Who Provides Special Education Programs and Services - Rep. Lydia Crafts of Newcastle
LD 156, HP0097An Act to Require Outdoor Recess Time for Students from Grade 6 to Grade 8 - Rep. Margaret Craven of Lewiston
LD 232, HP0153An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Bonding Restrictions for School Administrative Units - Rep. Tiffany Roberts of South Berwick
LD 253, SP0119An Act to Add Health and Physical Education Requirements to High School Diploma Standards - Sen. Matthea Daughtry of Cumberland
LD 257, SP0123An Act to Provide for a Later Starting Time for High Schools - Sen. Matthea Daughtry of Cumberland

131st Maine Education Bills (Spreadsheet): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XrDJiFjbnm11I_DrBvS8dq08xNtrBZrjRIXp3exZBXs/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us:

Twitter: @DrewetteCard, @MaineEdMatters

Facebook: facebook.com/maineeducationmatters

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Matt @DrewetteCard follows the lead of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee by dipping his toes into the 131st Legislative Session as the Committee has scheduled its first public hearings! Matt does a quick preview of the public hearings scheduled for January 31 and February 2, then does a quick check as the heat gets really turned up the first full week of February!

January 31 Public Hearing:

LD 98, HP0066An Act to Update the Special Education Laws - Rep. Michael Brennan of Portland
LD 142, HP0088An Act to Fund Climate-related Service Work - Rep. Morgan Rielly of Westbrook
LD 143, HP0089An Act to Support Rural Service Programming and Promote Volunteerism - Rep. Morgan Rielly of Westbrook

February 2 Public Hearing:

LD 15, HP0019An Act to Amend the Law Governing the State Grant Program Administered by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission - Rep. Jan Dodge of Belfast
LD 19, HP0023An Act to Authorize the National Institute of Funeral Service to Grant Associate Degrees - Rep. Victoria Doudera of Camden
LD 129, SP0068Resolve, to Direct the University of Maine System to Study the Feasibility of Establishing a Public Allopathic Medical School in Penobscot County - Sen. Joseph Baldacci of Penobscot

Thanks to Playing for Laughs for sponsoring this episode!

Join Playing for Laughs at their "Failed Resolutions" comedy improv show on Saturday, January 28th at 7:30pm. $10 General Admission at the door.

Go to https://www.theaterproject.com/p4l for more information.

Follow us:

Twitter: @DrewetteCard, @MaineEdMatters

Facebook: facebook.com/maineeducationmatters

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Matt straps in and buckles down as the 131st legislative session begins with the list of upcoming Bill Titles.

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Matt walks you through hows and whys of providing testimony on bills.

Thanks to our sponsor: Playing For Laughs!

www.facebook.com/playingforlaughs

www.instagram.com/playingforlaughs

www.theaterproject.com/p4l

Follow us:

www.facebook.com/maineeducationmatters

www.twitter.com/maineedmatters

www.twitter.com/drewettecard

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Sit back... relax... take a load off... .

Matt hosts a very special and calming episode, while walking through Maine's Path of Legislation. It's going to be a busy session, so let's take a few minutes to breathe, to reflect, and to learn how a bill is created and becomes a law in Maine. Call this a bit of calm before the incoming storm.

Read Maine's Path of Legislation here: https://legislature.maine.gov/house/house/Documents/PathofLegislation

Follow us:

Twitter @MaineEdMatters, @DrewetteCard

Facebook: facebook.com/maineeducationmatters

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It's Season 7!

Maine Education Matters returns for Season 7 with some new changes and hopes for what the future brings.

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/maineedmatters

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/maineeducationmatters

Follow Matt on Twitter: twitter.com/DrewetteCard

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Matt & Courtney wrap up the 130th Legislative Session with a review of bills that were signed into law, vetoed, or died. Thanks for listening this season! We'll be back at some point, but we dont know because that would require planning and planning #soundslikework. #onbrand We have also linked the list of horrific bills around the country that limit the ways teachers and students learn. Boo to all of them.

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Matt & Courtney discuss recent EDU bills that have been signed into law! Plus: we learned about something called a "Consent Calendar" and it's awesomesauce.

Matt & Courtney talk about the Child Development Services (CDS) bill that went before the Ed committee this week.

Matt & Courtney get ENGROSSED!

Matt and Courtney continue to try and wrap up the 130th special session but the Ed Committee keeps having other plans! They review A public hearing (only one!), and a few worksessions; talk about Supplemental Budgets (zzzzzzz), and more. It's a short episode this week... and you're welcome!

Matt & Courtney review the work sessions from March 2-3, 2022, preview the final(?) Public Hearing and Work Sessions for the week of March 7, and do their best to simply be a boat in the water, and let the tides take them wherever they may go.

Matt & Courtney review the work sessions and public hearings from February 22 and 24, and preview the (supposed) final week of Ed Committee work.

Matt & Courtney review the Work Sessions from February 15 & 17, discuss the Public Hearing from the Criminal Justice committee, preview the February 22 public hearing, and do a stellar job of providing highly mediocre analysis. #onbrand
There was a little Max Headroom in the recording and we apologize for the throwback to the 80s. Also, Matt Frewer is awesome.

Matt and Courtney review the public hearings from February 8-9, 2022, preview the work sessions for Feb 15-16, and highlight a non-Ed committee bill that has TONS to do with educators. Also: "The Rock", jazz, and logic cards!

Matt & Courtney host a panel of education rockstars to discuss the elephant that's in the education room: COVID fatigue. We talk with Kelsey Stoyanova (2022 Maine Teacher of the Year), Chris Howell (2022 Maine Superintendent of the Year), Carrie Woodcock (Executive Director of the Maine Parent Federation), and Bear Shea (MDOE Mental Health Specialist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker) about how COVID is impacting the social, mental, emotional, and physical lives of everyone in education, from administrators, to teachers, to parents... everyone... and the different ways in which COVID is fatiguing everyone. It's an empathy-fueled conversation, and one that needs to be had across the state and beyond.

Matt & Courtney review the worksessions from Feb 3-4, and preview the public hearings for Feb 8-9. Plus: Matt and Courtney's Hogwarts Houses revealed!

Matt & Courtney cover the Public Hearings and Work Sessions from the week of January 24-28, preview the upcoming work sessions on Feb 1 & 2, and ask the listeners to guess which Hogwarts House Matt and Courtney are in! Go to @MaineEdMatters on Twitter and vote!

Matt (@DrewetteCard) & Courtney (@BelolanC) review the work sessions from Jan 19-20, and preview upcoming public hearings on Jan 25.

Matt (@DrewetteCard) and NEW COHOST Courtney (@BelolanC; @PLearnMC) welcome everyone back for the Part Deux of the 130th Legislative Session! We welcome our new cohost, talk about recent public hearings, and raise an uncomfortable question about the current relationship between Maine Education Matters and Personalized Learning with Matt & Courtney. Thanks for downloading, subscribing, listening, and following!

We're back in 2022! The Maine Legislative Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs has reconvened and started up the second session of the 130th Legislative Session. Today's episode is a short "welcome back," with a teaser for an upcoming BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and addition to the MEM team! Thanks for subscribing and listening!

Maine Education Matters returns! A short episode about what's next for MEM, plans for the special session starting next month, and a massive announcement!

In a very special episode, Matt and Julie talk to the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs Representative Michael Brennan (Portland). We talk about the committee, the process of how bills “work”, and of course: BILLS!!! This is a MUST LISTEN if you’re a fan of the show!!

Matt and Julie talk about their plans for the upcoming season - some of them are pretty wild - and they'd love to get your feedback on how to interact better with listeners.

Matt and Juie are here with a summer sendoff as they prepare for the new year. They are joined by their good friends at the Personalized Learning with Matt and Courtney podcast to talk about why they started a podcast and what keeps them going. Follow the PLearnMC pod wherever you listen to this pod!

Matt & Julie wrap up the last two weeks' worth of signed (or unsigned) bills that are now Maine law! Plus: Julie takes a break, and Matt summons the Emperor for a world-melding opportunity. Also, what happened to a committee member?

Matt and Julie cover some bills that have been SIGNED INTO LAW, some more that are PASSED TO BE ENACTED, and a couple that are DEAD. Plus: Matt is victim to a conspiracy and Julie was the prime conspirator.

Matt & Julie review the few bills that have VOTES in the House and/or Senate. 4 Vaccination-based bills (all basically dead), 1 IEP--based bill (moving on up #Jeffersons), and 1 PEPG bill (that would delay evaluations for the 21-22SY). Plus: Matt sends the podcast deep into the ethereal plane, and Julie tries to dive into the mind of one of the Ed Committee members.

BIG shoutouts to @TableTopAudio for the sounds, and @PLearnMC for being an amazing podcast and good friends.
Oh, and Matt ate a guinea pig.

Matt & Julie talk about previous curriculum mandates, new curriculum mandates, a process to oversee curriculum mandates... and more! We review Work Session votes from the week of May 17, 2021. Plus: Matt names his summer drink, and Julie starts off with an apology.

Matt & Julie are back with a review of work sessions from May 11+12. Highlights include a wild public hearing on LD 550 (Prohibiting Teachers from Engaging in Political, Ideological or Religious Advocacy in the Classroom), a #LadySmythSmackdown on bulling (yup... bulling), and a conversation on the 1,040 pieces of testimony that could only be related to one topic and one topic alone: immunizations and vaccinations. PLUS: Matt goes on a tangent and Julie lays some blame.

Matt & Julie recap another week in the Ed Committee that would make Hobbs and Shaw proud! #fastandfurious They look at all of the bills that were voted on by the committee during the week of May 3, 2021 and (#spoileralert) there were A LOT! Plus, they preview May 10 & May 13 public hearings. Plus: Matt forgets to tee up #LadySmythShoutOuts and fully expects to get the smackdown at our next recording!

Matt and Julie return to discuss a couple of weeks of committee votes, and to preview some upcoming hearing days: May 4: Safety/Bullying; May 5: Curriculum Mandate Day; May 6: It's Baaaaaaaaack...... It's All Immunizations and Vaccinations! Buckle up and get ready, folks!

Matt and Julie are BACK after a crazy couple of weeks to do a full-on BLITZ of recent work sessions. The dynamic duo covers work sessions from March 29, April 2, 5, 6, 7, 12, and 14... AND preview a couple of upcoming bills and work sessions that they're looking forward to... AND some #LadySmythShoutOuts!

Matt & Julie review testimony and work session reviews from March 29 & April 2. Matt also tries his hand at shoutouts, and Julie smacks down Matt... 2 twice! #spellingmatters

Matt and Julie preview 3 DAYS of upcoming public hearings: April 5, 7, and 9! Plus: Matt drops a RANDOM and VERY deep cut early '90s heavy metal reference, and Julie shares her love and appreciation for several members of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee.

Matt & Julie preview Public Hearings on March 29 and April 2. Lots of School Board-focused bills on the 29th, and an old friend (?) begins to resurface on April 2. Plus: Matt tries to listen to his therapist and #LadySmythShoutOuts!

Matt and Julie break down the work session and public hearings from March 22 & 24, covering bills on Lifetime teaching certificates, 30-minute lunch periods, and a very aggressive bill about school sports and funding. Plus: Matt and Julie are taking applications and resumes for a new association, AND we learned that #LadySmythSmackdowns comes with a real price! Thanks for listening!

Things are super busy at the Ed Committee, as on March 17 they held a Worksession (4 Bills) and a Public Hearing (5 Bills)... and we listen, so you don't have to! Big topics on this episode: the SAT and Maine, Task Forces and March Madness brackets, and CTE!!! We also have callbacks to a previous host, including some amazing Fast & Furious and Borgnine talk!

Matt & Julie review testimony from the March 8 public hearing, and preview the March 17 public hearing (aka CTE day!). Plus: #LadySmythShoutOuts! #WeListenSoYouDontHaveTo"

Matt & Julie review the Worksession & Public Hearing Testimony from March 3, and preview the public hearings on March 8 and 12. Plus: Matt cringes, and Julie says "chutzpah" a bunch. A #LadySmythShoutOut and the first #LadySmythSmackdown... and it's ... ruff.

Matt & Julie review the work session votes and public hearing testimony from February 24; preview the March 3 public hearing, and take a quick look at some education bills going through some of the other committees. Plus: Matt wins a bet, Julie becomes protective, #LadySmythShoutOuts, AND the beginning of #LadySmythSmackdowns!

Matt & Julie review work session votes and testimony from the 2/17 Ed committee meetings. Plus: a wordsmithing gauntlet was thrown, and the challenge accepted. And then almost immediately failed. Also: lots of off-topic nonsense. #onbrand

Matt & Julie preview the Feb 17, 2021 Work Session and Public Hearing, looking at bills focusing on State/State's share of health insurance (LDs 84/293), establishing a committee to review instruction and curriculum mandates (LD 278), creating grants for computer science instruction professional development (LD 127), and reading proficiency (LD 138). Plus: Julie makes a bet and Matt chooses a Maserati... and #LadySmythShoutOuts!

Matt & Julie review testimony from the Feb8 Public Hearing. #SummerSchool grant pilot program (#LD44), eliminating prior approval for religious holiday absences (#LD55), and creating procedures for reporting concussions (#LD104). Plus: Matt makes a confession and #LadySmythShoutOuts! #ThankABill

Matt & Julie preview the February 8 Public Hearing: LD 44 (An Act To Establish the Summer Success Pilot Program Fund), LD 55 (An Act To Protect Minority Religious Groups by Eliminating the Prior Approval Requirement for a School Absence for a Recognized Religious Holiday), and LD 104 (An Act To Protect the Health of Student Athletes by Requiring the Establishment of Procedures To Report Concussions). Plus: Lady Smyth Shout-Outs, and Matt admits to being a terrible human being.

Matt & Julie do some updates from the DOE and talk about the extensive orientations the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee just went through. Plus, there are some spreadsheet updates AND a brand new segment: Lady Smythe Shout-Outs!

Matt and Julie introduce the members of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee for the 2021 session. They also review some legislative updates!

Matt and Julie are back with the annual "bill titles" episode, always one of the favorites for the Maine Education Matters hosts. This year, a special treat as Mr. Bill Titles joins Matt and Julie, all the way from California!

We wrap up our deep Maine DOE dive with a focus on the MOOSE platform; built by Maine teachers to provide integrated project-based learning modules to students, families and teachers. Plus: we announce a new co-host!!!

We start off 2021 by wrapping up our series on the Learning Facilitators program, a collaborative effort by EMCC & MDOE. For this episode we focus on the Administration side of the program: its benefits, successes, and hopes for the future.

Matt talks with Fiona Stawarz and Sarah Cook, two members of the Maine Student Cabinet, about what it's like growing up in Maine schools through a lens of racism, bias, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Maine Department of Education rockstar Joe Schmidt also joins the episode, but, really, this episode is all about the learners.

``` Today's episode focuses on SEL & Teachers Taking Care of Teachers with Maine Department of Education rockstars Bear Shea & Kellie Bailee, and #1 fan and Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Saco Public Schools, Julie Smythe.

```

It's Part 2 of a continuing conversation about the Learning Facilitators program, a partnership of the Maine Department of Education and Eastern Maine Community College. This program is designed to increase the paraprofessional and educator pool in Maine. Matt talks with members of the first cohort and their in-school mentors about their experiences in the program so far.

Matt talks with Deqa Dhalac and Joe Schmidt from the Maine Department of Education about racism, bias, diversity, equity, and inclusion in our schools, curriculum, and education system.

Matt begins a conversation with Kellie Bailey, Social and Emotional Learning Specialist from the Maine Department of Education, and returning champion and #1 Fan Julie Smyth, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Saco Public Schools, about the new social and emotional learning curriculum recently released by MDOE: SEL4ME. This is Part 1 of a continuing series of conversations on SEL Matt will be having with Kellie, Julie, and more!

Matt talks with Emily Doughty (Maine Department of Education) and Megan London (Eastern Maine Community College) about the new Learning Facilitator program. This MDOE-EMCC partnership program is designed to increase the educator workforce in Maine and build educator capacity and supports across the state. Learn more about the program here: https://mainedoenews.net/2020/11/12/learning-facilitator-program-great-resource-for-schools-free-for-trainees/

Matt and his bot (also named Matt) triumphantly return to talk about some DOE updates, including some major assessment changes.

Matt talks with Stephanie Canter, outgoing chair of the South Kingstown RI school board, about racism and bias in our systems, and how policies can help support to solve these issues. Follow her on Twitter at @stephrcanter.

Matt has a very special episode of MEM today, as he talks with Susan Lieberman (CountMEIn), Cecilia Sirianni (Outreach Services Coord., RSU #57) ,and Angela Madigan (Principal, RSU #57) about attendance, and what it means in these times of COVID.

Matt has some DOE updates as the legislative session nears. Get out there and vote, and vote safely!

Matt @DrewetteCard talks with Courtney Belolan (@belolanc), executive director of the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association @MaineCLA , about how teachers, schools, and districts can begin the process of identifying and removing bias in our curriculum and systems, and learn about how @MaineCLA has some powerful upcoming opportunities to support educators in this important work.

Matt and Matt return with updates on attendance and sports in the fall. Plus, talk of early Maine winters.

Matt (and Matt!) return with legislative updates from over the summer. How did that happen?

Matt (but not the other Matt) return for a season of hope, offering updates on what has happened in Maine since we last spoke, along with some advice from a Matt.

Matt and Matt return by finishing up talking about Maine's framework for returning to classroom instruction. We say "finishing up", but we went on for an hour. And there is something about metal lathes in there, too.

Matt and Matt are back, reviewing Maine's framework for returning to classroom instruction. At least, part of it. It's a very long and complex document! We talk about safety and SEL considerations, and more to come next week!

Matt and Matt do the bi-coastal pod, and talk about what has happened over the past two weeks in Maine, California, and elsewhere. Lots to catch up on!

Matt and Matt continue to hang around the pod and update you on what's going on this week in Maine educational matters, including some amazing CDC guidance for re-opening schools (spoiler alert: it's going to be super tough).

Matt and Matt have an even longer episode than usual (most people would say longer than necessary), as they celebrate 100 episodes!

Matt and Matt go all Wayne Gretzky and talk about LD2167, signed into law on March 18 (we know, we are a little behind on this one). We go through what it all means for educators, and have some updates about other things we have heard about in the last two weeks. See the links on our twitter page at @MaineEdMatters or on Facebook, or our website at maineeducationmatters.weebly.com.

Matt and Matt talk about standardized tests, what they are good for now, and how our educational systems can be improved as a result.

Matt and Matt talk a little prognostication about where they think education could, or even should, go after in-person learning returns. This is one of our favorite episodes!

Matt and Matt still don't know how to work with Facebook live, but they do know how to run through the workings of education in Maine during week 4 of remote/distance learning. They talk about spring sports being canceled, recommendations that schools in Maine close for the remainder of the school year, attendance during these times, what student-centered learning means, a letter in the Bangor Daily News from Rep. Tori Kornfield, and more!

Matt and Matt continue through the coronavirus crisis, talking about education updates, COVID-19 data, and lots of listener questions!

We talk about COVID-19 health data, Zoom meeting etiquette, recording video meetings with learners, grading in a crisis, best remote learning tools. We then get to a bunch of listener questions. We love them, including our Ernest Borgnine retrospective. And boogers. #onbrand

We'll be back next week with more nonsense!

Matt and Matt are back with updates from the world of education in the time of coronavirus.

Bookmark these DOE sites: https://www.maine.gov/doe/covid-19/ and https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/specialed/covid19 for the most up-to-date infomation.

Matt and Matt return, this time from their homes! As the coronavirus has Mainers settling in for a long haul, they catch up on the few things the Legislature has done since the last episode, discuss some of the unknowns of the near-future, and what it means for schools around the state. Educators are doing an amazing job, and the best they can. We are all in this together, as HSM said.

Matt and Matt review the testimony of March 9 (the immunization bill), along with some votes that have come out of committee and even new laws (how did this happen?!!?)

Matt and Matt keep you up to date with what is happening in the Education Committee. Today, we preview LD 2046, an Act Regarding Immunizations; we review testimony from a public hearing; we talk about 2 votes in the House (leftover bills from last session); and the Maine election results about immunizations - it obviously never ends.

Here is the presser we mentioned about Pres. Trump trying to figure out what a coronavirus is, and how vaccines work. https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1234605879170936832

Follow us everywhere at Maine Education Matters.

Matt and Matt get fancy in this one - live testimony from a representative! Yes, it looks like Matt and Matt have hit the big time. The usual here: previews, reviews, votes, and #borgnine. Listen in and rate/review us - and tell a friend about us!

Matt and Matt return with a smorgasbord of stuff happening at the Legislature. They preview a public hearing on the 27th about educational policy, review some bills that were heard (along with the results of the votes, if they have been taken), and talk about the referendum on the ballot March 3 - immunizations!

Matt and Matt preview the public hearing of February 18, review testimony presented on February 6, and catch up on some votes.

0:00 - 1:31 introduction, and some .5 speed nonsense

Previews: 1:31 - 7:55

2-18-20

LD 1857: An Act To Protect Teachers from Punitive or Retaliatory Transfers

Reviews of testimony: 7:55 - 12:36

From 2-6-20

8:15 - 9:57

LD 1947: An Act To Fund Capital Improvements to Career and Technical Education Centers

LD 2022: An Act To Provide Funding for Capital Improvements and Equipment for Career

and Technical Education Centers and Regions

9:57 - 12:36

LD 1999: An Act To Amend the Maine Education Savings Program

Reviews of votes: 12:36 - 16:08

12:36 -13:04 LD 860: An Act To Establish the Maine Community College System No-cost Tuition Program (Anticipated Divided Report, 2-5-20)

13:04 - 13:41 LD 882: Resolve, To Require the Examination of the System of Learning Results (ONTP, 2-5-20)

13:41 - 14:33 LD 1813: Resolve, To Ensure Safe and Inclusive Learning Environments (OTP-AM, 2-5-20)

14:33 - 15:00 LD 2024: An Act To Remove from the Calculation of the Cost of Education the Maine Public Employees Retirement System Teacher Plan Unfunded Actuarial Liability (Anticipated Divided Report, 2-5-20)

15:00 - 16:08 LD 2035: An Act To Modify Teacher Certification Expiration Dates for Teachers Who Use Family Medical Leave (OTP-AM, 2-5-20)

16:08 - end: where can you find us, and more nonsense #borgnine

Matt and Matt make a mishmash out of this one. They talk about all kinds of stuff happening in the Education Committee over the past week and the upcoming weeks. After this, you are caught up!

0:00 - 1:13 intro

Reporting out: 1:13 - 3:10

1:13 - 1:42 LD 1607: An act to create the department of early care and learning

1:42 - 2:09 LD 178: An Act To Increase the State Share of the Cost of Health Insurance for Retired Teachers

2:09 - 2:30 LD 1521: An Act to expand skill development opportunities for Maine youth

2:30 - 3:10 LD 1715: An act to reorganize the provision of services for children with disabilities from birth to 5 years of age

3:10 - 4:51 movie references, nonsense, #borgnine

Previews: 4:51 - 25:57

4:51 - 7:11 LD 2071: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 125: Basic Approval Standards: Public Schools and School Administrative Units, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education

7:11 - 9:10 LD 2076: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 40: Rule for Medication Administration in Maine Schools, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education

Afternoon of 2-10

9:10 - 9:25 LD 2072: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 132: Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education

9:25 - 10:37 LD 2075: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 115: Part II Requirements for Specific Certificates and Endorsements, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education

Afternoon of 2-12

10:37 - 11:38 nonsense about Iowa

11:38 - 13:34 LD 2014: An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Maine State Grant Program

13:34 - 20:06 LD 2016: An Act Regarding School Discipline for Maine's Youngest Students

20:06 - 23:27 LD 2020: An Act To Strengthen Maritime Education by Amending the Laws Governing the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering

Afternoon of 2-13

23:27 - 25:57 LD 2077: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 180: Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth Systems, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education

Updates on votes 25:57-28:22

25:57 - 26:45 LD 1916

26:45 - 27:39 LD 1918

27:39 - 28:22 LD 1878

28:22 - 28:52 Friends references

Reviews from January 29 28:52 - 34:28

28:52 - 32:40 LD 2024: An Act To Remove from the Calculation of the Cost of Education the Maine Public Employees Retirement System Teacher Plan Unfunded Actuarial Liability

32:40 - 34:28 LD 2035: An Act To Modify Teacher Certification Expiration Dates for Teachers Who Use Family Medical Leave

Preview of work sessions for held over bills 2-5-20 34:28 - 39:56

LD 860: An Act To Establish the Maine Community College System No-cost Tuition Program

LD 882: Resolve, To Require the Examination of the System of Learning Results

LD 1813: Resolve, To Ensure Safe and Inclusive Learning Environments

39:56 - end #borgnine

Matt and Matt are back! Lots going on today, so check out the timestamps below...

0:00 - 5:20 intro and discussion about work sessions on bills from last time. Who knew? Also, Matt’s story corner

5:20 - 8:12 Preview of LD 1999: An Act To Amend the Maine Education Savings Program

8:12 - 13:14 Review of testimony of LD 1878 Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Use of Adjunct Professors in Maine's Public University and College System

13:14 - 15:02 Review of testimony of LD 1916: An Act To Increase High School Graduation Rates for Students Experiencing Homelessness or in Foster Care

15:02 - 17:07 Review of testimony of LD 1918: An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding the Reserve Funds of Certain School Organizational Structures

17:07 - 23:40 committee votes! What has happened so far?

23:40 - end closing. Where can you find us?

Matt and Matt preview the January 29 Public Hearings!

Jan 29 Public hearings

0:00 - 0:45 open

LD 1947 An Act To Fund Capital Improvements to Career and Technical Education Centers 0:45-2:05

LD 2022 An Act To Provide Funding for Capital Improvements and Equipment for Career and Technical Education Centers and Regions 2:05-3:18

LD 2024 An Act To Remove from the Calculation of the Cost of Education the Maine Public Employees Retirement System Teacher Plan Unfunded Actuarial Liability 3:18-5:28

LD 2035 An Act To Modify Teacher Certification Expiration Dates for Teachers Who Use Family Medical Leave 5:28-7:25

7:25-close where can you find us?

Matt and Matt are back with another review of the reports by the task forces set up last session.

0:00 - 1:10 opening, not a lot of nonsense, just the usual

1:10 - 1:50 Maine Charter schools revocation and non-renewal rules

1:50 - 3:55 School Board communication

3:55 - 9:07 Opting out of standardized testing

9:07 - 12:43 Annual dropout/truancy report

12:43 - 15:20 Tuition waivers for learners in foster care

15:20 - 17:30 Schools' access to Title I funding

17:30 - close The nonsense returns as we close the show.

Matt and Matt review the testimony from the public hearings on January 15.

0:00 - 1:39 Opening and nonsense. Lots of nonsense.

1:39 - 4:26 LD 1855 - An Act To Include Student Absences for Mental Health or Behavioral Health Needs as Excusable Absences

4:26 - 5:30 LD 1858 - An Act To Protect Teachers from Professional Teacher Certificate Endorsement Changes

5:30 - 8:52 LD 1860 - An Act To Establish a Process for the Consideration and Implementation of Changes to School Curricula

8:52 - 14:06 LD 1894 - An Act To Incentivize the Purchase of Electric Public School Buses

14:06 - end closing and wrapup

Matt and Matt preview the bills scheduled for January 22 and 23 public hearings.

0:00 - 1:00 Introduction

1:00 - 4:50 LD 1916: An Act to Increase High School Graduation rates for Students experiencing Homelessness or in Foster Care

4:50 - 8:20 LD 1918: An Act to Amend the Laws Regarding the Reserve Funds of Certain School Organization Structures

8:20 - 13:00 LD 1878: Resolve, To Establish the Commission to study the use of adjunct professors in Maine’s Public University and College System

13:00 - end talk about reports

Matt and Matt review all the task force / DOE / whoever reports that have been presented to the Education Committee over the past month or so. Remember how we love task forces? Well, this is the time to see what they heck they have been doing!

0:00 - 1:25 open

1:25 - 4:20 DOE report on Response to Childhood Trauma (LD 1168)

4:20 - 9:40 DOE report on Computer Science Instruction and Professional Development (LD 1382)

9:40 - 12:40 DOE report on Cursive Handwriting Instruction (LD 387)

12:40 - 14:05 DOE report on health education and physical education in schools (LD 1343)

14:05 - 18:05 DOE report on National Board Certified Teachers salary supplemental increase (LD 1549)

18:05 - 21:20 DOE report on schools as polling places (LD 858)

21:20 - 22:55 DOE report on youth football and CTE connections (LD 711)

22:55 - 26:00 DOE report on the future of MLTI (LD 137)

26:00 - 27:50 MCCS and UM reports on compensation equity in higher education (LD 1538)

27:50 - 29:05 Task Force report on college funding options (LD 1283)

29:05 - 29:55 MCCS report on transparency in college costs (LD 155)

29:55 - 31:30 DOE report on online learning platforms for learners and educators (LD 576)

31:30 - end Where can you find us?

Matt and Matt return with public hearing previews! Specifically, the hearings of January 15, 2020.

0:00 - 1:27 intro

1:27 - 3:42 LD 1855: An Act To Include Student Absences for Mental Health or Behavioral Health Needs as Excusable Absences

3:42 - 8:50 LD 1858: An Act To Protect Teachers from Professional Teacher Certificate Endorsement Changes

8:50 - 18:15 LD 1860: An Act To Establish a Process for the Consideration and Implementation of Changes to School Curricula

18:15 - end LD 1894: An Act To Incentivize the Purchase of Electric Public School Buses

Matt and Matt talk with Alicia Biggs, computer science teacher at Lewiston Public Schools. She talks about what computer science is and what it isn't, and how she shifted from teaching other subjects to computer science. It's not as difficult as you might think! Follow her at @CSforLPS on Twitter!

Matt and Matt talk with Jen Dorman, the 2015 Maine Teacher of the Year, at the 2019 EducateMaine Symposium. She talks about the TeachToLead program, teacher leadership, chronic absenteeism in schools and an idea to help support and improve the rates of attendance.

Matt and Matt talk with Rachel Knight, the Founder and CEO of Destination Occupation at the Educate Maine Symposium 2019. She discusses what the site is about, the importance of career goals (at any age!), and how they help people all over the state. Follow her on Twitter @do207jobs.

Matt and Matt talk with Rebecca Parker and Jessica Donovan about apprenticeships at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. This interview was conducted at the EducateMaine 2019 Symposium. It's a great discussion of how the apprenticeship program works, how it can be done in other areas, and takeaways from the experience. Enjoy!

Matt and Matt interview Maine Representative Denise Tepler of Topsham, and discuss a whole bunch of things. First, how legislators have to trust other legislators to get them the right information, and how that actually works. Then Rep. Tepler talks about teacher salaries before getting into a whole lot of knowledge about how bills actually wind their way through the legislature (it's WAY more involved than we thought). We wrap up with a talk about what legislators do in their "off" time (spoiler: it's not eating bon-bons on the lake).

Matt and Matt return with an interview with Maine Senator Eloise Vitelli! She discusses her background, how she approaches the legislative process, and much much more! Let us know what you think at @MaineEdMatters on Twitter, and look for us on Facebook at Maine Education Matters!

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It’s a solo show as Matt @DrewetteCard previews and reviews the public hearing for rule changes to Chapter 180 (PEPG). Most of the focus was on the Student Growth component and how the committee makeup has changed (#LD92).

Matt interviews Stephanie Canter and Christian Hartjes of Newsela about how they can integrate the new social studies standards and science standards into what they do, how Maine educators are using the standards, and how Newsela can support educators and learners, along with other assorted usual nonsense.

Matt and Matt review the list of bill titles that was recently released. Yes, bill titles. There is so much nonsense in this episode, but it's one of our favorites. We even get into non-education-related bills (looking at you, vulgar license plates and wreckers). We hope you enjoy it as much as we liked talking about it.

Matt and Matt take some time to talk about the bills related to curriculum (spoiler alert: not many, but we talk for almost 16 minutes anyway - no real surprise).

Around the 16 minute mark, we start talking nonsense about all the task forces that have been set up for the fall. There are.... a LOT!

As always, find us on social media at MaineEdMatters just about everywhere, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Matt and Matt discuss the carried over bills for the 129th Legislative Second Session, and answer(?) questions about what engrossed and enrolled means. Perhaps. We don't know.

Emily Gribben, helps Matt and Matt go through the changes of what happened with PEPG since last session!

Matt and Matt are BACK to review the bills Governor Mills signed since we've been gone. Check out our spreadsheet for the details, and follow us on Twitter/Facebook at @MaineEdMatters and keep up to date!

Matt and Matt return with a little talk about summertime, where they've been and where they are going, and some ideas about future pods this fall before the legislative session ramps up in January. Follow us everywhere at @MaineEdMatters!

In our fall interlude, Matt starts by interviewing Jason Judd and Dolly Sullivan of Educate Maine. It's a great conversation, especially when everyone agrees that spicy dill pickle chips are the best.

Julie Ann Smythe, Director of Curriculum & Instruction for the Saco School Department in Maine, talks about the SEL Summit sponsored by the Biddeford School Department, the Saco School Department, the Maine Department of Health and Human Servies, and the Children's Collaborative. It is August 19th through August 21st, and is chock-full of amazing professional development opportunities. Check out the flyer at bit.ly/31stGKs and get out there and sign up!

One of the Matts is also doing some presenting, so if that appeals to you, go ahead and see him - make sure you bring the spicy Dill Pickle chips!

Matt and Matt hand out lots of awards to celebrate the end of the 2019 session for the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee of the Maine Legislature.

Matt and Matt wrap up their review of the 2019 session with the list of enactments by Governor Mills.

Matt interviews the Maine ASCD Executive Board (Dr. Leigh Alley, Executive Director; Shannon Shanning, President; and Mary Bellavance, Past-President). Matt is also the VP/President-Elect of Maine ASCD. They discuss the whole child approach that ASCD is focused on, micro-credentialing, how they are helping communities, the Journal of Maine Education, proficiency-based education, how ASCD is united around a common vision and mission in Maine, and lots of other great conversation!

Maine has lots of trees, and also lots of good educators. So says Matt.

Find them at http://maineascd.org/ and follow them on social media at @maineascd everywhere!

Matt and Matt keep reviewing bills this session! Governor Mills has signed a few more, and even more are in the House and Senate and have been voted on. We are here to talk about them all.

Matt and Matt continue the never-ending session of the Education Committee with a preview (and a review) of the last (ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!) bills before the committee. They also discuss some more enacted bills, Godzilla, the Avengers. You know, the usual. Nonsense throughout, but some discussions about what we've done and where we are going. Coming soon - first-session-end awards!

More enactments!

What does recede and concur mean? Recede: Action whereby, in the face of a conflicting action on a bill by the other chamber, one chamber elects to revoke its prior action. Frequently, this action is coupled with the decision to agree with the other chamber, i.e., to recede and concur.

0:00 - 2:47 intro

2:47 - 3:56 LD 318: An Act To Prepare All Students for Work and Life by Requiring That Students Receive Instruction in Vocational Preparation and Practical Life Skills

3:56 - 5:45 LD 712: An Act To Increase the School Construction Debt Service Limit

5:45 - 8:09 LD 300: An Act To Provide School Personnel Paid Hourly a Wage Pay Option (this is where the recede and concur part happened. We didn’t really know, hence the above note)

8:09 - 9:21 LD 412: An Act To Restore System Administration Allocations in Maine School Administrative Units to the Level Prescribed for Fiscal Year 2017-18

9:21 - 11:11 LD 307: An Act To Limit the Number of Charter Schools in Maine

11:11 - 16:01 LD 1050: An Act To Require Education about the Holocaust

16:01 - 17:28 a plea to the Maine Senate webmaster

17:28 - 18:38 LD 150: An Act To Improve Attendance at Public Elementary Schools

18:38 - 19:16 LD 1283: Resolve, To Advance College Affordability by Convening a Task Force To Recommend a Sustainable Funding Model for Maintaining Maine's Public Higher Education Infrastructure

19:16 - 22:14 LD 866: An Act To Support College Completion by Homeless Youth in Maine

22:14 - 25:49 LD 1216: An Act To Support Community Schools

25:49 - 27:05 more talk about the Maine Senate twitter account

27:05 - 31:59 LD 985: An Act To Maintain High School Diploma Standards by Repealing Proficiency-based Diploma Standards and Adding the Equivalent in Standards Achievement

31:59 - 33:58 LD 1079: An Act To Authorize Public Schools To Periodically Test for Radon

33:58 - 34:30 LD 153: An Act To Strengthen Testing for Lead in School Drinking Water

34:30 - end LD 798: An Act To Protect Maine Children and Students from Preventable Diseases by Repealing Certain Exemptions from the Laws Governing Immunization Requirements

May 28 and June 3 Preview!

0:00 - 3:28 intro

3:28 - 8:50 LD 1765: An Act To Expand and Clarify the Prohibition of Hazing at Elementary Schools, Secondary Schools and Postsecondary Institutions

8:50 - 11:04 LD 1773: An Act To Clarify Bonding Authority for School Management and Leadership Centers

11:04 - 15:08 LD 1778: An Act To Amend the Laws Concerning the Children's Cabinet and Its Advisory Councils

15:08 - end LD 1785: An Act To Amend Certain Education Laws

0:00 - 0:53 intro

0:53 - 2:36 LD 930: An Act To Give Maine Schools Additional Options To Make Up Missed School Days

2:36 - 4:33 LD 1024: An Act To Destigmatize Mental Illness through Health Instruction That Emphasizes the Relationship between Physical and Mental Health in Schools

4:33 - 6:12 LD 576: Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Study and Develop an Online Learning Platform for Students and Educators

6:12 - 7:41 LD 858: Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Study and Make Recommendations Relating to School Safety and Security

7:41 - 9:12 LD 388: An Act To Recognize Employee Background Checks Conducted for Out-of-state Schools Eligible for Maine Tuition Assistance

9:12 - 11:28 LD 944: An Act To Ban Native American Mascots in All Public Schools

11:28 - 13:06 LD 651: Resolve, To Facilitate School Access to Federal Title I Funds and Improve the Delivery of Special Education Services

13:06 - 14:19 LD 1010: Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Develop a Model School Disciplinary Policy

14:19 - end LD 345: An Act To Help New Teachers To Succeed

0:00 -1:12 intro

1:12 - 4:17 LD 1382: An Act To Establish Computer Science Courses and Content in Kindergarten to Grade 12 Schools

4:17 - 8:06 LD 1425: An Act To Maintain the Integrity of the Department of Education by Prohibiting Its Promotion of Policies and Practices That Are Not Based on Rigorous Peer Review and Analysis, Limiting Acceptance of Private Funding in Implementing and Influencing State Policy and Retaining the Home Rule Powers to School Administrative Units

8:06 - 10:35 LD 1521: An Act To Expand Skill Development Opportunities for Maine Youth

10:35 - 12:08 LD 1593: An Act To Support Infrastructure Improvements in Schools

12:08 - 14:00 LD 1628: An Act To Authorize Career and Technical Education Regions To Enter into Energy Conservation Performance Contracts for School Facilities

14:00 - 18:01 LD 1376: An Act To Direct the Department of Education To Amend Its Rules To Ensure That Physical Restraint and Seclusion Policies Are Followed for Special Education Students and Make Biennial Reports on the Use of Physical Restraint and Seclusion

18:01 - 20:26 LD 1607: An Act To Create the Department of Early Care and Learning

20:26 - 21:42 LD 1641: An Act To Strengthen the School Transportation Workforce

21:42 - 25:15 LD 1638: An Act To Provide for Gubernatorial Appointments to the Maine Charter School Commission

25:15 - 31:35 LD 685: An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering This also talks about Lord's Day Contracts! And Horses!

31:35 - 38:38 LD 721: An Act To Encourage Public Participation in School Board Meetings

38:38 - end LD 1700: Resolve, To Promote the Inclusion of African-American History and Culture in the Curricular Offerings of School Administrative Units

Matt and Matt preview the May 21 public hearing. Only one bill today! LD 1715: An Act To Reorganize the Provision of Services for Children with Disabilities from Birth to 5 Years of Age. No controversy there, we're sure....

Review of enacted bills

0:00 - 0:47 intro

0:47 - 4:08 LD 98: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 122: Grant Application and Award Procedure: Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational Services, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education

4:08 - 5:49 LD 283: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 122: Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education

5:49 - 7:17 LD 97: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 38: Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Maine Public Schools, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education

7:17 - 12:54 LD 92: An Act To Amend Educator Evaluation Requirements

12:54 - 13:55 LD 350: An Act To Exempt School Buses from Snow Tire Restrictions

13:55 - 15:19 LD 441: An Act To Reduce Childhood Exposure to Harmful Ultraviolet Radiation by Allowing Students To Use Sunscreen in Schools

15:19 - 18:00 LD 247: An Act To Increase the Amount of Time School Counselors and Social Workers Spend Providing Students Direct and Indirect Counseling

18:00 - 19:57 LD 375: An Act To Promote the Forest Products Industry in Schools Construction and Renovation Involving Heating Systems

19:57 - 22:42 LD 167: An Act To Prevent Food Shaming in Maine’s Public Schools

22:42 - 24:14 LD 152: An Act To Prohibit the Possession and Use of Electronic Smoking Devices on School Grounds

24:14 - end LD 406: An Act To Establish Regional School Leadership Academies

May 3 and 6 public hearings testimony review

0:00 - 0:51 intro

0:51 - 1:12 LD 161: An Act To Increase Access to Career and Technical Education

1:12 - 3:24 LD 358: An Act To Fully Fund Career and Technical Education for Fiscal Year 2018-2019

3:24 - 4:06 LD 504: An Act To Enhance the Development of Innovative Career and Technical Education Programs

4:06 - 6:27 LD 1036: Resolve, Establishing a Task Force To Study the Creation of a Comprehensive Career and Technical Education System To Support Workforce Development

6:27 - 9:50 LD 1606: An Act To Increase Funding for Career and Technical Education Programs

9:50 - 12:28 LD 1064: An Act To Address Maine's Firefighter Shortage by Offering Firefighter Training for Credit in High School Career and Technical Education Programs

12:28 - 16:49 LD 1029: An Act To Expand Educational Opportunities for Students Attending Public Secondary Schools with Enrollments of 300 or Fewer Students

16:49 - 23:06 LD 1227: An Act To Allow Parents To Apply to the Commissioner of Education To Enroll Their Children in a Receiving School Administrative Unit and To Remove Limitations on Which Students May Be So Enrolled

23:06 - 29:15 LD 1338: An Act To Protect Teachers from Unfair Evaluations

29:15 - LD 296: An Act Regarding Student Privacy with Respect to Video Recordings

30:43 - 31:52 LD 512: Resolve, To Create the Task Force To Study and Plan for the Implementation of Maine’s Early Childhood Special Education Services

31:52 - 34:45 LD 632: An Act To Promote Free, Appropriate Public Education

34:45 - 35:30 LD 1331: An Act To Amend the Student Information Privacy Act

35:30 - end LD 1592: An Act To Allow the Dissolution of Regional School Units Composed of a Single Municipality

This... was a long one. So much testimony (not really) but lots of information. Matt & Matt learn stuff, especially around the EPS formula!

May 1 and 2 public hearings testimony review

0:00 - 3:59 intro

3:59 - 25:32 LD 309: An Act To Eliminate the Regional Adjustment for Public School Systems

25:32 - 27:22 LD 385: An Act To Base School Funding on the Number of Students Sent by a Town to a Regional School Unit

27:22 - 27:51 LD 412: An Act To Restore System Administration Allocations in Maine School Administrative Units to the Level Prescribed for Fiscal Year 2017-2018

27:51 - 29:24 LD 1497: An Act To Recognize High-performing, Efficient School Districts with Regard to the System Administration Allocation

29:24 - 31:49 LD 712: An Act To Fully Fund After-school and Preschool Programs in the School Funding Formula, Increase the Economically Disadvantaged Student Factor in the School Funding Formula and Increase the School Construction Debt Service Limit

31:49 - 32:50 LD 468: An Act To Require That the State Fund on an Ongoing Basis a Minimum of 50 Percent of the Costs Associated with Public Preschool Programs

32:50 - 33:57 LD 1043: An Act To Establish Universal Public Preschool Programs

33:57 - 35:48 LD 1549: An Act To Increase the Supplement for Certain National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certified Teachers in Maine

35:48 - 38:35 LD 773: An Act Regarding Secondary School Education Concerning Sexual Activity and Sexual Assault

38:35 - 43:35 LD 155: An Act To Ensure Transparency in College Costs

43:35 - 45:06 LD 860: An Act To Establish the Maine Community College System No-cost Tuition Program

45:06 - LD 1283: Resolve, To Advance College Affordability by Convening a Task Force To Recommend a Sustainable Funding Model for Maintaining Maine’s Public Higher Education Infrastructure

46:51 - 47:10 LD 1566: An Act To Increase the Number of Recipients under the Tuition Waiver Program for Participants in Foster Care

47:10 - 48:20 LD 1267: An Act To Allow the Awarding of Graduation Credits by Career and Technical Education Centers and Regions

48:20 - end LD 1538: An Act Regarding Compensation Equity for Positions in the Maine Community College System

stillhere

May 13 and 15 public hearing previews

0:00 - 1:26 intro

1:26 - 4:45 LD 1641: An Act To Strengthen the School Transportation Workforce

4:45 - 8:34 LD 1376: An Act To Direct the Department of Education To Amend Its Rules To Ensure That Physical Restraint and Seclusion Policies Are Followed for Special Education Students and Make Biennial Reports on the Use of Physical Restraint and Seclusion

8:34 - 16:31 LD 1607: An Act To Create the Department of Early Care and Learning

16:31 - 22:40 LD 1638: An Act To Provide for Gubernatorial Appointments to the Maine Charter School Commission

22:40 - 23:55 LD 685: An Act To Amend Laws Governing the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering

23:55 - 27:21 LD 721: An Act To Encourage Public Participation in School Board Meetings

27:21 - end LD 1700: Resolve, To Promote the Inclusion of African-American History and Culture in the Curricular Offerings of School Administrative Units

Matt and Matt preview the public hearings scheduled for May 6 and May 10, 2019.

0:00 - 1:29 intro

1:29 - 4:06 LD 1606: An Act To Increase Funding for Career and Technical Education Programs

4:06 - 9:26 LD 296: An Act Regarding Student Privacy with Respect to Video Recordings

9:26 - 12:00 LD 1331: An Act To Amend the Student Information Privacy Act

12:00 - 13:42 LD 512: Resolve, To Create the Task Force To Study and Plan for the Implementation of Maine’s Early Childhood Special Education Services

13:42 - 15:46 LD 632: An Act To Promote Free, Appropriate Public Education

15:46 - 17:24 LD 1592: An Act To Allow the Dissolution of Regional School Units Composed of a Single Municipality

17:24 - 18:27 Happy birthday to Matt’s Dad!

18:27 - 20:07 LD 718: An Act To Increase Funding for Adult Basic Literacy, Workplace Education and College Preparedness

20:07 - 22:40 LD 1382: An Act To Establish Computer Science Courses and Content in Kindergarten to Grade 12 Schools

22:40 - 23:31 LD 1521: An Act To Expand Skill Development Opportunities for Maine Youth

23:31 - 31:53 LD 1425: An Act To Maintain the Integrity of the Department of Education by Prohibiting Its Promotion of Policies and Practices That Are Not Based on Rigorous Peer Review and Analysis, Limiting Acceptance of Private Funding in Implementing and Influencing State Policy and Retaining the Home Rule Powers to School Administrative Units

31:53 - 32:27 LD 1593: An Act To Support Infrastructure Improvements in Schools

32:27 - end LD 1618: An Act To Authorize Career and Technical Education Regions To Enter into Energy Conservation Performance Contracts for School Facilities

Matt and Matt update and review bills before the Labor Committee that are related to education.

0:00 - intro

1:03 - 2:58 LD 240 UPDATE!

2:58 - 11:58 LD 300: An Act To Protect Hourly School Personnel Pay During School Days Missed Due to Weather or Emergency Closures

11:58 - 16:34 LD 1412: An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Collective Bargaining Rights of Employees of School Management and Leadership Centers

16:34 - 18:25 LD 1041: An Act Regarding Collective Bargaining for Public Employees under the Municipal Public Employees Labor Relations Laws

18:25 - 22:52 LD 900: An Act To Expand the Rights of Public Employees under the Maine Labor Laws

22:52 - 27:33 LD 1184: An Act Regarding Penalties for Early Retirement for Certain Members of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System

27:33 - end LD 1354: An Act To Eliminate the Penalties for State and Teacher Retirees Who Return to Employment

Matt and Matt review testimony from the April 22nd and 23rd public hearings.

0:00 - 0:50 intro

0:50 - 5:21 LD 1050: An Act To Require Education about the Holocaust

5:21 - 9:04 LD 665: An Act To Enact the Campus Free Expression Act

9:04 - 10:45 LD 259: An Act To Require the State To Meet the Mandatory 55 Percent Contribution to Schools

10:45 - 13:32 LD 1170: An Act To Raise the Floor of State Education Funding

13:32 - 17:10LD 1216: An Act To Support Community Schools

17:10 - 19:41 LD 237: An Act To Appropriate Funds for Coaching Services for Existing and New Prekindergarten Programs

19:41 - 20:30 LD 1262: An Act To Allow Funds from the Federal E-Rate Program To Be Applied to Maine Preschool Programs

20:30 - end LD 1343: An Act To Improve Health Education and Physical Education in Schools

Matt and Matt review testimony from the public hearings on April 19, 2019.

0:00 - 1:22 Intro

1:22 - 1:44 LD 210: An Act To Increase Technology and Engineering Education for Grade 7 to 12

1:44 - LD 1046: An Act To Authorize the Department of Education To Provide Flexibility in the Required Credentials for Teachers in Career and Technical Programs

3:39 - 5:22 LD 1369: An Act To Create an Additional Pathway To Certify Industrial Arts Teachers To Foster Career and Technical Subjects in Maine Schools

5:22 - 9:06 LD 1182: An Act To Improve School Safety by Requiring Law Enforcement Visits

9:06 - 12:51 LD 454: An Act To Encourage the Purchase of Local Produce for Public Schools

12:51 - 13:56 LD 577: An Act To Increase Access to Nutritious Foods in Schools by Implementing an After-school Food Program for At-risk Students

13:56 - 15:43 LD 541: Resolve, To Reduce Food Waste in Schools

15:43 - 16:34 LD 1344: An Act To Improve Nutrition in Maine Schools

16:34 - end LD 1351: An Act To Allow for the Recovery and Redistribution of Food in Public Schools

May 1-2-3 preview of public hearings

0:00 - 1:14 intro: 23 bills to preview!

May 1 morning preview

1:14 - 6:03 LD 309: An Act To Eliminate the Regional Adjustment for Public School Systems

6:03 - 8:32 LD 385: An Act To Base School Funding on the Number of Students Sent By a Town to a Regional School Unit

8:32 - 10:13 LD 412: An Act To Restore System Administration Allocations in Maine School Administrative Units to the Level Prescribed for Fiscal Year 2017-18

10:13 - 12:54 LD 1497: An Act To Recognize High-performing, Efficient School Districts with Regard to the System Administration Allocation

12:54 - 17:08 LD 712: An Act To Fully Fund After-school and Preschool Programs in the School Funding Formula, Increase the Economically Disadvantaged Student Factor in the School Funding Formula and Increase the School Construction Debt Service Limit

May 1 afternoon preview

17:08 - 17:40 LD 468: An Act To Require That the State Fund on an Ongoing Basis a Minimum of 50 Percent of the Costs Associated with Public Preschool Programs

17:40 - 18:57 LD 1043: An Act To Establish Universal Public Preschool Programs

18:57 - 23:16 LD 1549: An Act To Increase the Supplement for Certain National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certified Teachers in Maine

23:16 - 26:05 LD 773: An Act Regarding Secondary School Education Concerning Sexual Activity and Sexual Assault

May 2 afternoon preview

26:05 - 27:35 LD 155: An Act To Ensure Transparency in College Costs

27:35 - 29:36 LD 860: An Act To Establish the Maine Community College System No-cost Tuition Program

29:36 - 30:56 LD 1283: Resolve, To Advance College Affordability by Convening a Task Force To Recommend a Sustainable Funding Model for Maintaining Maine’s Public Higher Education Infrastructure

30:56 - 32:32 LD 1538: An Act Regarding Compensation Equity for Positions in the Maine Community College System

32:32 - 35:29 LD 1566: An Act To Increase the Number of Recipients under the Tuition Waiver Program for Participants in Foster Care

May 3 morning preview

35:29 - 36:07 LD 161: An Act To Increase Access to Career and Technical Education

36:07 - 37:02 LD 358: An Act To Fully Fund Career and Technical Education for Fiscal Year 2018-19

37:02 - 38:17 LD 504: An Act To Enhance the Development of Innovative Career and Technical Education Programs

38:17 - 40:40 LD 1036: Resolve, Establish a Task Force To Study the Creation of a Comprehensive Career and Technical Education System To Support Workforce Development

40:40 - 43:27 LD 1267: An Act To Allow the Awarding of Graduation Credits by Career and Technical Education Centers and Regions

May 3 afternoon preview

43:27 - 44:05 LD 1064: An Act To Address Maine’s Firefighter Shortage by Offering Firefighter Training for Credit in High School Career and Technical Education Programs

44:05 - 48:23 LD 1029: An Act To Expand Educational Opportunities for Students Attending Public Secondary Schools with Enrollments of 300 or Fewer Students

48:23 - 50:05 LD 1227: An Act To Allow Parents To Apply to the Commissioner of Education To Enroll Their Children in a Receiving School Administrative Unit and To Remove Limitations on Which Students May Be So Enrolled

50:05 - end LD 1338: An Act To Protect Teachers from Unfair Evaluations

Apr 16 and 17 review of testimony

0:00 - intro, and a confession

April 16 public hearings

1:15 - 4:27 LD 318: An Act To Prepare All Students for Work and Life by Requiring That Students Receive Instruction in Vocational Preparation and Practical Life Skills

April 17 public hearings

4:27 - 9:25 or so: What the heck is up with the sea of red? Lots of nonsense by Matt here...

9:25ish - 15:35 LD 1370: An Act To Address Violent Behavior in the Classroom

15:35 - 34:01 LD 985: An Act To Maintain High School Diploma Standards by Repealing Proficiency-based Diploma Standards

34:01 - end LD 866: An Act To Support College Completion by Homeless Youth in Maine and LD 1347: An Act To Promote High-quality After-school Programs in Public Schools

Matt and Matt review testimony from the April 8-9-10 public hearings.

0:00 - 1:09 introduction

April 8 afternoon

1:09 - 3:03 LD 307: An Act To Limit the Number of Charter Schools in Maine

3:03 - 4:32 LD 513: An Act To Limit the Number of Students and Prevent the Addition of Grade Levels at Virtual Public Charter Schools

4:32 - 7:16 LD 438: An Act To Allow the Creation of New Innovative School Models by Removing the Cap on the Number of Authorized Charter Schools

April 9 afternoon

7:16 - LD 185: An Act To Provide a Method for a Student To Be Excused from Standardized Testing

10:38 - 11:12 LD 1152: An Act To Make the Maine Educational Assessment Optional for Kindergarten to Grade 8

11:12 - 13:21 LD 1168: Resolve, To Improve Maine’s Response to Childhood Trauma

13:21 - 17:08 LD 1341: An Act To Provide Flexibility for Efficient and Effective Management of School Management and Leadership Centers

April 10 afternoon

17:08 - 18:36 LD 642: An Act Regarding Kindergarten readiness for Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

18:36 - end LD 1306: An Act To Promote Safe Schools through the Creation of the Safe School Climate Council

Apr 22/23 preview

0:00 - 0:52 intro

April 22 afternoon

0:52 - 1:41 LD 1050: An Act To Require Education about the Holocaust

1:41 - 6:51 LD 665: An Act To Enact the Campus Free Expression Act

6:51 - 9:09 LD 259: An Act To Require the State To Meet the Mandatory 55 Percent Contribution to Schools

9:09 - 10:17 Dartboard grading discussion

10:17 - 11:46 LD 1170: An Act To Raise the Floor of State Education Funding

April 23 afternoon

11:46 - 12:58 LD 1216: An Act To Support Community Schools

12:58 - 13:49 LD 237: An Act To Appropriate Funds for Coaching Services for Existing and New Prekindergarten Programs

13:49 - 15:01 LD 1262: An Act To Allow Funds from the Federal E-Rate Program To Be Applied to Maine Preschool Programs

15:01 - 15:46 Game of Thrones spoilers - but not really)

15:46 - end LD 1343: An Act To Improve Health Education and Physical Education in Schools

Some dumb Avengers talk at the very end

What happens to a bill when it hits the committee, gets voted on, heads to the House and Senate, and gets signed? We look at LD 92: An Act To Amend Teacher Evaluation Requirements for this process.

Mar27/April 1 review of testimony

0:00 - 0:35 intro

0:35 - 3:16 LD 576: Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Develop and Implement an Online Learning Platform for Students and Educators

3:16 - 6:30 LD 672: An Act To Allow Local Flexibility in Teacher Assignment To Enhance Student Achievement

6:30 - 7:52 How do you know the status of a bill? Matt and Matt explain a little bit about the process.

7:52 - 9:24 LD 714: An Act To Prohibit Public Charter Schools for Expending Funds for Advertising

9:24 - 11:57 LD 750: An Act To Allow Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Instructors To Instruct without State Certification

11:57 - 16:15 LD 997: An Act To Promote Social and Emotional Learning and Development for Young Children

16:15 - 18:23 LD 1024: An Act To Include Mental Health Education in Maine Schools

18:23 - 20:13 LD 930: An Act To Give Maine Schools Additional Options To Make Up Missed School Days

20:13 - end LD 1174: An Act To Facilitate Remote Learning during School Cancellations

Matt and Matt preview the public hearings on April 17 and April 19, 2019. Rate and review us on iTunes!

0:00 - 1:17 intro

April 17 afternoon:

1:17 - 3:45 LD 866: An Act To Support College Completion by Homeless Youth in Maine

3:45 - 7:00 LD 985: An Act To Maintain High School Diploma Standards by Repealing Proficiency-based Diploma Standards

7:00 - 9:01 LD 1370: An Act To Address Violent Behavior in the Classroom

9:01 - 10:21 LD 1347: An Act To Promote High-quality After-school Programs in Public Schools

April 19 morning:

10:21 - 12:34 LD 210: An Act To Increase Technology and Engineering Education for Grades 7 to 12

12:34 - 13:27 LD 1046: An Act To Authorize the Department of Education To Provide Flexibility in the Required Credentials for Teachers in Career and Technical Programs

13:27 - 15:01 LD 1369: An Act To Create an Additional Pathway To Certify Industrial Arts Teachers To Foster Career and Technical Subjects in Maine Schools

15:01 - 20:13 LD 1182: An Act To Improve School Safety by Requiring Law Enforcement Visits

April 19 afternoon:

20:13 - 22:51 LD 454: An Act To Encourage the Purchase of Local Produce for Public Schools

22:51 - 25:09 LD 577: An Act To Increase Access to Nutritious Foods in schools by Implementing an After-school Food Program for At-risk Students

25:09 - 26:01 LD 541: Resolve, To Reduce Food Waste in Schools

26:01 - 27:52 LD 1351: An Act To Allow for the Recovery and Redistribution of Food in Public Schools

27:52 - end LD 1344: An Act To Improve Nutrition in Maine Schools

Matt and Matt do a quick-take hot-take of the work session around LD798, the immunization bill.

Matt and Matt preview the public hearings for the Education Committee on April 8, 9, and 10.

0:00 - 2:45 intro

April 8 public hearings

2:45 - 4:25 LD 318: An Act To Prepare All Students for Work and Life by Requiring That Students Receive Instruction in Vocational Preparation and Practical Life Skills

4:25 - 6:07 LD 513: An Act To Limit the Number of Students and Prevent the Addition of Grade Levels at Virtual Public Charter Schools

6:07 - 9:05 LD 307: An Act To Limit the Number of Charter Schools in Maine, and LD 438: An Act To Allow the Creation of New Innovative School Models by Removing the Cap on the Number of Authorized Charter Schools

April 9 public hearings

9:05 - 11:58 LD 185: An Act To Provide a Method for a Student To Be Excused from Standardized Testing

11:58 - 21:28 LD 1152: An Act To Make the Maine Educational Assessment Optional for Kindergarten to Grade 8

21:28 - 24:13 LD 1168: Resolve, To Improve Maine's Response to Childhood Trauma

24:13 - 26:00 LD 1341: An Act To Provide Flexibility for Efficient and Effective Management of School Management and Leadership Centers

April 10 public hearings

26:00 - 27:15 LD 642: An Act Regarding Kindergarten Readiness for Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

27:15 - 30:00 LD 1306: An Act To Promote Safe Schools through the Creation of the Safe School Climate Council

30:00 - end review of some bills that have been “dismissed” - what does it mean?

Matt and Matt review testimony from the March 25 public hearings. This is the one with the mascots! We also wonder what would happen if mascots had to be immunized....

0:00 - 1:38 intro

1:38 - 5:17 LD 359: An Act To Address Student Hunger with a “Breakfast after the Bell” Program, LD 549: An Act To Promote Academic Achievement through Hunger Relief for Maine’s Children, LD 605: An Act To Improve Antihunger Programs in Maine Schools, LD 701: An Act To Modernize the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program

5:17 - 13:38 LD 965: An Act To Restrict Cell Phone Use by Students While in School

13:38 - 18:55 LD 1010: Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Develop a Model School Disciplinary Policy

18:55 - 33:32 LD 770: An Act To Provide for a Later Starting Time for High Schools

33:32 - end LD 944: An Act To Ban Native American Mascots in All Public Schools

Matt and Matt review the testimony in the Education Committee presented on March 20 and 21.

0:00 - 1:12 intro

1:12 - 3:48 LD 711: Resolve, To Establish a Commission To Study and Recommend a Minimum Age for Participation in Tackle Football

3:48 - 5:30 LD 736: An Act To Protect Students during Elections Held at Their Schools

5:30 - 6:35 LD 858: Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Studt and Make Recommendations for the Establishment of a Maine School Safety Center

6:35 - 7:12 Some amazing chips talk

7:12 - 8:35 LD 727: An Act Concerning Funding of Alternative Organizational Structures

8:35 - 21:23 LD 345: An Act To Help New Teachers Succeed

21:23 - 24:12 LD 729: An Act Regarding the Probationary Period for Teachers

24:12 - 26:02 LD 979: An Act To Provide Consistent Data Regarding Education Funding

26:02 - close LD 664: An Act To Organize Biannual County Meetings for Local School Boards

Matt and Matt still have terrible microphones (well, Matt does anyway), but they review some bills before the Labor Committee in a small break from reviewing Education Committee bills.

0:00 - 0:45 intro

0:45 - 3:38 LD 900: An Act To Expand the Rights of Public Employees under the Maine Labor Laws; and LD 1041: An Act Regarding Collective Bargaining for Public Employees under the Municipal Public Employees Labor Relations Laws.

3:38 - end LD 240: An Act To Allow Public Employers of Teachers to Negotiate Regarding Educational Policies

Matt and Matt review testimony from March 4 and 6 public hearings.

0:00 - 1:04 Intro

1:04 - 1:16 LD 405: An Act To Increase the Statewide Minimum Salary for Teachers, and LD 419: An Act To Require a Minimum Salary of $50,000 for Public School Teachers are dead. As dead as Matt's microphone.

1:16 - 5:38 LD 898: An Act To Provide for a Professional Wage and Support for New Educators is alive!

5:38 - 6:15 LD 484: Resolve, To Establish a Maine State High School Diploma. Dead.

6:15 - 7:32 LD 502: An Act To Establish the Summer Success Program Fund. Alive!

7:32 - 12:28 LD 136: An Act To Establish a Special Education Circuit Breaker Reimbursement Program

12:28 - 14:40 LD 651: An Act To Facilitate School Access to Federal Title I Funds and Improve the Delivery of Special Education Services

14:40 - 16:01 LD 791: An Act To Provide School Districts with Full State Funding for Students with High-cost Special Education Needs

16:01 - 19:30 LD 852: An Act To Enhance the Coordination of Benefits, Assessments and Expansion of Continuing Education Programs for Young Adults with Disabilities after High School

19:30 - 20:30 LD 587: An Act To Require Career Options Education for High School Students. Dead.

20:30 - 23:04 LD 654: An Act Regarding Instruction in Civics in Secondary Schools. Dead. Withdrawn. Amazing.

23:04 - 29:34 LD 882: Resolve, To Require the Examination of the System of Learning Results

29:34 - endLD 375: An Act To Promote the Forest Products Industry in School Construction and Renovation Involving Hearting Systems.

Matt and Matt did this one by Skype. We are sounding odd (well, odder than usual....) as we are still trying to figure out the remote location sound gig. We'll do better next time.

0:00 - 0:49 intro

March 25 morning session:

0:49 - 3:55 LD 359: An Act To Address Student Hunger with a "Breakfast after the Bell" Program

3:55 - 5:41 LD 549: An Act To Promote Academic Achievement through Hunger Relief for Maine Children

5:41 - 7:38 LD 605: An Act To Improve Antihunger Programs in Maine Schools

7:38 - 10:55 LD 701: An Act To Modernize the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program

March 25 afternoon session

10:55 - 13:16 LD 944: An Act To Ban Native American Mascots in All Public Schools

13:16 - 17:38 LD 965: An Act To Restrict Cell Phone Use by Students While In School

17:38 - 21:32 LD 770: An Act To Provide for a Later Starting Time for High Schools

21:32 - 24:35 LD 1010: Resolve, Directing the Department of Education to Develop a Model School Disciplinary Policy

March 27 afternoon session

24:35 - 26:47 LD 576: Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Develop and Implement an Online Learning Platform for Students and Educators

26:47 - 29:05 LD 672: An Act To Allow Local Flexibility in Teacher Assignment To Enhance Student Achievement

29:05 - 30:26 LD 714: An Act To Prohibit Public Charter Schools form Expending Funds for Advertising

30:26 - 32:16 LD 750: An Act To Allow Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Instructors To Instruct without State Certification

April 1 afternoon session

32:16 - 35:18 LD 997: An Act To Promote Social and Emotional Learning and Development for Young Children

35:18 - 36:35 LD 1024: An Act To Include Mental Health Education in Maine Schools

36:35 - 40:52 LD 930: An Act To Give Maine Schools Additional Options To Make Up Missed School Days

40:52 - end LD 1174: An Act To Facilitate Remote Learning during School Cancellations

Matt and Matt review testimony of March 13 (the immunization bills), which actually might be still happening when you listen to this. 600 pieces of testimony later, and we are still alive.

We discuss them at the same time, so no timestamps today. The bills are LD 798: An Act To Protect Maine Children and Students from Preventable Diseases by Repealing Certain Exemptions from the Laws Governing Immunization Requirements; and LD 987: An Act To Provide Autonomy for Health Care Providers To Practice Patient-centered Care by Amending the Laws Governing Medical Exemptions to Immunization Requirements.

The sound quality is a little lacking. We need a better producer. #analysis

Matt and Matt preview the public hearings scheduled to be held on March 20 and 21.

0:00 - 1:42 intro

1:42 - 3:58 LD 711: Resolve, To Establish a Commission To Study and Recommend a Minimum Age for Participation in Tackle Football

3:58 - 10:52 LD 736: An Act To Protect Students during Elections Held at Their Schools

10:52 - 12:04 LD 858: Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Study and Make Recommendations for the Establishment of a Maine School Safety Center

12:04 - 22:02 LD 345: An Act To Help New Teachers Succeed

22:02 - 26:48 LD 729: An Act Regarding the Probationary Period for Teachers

26:48 - 31:09 LD 664: An Act To Organize Biannual County Meetings for Local School Boards

31:09 - 33:19 LD 727: An Act Concerning Funding of Alternative Organizational Structures

33:19 - end LD 979: An Act To Provide Consistent Data Regarding Education Funding

Matt and Matt review testimony of February 25 public hearings.

0:00 - 0:51 Intro

0:51 - 3:38 LD 247: An Act To Increase the Amount of Time school Counselors and Social Workers Spend Providing Students Direct and Indirect Counseling.

3:38 - 15:48 LD 406: An Act To Establish Regional School Leadership Academies, and BLUE SHEETS!

15:48 - end LD 662: An Act To Count Abroad toward Secondary School Credit

Matt and Matt preview the bills up for public hearing on March 13, 2019.

0:00 - 1:10 Intro

1:10 - 7:52 LD 798: An Act to Protect Maine Children and Students from Preventable Diseases by Repealing Certain Exemptions from the Laws Governing Immunization Requirements

7:52 - end LD 987: An Act to Provide Autonomy for Health Care Providers To Practice Patient-centered Care by Amending the Laws Governing Medical Exemptions to Immunization Requirements

Matt and Matt take a break from reviewing and previewing bills to interview Pender Makin, Commissioner of Education for the State of Maine.

0:00 - 1:35 intro

1:35 - 2:35 LD 404 "An Act to Fund the School Revolving Renovation Fund"

2:35 - 3:45 LD 557 "An Act to Create and Fund the School Revolving Maintenance Fund to Support the Usefulness and Longevity of Public School Buildings"

3:45 - 5:00 LD 427 "An Act to Require the State to Fund Teacher Retirement"

5:00 - 6:00 some nonsense about Schoolhouse Rock

6:00 - end LD 589 "Resolve, Directing the State Board of Education to Adopt Rules Prohibiting Teachers in Public Schools from Engaging in Political, Ideological or Religious Advocacy in the Classroom"

0:00 - 1:03 intro

1:03 - 6:10 LD 225 "An Act Regarding Transportation Management Software and School Bus Replacement"

6:10 - 9:38 LD 441 "An Act to Reduce Childhood Exposure to Harmful Ultraviolet Radiation by Allowing Students to Use Sunscreen in Schools"

9:38 - 15:30 LD 395 "An Act to Protect Access to Outside-of-school Enrichment Opportunities"

15:30 - 21:01 LD 470 "An Act to Provide Traffic Safety Education in Schools"

21:01 - 27:17 LD 167 "An Act to Prevent Food Shaming in Maine's Public Schools"

27:17 - 31:15 LD 388 "An Act to Recognize Employee Background Checks Conducted for Out-of-state Schools Eligible for Maine Tuition Assistance"

31:15 - end LD 206 "An Act to Raise the University of Maine System Debt Ceiling"

Matt and Matt preview the bills up for public hearings on February 25, 2019.

0:00 - 2:00 intro

2:00 - 4:40 LD 247 "An Act to Increase the Amount of Time School Counselors and Social Workers Spend Providing Students Direct and Indirect Counseling"

4:40 - 8:30 LD 406 "An Act to Establish Regional School Leadership Academies"

8:30 - end LD 662 "An Act to Count Study Abroad toward Secondary School Credit"

Matt and Matt review testimony given at the public hearings of February 14.

0:00 - 0:45 intro

0:45 - 5:20 LD 160 "An Act to Add Instruction in Personal Finance to the Statewide System of Learning Results"

5:20 - 11:30 LD 283 "Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 132: Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education"

11:30 - 18:50 LD 387 "An Act to Require Cursive Handwriting Instruction in Grade 3 to Grade 5"

18:50 - 22:50 LD 236 "An Act Regarding the Use of Unanticipated State Aid for Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education"

22:50 - end LD 464 "An Act to Change the Period To Request a Due Process Hearing for Costs Related to a Unilateral Private School Placement from a Public School"

Matt and Matt preview the bills up for public hearings on March 4 and March 6.

0:00 - 0:50 intros

0:50 - 1:35 LD 405 "An Act to Increase the Statewide Minimum Salary for Teachers"

1:35 - 3:15 LD 419 "An Act to Require a Minimum Salary of $50,000 for Public School Teachers"

3:15 - 15:08 LD 898 "An Act to Provide for a Professional Wage and Support for New Educators"

15:08 - 19:10 LD 484 "Resolve, To Establish a Maine State High School Diploma"

19:10 - 24:15 LD 502 "An Act to Establish the Summer Success Program Fund"

24:15 - 26:45 LD 136 "An Act to Establish a Special Education Circuit Breaker Reimbursement Program"

26:45 - 30:56 LD 651 "An Act to Facilitate School Access to Federal Title I Funds and Improve the Delivery of Special Education Services"

30:56 - 31:45 LD 791 "An Act to Provide School Districts with Full State Funding for Students with High-cost Special Education Needs"

31:45 - 34:11 LD 852 "An Act to Enhance the Coordination of Benefits, Assessments and Expansion of Continuing Education Programs for Young Adults with Disabilities after High School"

34:11 - 34:32 LD 587 "An Act to Require Career Options Education for High School Students"

34:32 - 34:58 LD 654 "An Act Regarding Instruction in Civics in Secondary Schools"

34:58 - end LD 882 "Resolve, To Require the Examination of the System of Learning Results"

Matt and Matt preview the public hearings on February 21. These bills are: LD404, An Act to Fund the School Revolving Renovation Fund; LD557, An Act to Create and Fund the School Revolving Maintenance Fund to Support the Usefulness and Longevity of Public School Buildings; LD427, An Act to Require the State to Fund Teacher Retirement; and LD589, Resolve, Directing the State Board of Education to Adopt Rules Prohibiting Teachers in Public Schools form Engaging in Political, Ideological, or Religious Advocacy in the Classroom.

We may have something to say about the last one. We also did this one by Skype, so the sound is a little funky. It's all a learning experience, that's the takeaway....

Matt and Matt talk about the upcoming public hearings on February 13 and 14.

The bills up for review are: LD225, An Act Regarding Transportation Management Software and School Bus Replacement; LD375, An Act to Promote the Forest Products Industry in School Construction and Renovation Involving Heating Systems; LD395, An Act to Protect Access to Outside-of-School Enrichment Activities; LD441, An Act to Reduce Childhood Exposure to Harmful Ultraviolet Radiation by Allowing Student to Use Sunscreen in Schools; LD167, An Act to Prevent Food Shaming in Maine's Public Schools; LD206, An Act to Raise the University of Maine System Debt Ceiling; LD388, An Act to Recognize Employee Background Checks Conducted for Out-of-State Schools Eligible for Maine Tuition Assistance; LD470, An Act to Promote Traffic Safety Education in Schools; LD160, An Act to Add Instruction in Personal Finance to the Statewide System of Learning Results; LD236, An Act Regarding the Use of Unanticipated State Aid for Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education; LD283, Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portion of Chapter 132: Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education; LD387, An Act to Require Cursive Handwriting Instruction in Grade 3 to Grade 5; and LD464, An Act to Change the Period to Request a Due Process Hearing for Costs Related to a Unilateral Private School Placement from a Public School.

Matt and Matt review the testimony at the public hearings on February 4. We talk about the following bills: LD150, An Act to Improve Attendance at Public Elementary Schools; LD151, An Act to Align State Law with Current Practice Regarding Required School Attendance; LD63, An Act to Improve Responsiveness of Elected School Boards to the Public; LD137, An Act to Make the Maine Technology Learning Initiative More Cost-Effective; LD176, An Act to Enhance Participation on the State Board of Education; and LD178, An Act to Increase the State Share of the Cost of Health Insurance for Retired Teachers. Also, Matt says "fascinating" about 3 billion times this episode. It's a tic, apparently....

Matt and Matt talk about the testimony in the public hearings that occurred on January 30, 2019. Follow us at @MaineEdMatters on Twitter and Facebook!

0:00 - 1:20 Intro

1:20 - 17:10 LD 14, An Act to Improve Science and Engineering Education for Maine's Students

17:10 - 19:00 LD 55, Act to Return the Normal Cost of Teacher Retirement to the State

19:00 - 23:20 LD 92, An Act to Amend Teacher Evaluation Requirements

23:20 - end LD 103, An Act to Ensure the Integrity of For-Profit Colleges

Matt and Matt preview the bills up for public hearing on Feb 4. LD 150: An Act to Improve Attendance at Public Elementary Schools. LD 151: An Act to Align State Law with Current Practice Regarding Required School Attendance. LD 63: An Act to Improve Responsiveness of Elected School Boards to the Public. LD 137: An Act to Make the Maine Learning Technology Initiative More Cost-Effective. LD 176: An Act to Enhance Participation on the State Board of Education. LD 178: An Act to Increase the State Share of the Cost of Health Insurance for Retired Teachers.

This episode, Matt and Matt get into the language of each of the first seven bills coming across the Education Committee. We talk about our initial thoughts of each one of these, whether we think they are good ideas, some worries and concerns about them (if we have them), and the general timeline of what happens next. Let us know what you think! Follow us on Twitter at @MaineEdMatters and on Facebook at Maine Education Matters with Matt and Matt. Rate and review us, and definitely subscribe!

On January 30 at 9am, the following bills are scheduled for public hearings. LD 14: An Act To Improve Science and Engineering Education for Maine's Students; LD 97: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 38: Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Maine Public Schools, a Major Substantive Rule fo the Department of Education; LD 98: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 122: Grant Application and Award Procedure: Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational Services, a Major, Substantive Rule of the Department of Education; LD 103: An Act to Ensure the Integrity of For-profit colleges.

On January 30 at 1pm, the following bills are scheduled for public hearings. LD 29: Resolve, To Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force to Address the Opioid Crisis in the State by Establishing a Work Group To Develop Educational Programming for Prevention of Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders among Youth and Adolescents; LD 55: An Act To Return the Normal Cost of Teacher Retirement to the State; LD 92: An Act To Amend Teacher Evaluation Requirements.

Matt and Matt go through

This week, Matt and Matt break down the titles of the education bills for the 129th Legislature - not the language, mind you. Just the titles. This one gets very silly, as we are only talking about the titles - we have no other information.

Fortunately, language will be coming out as the bills start to get public hearings. We'll talk about them when it happens!

Follow us on Twitter @MaineEdMatters, and on Facebook for more info!

Matt and Matt talk about the new Commissioner of Education, and the newly announced Education Committee. Who are they, and what are their backgrounds?

Matt and Matt finish their talk about LD1666. DEEP dives into proficiency and the language of the bills. We get pretty specific about things, and it's a long one. Enjoy! Follow us on Twitter @MaineEdMatters and give us feedback! Facebook too!

Matt and Matt wrap up 2018 (kind of) with some prognostications and talk about some things late in the year we may have missed. Mainly some rule changes, and it's super exciting. For reals. Follow us on Twitter at @MaineEdMatters and on Facebook for more! If you listen all the way to the end, you'll get lots of nonsense. As usual.

"Laws are tough." - MDC

Matt and Matt finish up their discussion of ESSA in Maine with an extended talk about what chronic absenteeism is and how it affects schools, and a dive into the tiers of support, and some confusion around what they are. Follow us on Twitter at @MaineEdMatters and let us know what you'd like us to discuss!

Matt and Matt interrupt their series on all things Maine Education related to give you a heads up on standards review, and specifically, the science and social studies review out for public comment right now. Follow us on Twitter at @MaineEdMatters.

Matt and Matt continue their series on ESSA, this week focusing on the school report cards, the indicators of school success, and what it all means. It can get very confusing, especially the student growth section. Some riveting talk about points.... and how it seems weighted towards high achieving kids. What are those implications? Follow us at @MaineEdMatters on Twitter, and review us on iTunes!

This week, Matt and Matt start their discussion of what ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) means to Maine education. They start with a history of what this act is, where it's been, what it's for!

This week, Matt and Matt conclude their series on Chapter 180 by talking about peer supports and mentoring.

This week, Matt and Matt discuss SLOs (Student Learning Objectives) and how they relate to teacher evaluations. There is a lot there, including some ambiguity about peer evaluations.....

Matt and Matt discuss what teacher evaluation looks like in Chapter 180. What are the basics of the system?

Matt and Matt continue their discussion of LD1666, and explore the differences and confusions with proficiency-based EDUCATION (PBE) and proficiency-based DIPLOMAS (PBD). Lots of confusion out there.

Matt and Matt have an emergency! The DOE has put out a priority notice comparing the two types of diploma systems in Maine, and we thought it was worth interrupting our series on LD 1666 to give you our thoughts. Find the notice here! Give us your feedback on Twitter, Facebook, etc. We'd love to hear what you think!

Matt and Matt start their discussions of Maine Education Matters with LD 1666 - the proficiency-based diploma law. What is the background, why did it not go so well across Maine, and why is world language such a big issue? Follow us on Twitter at @MaineEdMatters and on Facebook at @maineeducationmatters. We want your feedback!

Matthew Shea and Matt Drewette-Card, two curriculum leaders in Maine, talk about all things related to education in Maine.