Gov. Paul LePage and his education commissioner today unveiled a plan they say is designed to "revitalize" Maine's education system.  That follows a recent Harvard study that ranked Maine poorly as measured by the growth of academic test scores.  In announcing the plan, LePage was critical of Maine's educational establishment, from superintendents and school boards to principals and teachers.

Gov. LePage was joined by Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen in announcing three broad education initiatives. First is a new system to hold schools accountable and to ensure that students are getting the education they need. Second is the development of best practices for schools, from teaching to administration. And third is a continuation of his goal to expand school choice in the state.

"We have to do what's best for our students, and we have to have the most highest quality teacher in the classroom," LePage said. "Then we begin to have common ground that we can solve these barriers, or these silos, that have been up for years."

Most of what the governor announced comes in the form of broad goals, with few specifics as to what might be drafted into legislation. The strategies for expanding school choice, he says, will take time to develop. But he did tell reporters about one measure he plans to pursue that is sure to stir controversy.

"Parents in the state pay taxes for public education.  Then they have to pay a second time--when the kids enter college," he said.  "I'm going to propose legislation this session that says any sending high school that requires a child to take remedial courses, the sending school will pay for the remedial courses."

Commissioner Bowen says most of the legislation will be crafted from studies and work groups that are being implemented this summer.  He says best practices in other states are being reviewed as potential models for Maine. And Bowen says the accountability piece, will require a federal waiver from the current school testing program under the No Child Left Behind law.

"A new accountability system is going to give us more information than ever about how our schools are doing and put processes in place for making them better--studying best practices, what these high-achieving nations and high-achieving states are doing, and replicating those practices and expanding choice and opportunity for students," Bowen said. "Those are our three focus areas, those are going to be our core focus areas as we head into the fall."

Both Bowen and LePage cited statistic after statistic to underscore their claim that Maine is slipping in its educational quality. Fourth grade reading proficiency is down to 32 percent from 36 percent in 1992. But Lois Kilby-Chesley, the newly-elected president of the Maine Education Association, told reporters that Maine students are, in fact, doing well, ranking in the top 10 states in many categories.

"Certainly we want all of our children to progress," she says. "I think that one of the things that the governor said is that you can put any spin on this that you want to.  And I would say that that's indeed what happens.  Because over the last 20 years, Maine's teacher have been at the top of testing results, and Maine students have been at the top of test results."

Kilby-Chesley says the MEA supports efforts to improve accountability and the adoption of best practices for schools. But she says school choice will not help improve education. She says it will drain resources from local schools and could actually hurt quality in the end.

The final package of bills is not expected to be ready until the new Legislature starts work in January.

Editor's Note:  In the interest of full disclosure, the Maine Education Association represents some MPBN employees.