Maine School Choice

from The Maine Heritage Policy Center

Stephen Bowen
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Lessons from Orland and Raymond??
2 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Stephen Bowen Nov. 18, 2008.

What is going on out there?
2 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Molly Sep. 10, 2008.

Time to get a school choice organization going!
10 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Dan Conte Nov. 6, 2008.

 

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At 2:33pm on January 16, 2009, Tammie Breen said…
Stephen - Hi my name is Tammie Breen, I'm the President for state of Maine PTA, and I too am interested/concerned about the loss of free choice in our public schools. I live Carmel (SAD 23 with Levant) and this past summer we voted on a one year contract with Hermon HIgh School. After the vote the school board voted to cancel our tuition waivers for up coming students, the would continue the waivers for those that were already attending other schools. My oldest son receives a waiver to attend Bangor High. My younger son would also like to attend Bangor High School. We do not vote until the 24th on our local RSU with Hermon. Neither Hermon, Carmel or Levant seems to be in favor of the current plan so I'm guessing the vote will be no. I've been talking to Judith Jones on and off for the past year and she suggested I get in contact with you and see if you might be able to give me more info. First of all are one year contracts even binding? Judith had sent me info showing they needed to be 2 to 5 year contracts? Also we did not vote for loose school choice, the school board did that, is that legal? And what happens if the RSU doesn't receive a positive vote? Any information you can send my way would be greatly appreiceted. My email address is tbreen@zoneradio.com, my cell # is (207) 852-6683.

Welcome!

As supporters of school choice, we at The Maine Heritage Policy Center have struggled with how to organize school choice supporter, scattered as they are across the state. In strategy discussions with the Milton and Rose Friedman Foundation, it was suggested to us that we try Ning. This networking website has a “groups” feature that allows choice supporters in the same town or school district to connect with one another while also allowing them to share information and resources with choice supporters statewide.

As I pointed out in my most recent report, school choice in Maine is in danger. Choice supporters will need to organize and mobilize if we are to save Maine’s tradition of education freedom.

I hope you’ll join us!

Steve Bowen
The Maine Heritage Policy Center

Stephen Bowen's Blog

Stephen Bowen

School Choice working for families in Lincoln County

A terrific column by Matt Stone in this weekend's Kennebec Journal outlines how Wiscasset High School is working to attract students in the new RSU of which it is part, and how all the families in the region are benefiting from the competition school choice brings.

The new Sheepscot Valley RSU "stretches from Westport Island in the south to Palermo in the north to Chelsea in the west." Wiscasset High, the only public hi… Continue

Posted on March 30, 2009 at 9:30am —

Stephen Bowen

Upcoming RSU votes with implications for school choice

According to the state, 20 RSU plans are still awaiting approval by voters, and a number of them have implications for school choice:

Alton/Bradley/Greenbush/Milford/Old Town: RSU plan would protect school choice in all towns except Old Town, which does not have choice.

Sedgwick/Penobscot/Deer Isle-Stonington CSD/Brooksville/Brooklin/Blue Hill/Castine/Surry: AOS plan would protect school choic… Continue

Posted on January 19, 2009 at 1:05pm —

Stephen Bowen

Could consolidation lead to MORE school choice?

MHPC has done quite a bit of work to publicize the fact that school choice in Maine is under threat. Is it possible that school choice could be expanded as a result of consolidation?

The Times Record reports that residents of Wiscasset, which is destined to be the only non-choice district in its new RSU, are thinking… Continue

Posted on November 14, 2008 at 10:46am — 2 Comments

Stephen Bowen

School choice saved in Raymond and Orland, lost elsewhere...

Voters in Raymond and Orland both voted to preserve school choice.

The vote in Orland was very close, 671 to 644. That means Orland will continue to have at least some school choice after merging with Bucksport, assuming the merger plan passes when the time comes. That plan would limit high school choice in Orland to only 35% of students. The other 65% will be required to attend Bucksport High School.

School choice in Raymond was upheld by a better than two-to-one margin, 1923 to 788. This mea… Continue

Posted on November 11, 2008 at 8:33am — 4 Comments

Stephen Bowen

Update on Consolidation and School choice

As I described in an op-ed in yesterday's Kennebec Journal, the district consolidation effort is not moving forward quite as well as some would have us believe.

With regard to school choice that may be a good thing. As we've reported repeatedly, school choice options are under threat from consolidation efforts in many parts of the s… Continue

Posted on September 4, 2008 at 12:45pm —

 
 

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