PORTLAND — U.S. News & World Report says Maine and California are tied for the highest percentage of high schools in the top tier of the magazine’s ranking system. The magazine released annual rankings Tuesday that say both states had slightly more than 22 percent of high schools with “gold” or “silver” rankings. Those tiers […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine’s first virtual charter school needs 200 more applications to open
FALMOUTH — The first virtual charter school authorized by the Maine Charter Commission is on schedule to open in 2014-15, though it needs to receive almost 200 more applications by August, according to an organizer of the school. Maine Connections Academy has received just over 50 intent-to-enroll applications, according to the school’s board chairwoman, Rep. […]
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Posted inOxford Hills, sj-web
Committee OKs $37.65 million school budget
OXFORD— The SAD 17 Budget Committee has approved preliminary $37.65 million budget for fiscal year 2014-15, a 4.5 percent overall increase in local spending. The proposed budget was one of two considered in last week’s final committee hearings, which will now be sent to the school board for approval. Town public hearings will begin April […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Travis Burnham: Electronics posing threat to youth education
If you go into a library today you will see the elderly reading books and the youth on their electronics. Going into a bookstore, you see plenty of ads about its website and available ebooks, overshadowing the books it has on the shelves. Electronics are everywhere and they are addicting. They are interfering with our […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislature overrides veto on bill that lets retired teachers work at full pay
AUGUSTA — The Senate on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to override a veto by Gov. Paul LePage of a bill to let retired teachers back into the classroom at full pay for up to five years. The 29-5 Senate vote comes a day after the House also overrode the veto with a vote of 133-5. The […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Report says Maine school spending increases while SAT scores decline
AUGUSTA — Despite a dramatic rise in per-pupil spending on education across the country, and in Maine, SAT scores have stayed stagnant, according to a report released Tuesday by the Cato Institute, a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. The report says that in Maine, overall spending has increased by 180 percent since 1972, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine Senate sustains virtual charter school veto
AUGUSTA — Maine’s Democratic-controlled Senate has sustained Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill that would direct the state to work toward creating a state-run virtual charter academy. The Senate voted 23-12, falling short of the two-thirds support needed to override the veto. In his veto message, LePage said he opposed the part of […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Higher special ed costs hurting school budgets
LEWISTON — Why is School Superintendent Bill Webster proposing to cut sports and teaching positions when enrollment is growing by 100 students per year? Because of growing costs in other places, including special education for out-of-district students. Webster is proposing a $60.76 million budget, up from $58.5 million, that would raise property taxes by about […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislature passes bill that would put a hold on virtual charter schools
AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate has given final approval to a bill that would place a moratorium on virtual charter schools in the state. The bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Brian Langley was enacted by a 24-11 vote on Thursday. It will now be sent to Republican Gov. Paul LePage, where it faces a likely […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Commission rejects Lewiston-Auburn charter school
AUGUSTA — There will be no publicly financed charter school opening in Lewiston-Auburn this fall. A state commission not only voted unanimously Monday to deny the application of the Lewiston-Auburn Academy Charter School, it voted to strike language in a report inviting the school with Turkish ties from applying again. And two members of the […]