Maine at the crux of a national debate

For a time, Maine was the focus of national attention from education circles focused on charter schools.

Of the 10 states that do not allow charter schools, Maine was the closest to allowing the independently run schools, if only for the bill that brought it to the Legislature's attention this spring.

When U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan today told reporters that states that prohibit and limit charter schools "jeopardize" their chances at getting a portion of $4.35 billion in federal education innovation funds, Maine made it into his remarks.

The Maine Senate, however, has rejected the charter schools bill for a second time, essentially killing the legislation. Charter schools advocates got one senator to switch his vote, John Nutting of Leeds, but it wasn't enough. The bill died in a 20-14 vote.

The federal funds issue -- which Duncan clarified today -- figured into the Maine legislators' debate on charter schools. It wasn't enough, however, to cancel out the pleas of the Maine Education Association, the Maine School Management Association and the Maine Principals' Association to oppose the bill.

Maine would certainly welcome more funding from Washington, D.C., senators said during debate on Thursday. But once that funding evaporates, said Sen. Elizabeth Schneider, D-Orono, federal funding becomes local obligation.

"My concern is, here is an opportunity, yes, for a small amount of funds, which ultimately, later on down the line, we will pick up the tab for when we are cutting funds for K to 12 education," she said.

For now, that view has won. For charter schools advocates, the 125th Legislature might be another opportunity.