Maine School Climate Policy

There is currently no policy surrounding School Climate in Maine. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

Maine Revised Statute Annotated Title 20-A §6554. Prohibition on bullying in public schools. 

• • Includes definitions of alternative discipline, bullying, cyberbullying, retaliation, and school grounds.
  • Covers bullying that takes place on- and off-school grounds.
  • States that anyone who engages in bullying, who is determined to have knowingly and falsely accused another of bullying, or who engages in acts of retaliation against a person who reports a suspected incident of bullying is subject to disciplinary actions.
  • States who is responsible for the adoption of policy and the procedures that should be included in the policy.

• Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 1001. Duties of school boards.

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec1001.html

• Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 254. Educational Duties.

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec254.html

http://legislature.maine.gov/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec6554.html

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 1001. Duties of school boards. Each school board shall annually approve a comprehensive emergency management plan developed by the school unit administration working with school teachers and staff and local, county, and state public safety officials, fire-fighting personnel, emergency management officials, mental health officials, and law enforcement officials. 

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec1001.html

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 6552. Firearms. 

• A person may not possess a firearm on public school property or the property of an approved private school or discharge a firearm within 500 feet of public school property or the property of an approved private school.
• The prohibition on the possession and discharge of a firearm does not apply to law enforcement officials.

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec6552.html

Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 6554. Prohibition on bullying in public schools.

Encourages safeguards, counseling, referrals, or resources for students involved in bullying incidents.

• Procedure to remediate any substantiated incident of bullying to counter the negative impact of bullying and reduce the risk of future incidents such as referring the victim or the perpetrator to counseling or other appropriate services.
• Process for the school to inform the parent of a bullied student of the measures being taken to ensure the safety of the student and to prevent further acts of bullying.

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec6554.html

Suicide Prevention

• Code of Maine Rules 05.071.038 Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Maine Public Schools.

Protocols for suicide prevention and intervention and counseling services after an incident of youth suicide will be based on best practices established and maintained by NAMI

https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/maine/05-071-Me-Code-R-Ch-38

• Maine Revised Statutes 34-B 3007. Teenage Suicide Prevention Program.

Schools will develop a teenage suicide prevention strategy and model a suicide prevention program.

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/34-B/title34-Bsec3007.html

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 6671. Youth mental health first aid training. A school administrative unit shall establish a youth mental health first aid training program for health educators in secondary schools. Training includes;

• Safely de-escalating crises
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses
• Timely refer students to mental health services in the early stages of their development of mental disorders

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec6671.html

Who does this protect? Students, School community and staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 1. Definitions.

Provides definitions of alternative education programs and alternative learning.

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec1.html

Code of Maine Rules 05.071.127 Instructional program assessment and diploma requirements. 

• Alternative Programs:
  • A school administrative unit may establish or participate in one or more programs as alternatives to the regular course of study to meet the needs of students at risk. Alternative programs shall support student social and behavioral development in addition to performance.
• Bilingual Instruction: 
  • The school board of each school administrative unit may establish bilingual programs to provide proficiency in both English and a second language.

  https://casetext.com/regulation/maine-administrative-code/department-05-department-of-education/division-071-education-general/chapter-127-instructional-program-assessment-and-diploma-requirements/section-071-127-3-general-requirements-k-12

  Code of Maine Rules 05.071.128 Truants and dropouts guidelines. Process for developing alternative programs, for example, the questions local school officials should take into consideration.

  https://casetext.com/regulation/maine-administrative-code/department-05-department-of-education/division-071-education-general/chapter-128-truants-and-dropouts-guidelines/section-071-128-13-developing-alternative-programs

  Code of Maine Rules 05.071.101 Maine Unified Special Education Regulation Birth to age Twenty.

Under this chapter are policies and procedures that are required under the IDEA act. 

https://casetext.com/regulation/maine-administrative-code/department-05-department-of-education/division-071-education-general/chapter-101-maine-unified-special-education-regulation-birth-to-age-twenty

Who does this protect? Students, Students with disabilities

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 4722. High school diploma Standard.

Achievement of the Standard may be demonstrated by evidence documented by course and learning experiences using multiple measures, such as community service.

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec4722.html

Who does this protect? Students, Community, teachers and parents

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Maine Revised Statute Annotated Title 20-A §§4805. Other special observances.

Includes religious holidays.

http://legislature.maine.gov/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec4805.html

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 6671. Youth mental health first aid training.

A school administrative unit shall establish a youth mental health first aid training program for health educators in secondary schools. Training includes;

• Safely de-escalating crises
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses
• Timely refer students to mental health services in the early stages of their development of mental disorders

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec6671.html

Code of Maine Rules 05.071.038 Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Maine Public Schools.

All school personnel is required to complete in-service suicide prevention awareness education training. Training must be renewed at least every 5 years. 

https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/maine/05-071-Me-Code-R-Ch-38

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 6555. Dangerous behavior and prevention and intervention.

Either provide positive behavior interventions for the student and educators or Training for public school employees who interact with the student to prevent the dangerous behaviors from taking place again.

https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/20-a/title20-Asec6555.html

Code of Maine Rules 05.071.114 Purpose, Standard, and procedures for the review and approval of preparation programs for educational personnel.

The six program approval Standard encourage innovations and interactive practices in such areas as gender equity, cultural diversity, involvement of parents and community, and to preparing education personnel.

• Communicates verbally and nonverbally in ways that demonstrate respect for and responsiveness to the cultural backgrounds and differing perspectives learners bring to the learning environment.

https://casetext.com/regulation/maine-administrative-code/department-05-department-of-education/division-071-education-general/chapter-114-purpose-standards-and-procedures-for-the-review-and-approval-of-preparation-programs-for-education-personnel/section-071-114-1-purpose-preparation-and-definitions

Who does this protect? Staff, Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 6554. Prohibition on bullying in public schools.

Encourages safeguards, counseling, referrals, or resources for students involved in bullying incidents.

• Procedure to remediate any substantiated incident of bullying to counter the negative impact of bullying and reduce the risk of future incidents such as referring the victim or the perpetrator to counseling or other appropriate services.
• Process for the school to inform the parent of a bullied student of the measures being taken to ensure the safety of the student and to prevent further acts of bullying.

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec6554.html

 Suicide Prevention

• Code of Maine Rules 05.071.038 Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Maine Public Schools.

Protocols for suicide prevention and intervention and counseling services after an incident of youth suicide will be based on best practices established and maintained by NAMI.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/maine/05-071-Me-Code-R-Ch-38

• Maine Revised Statutes 34-B 3007. Teenage Suicide Prevention Program.
• Schools will develop a teenage suicide prevention strategy and model suicide prevention program

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/34-B/title34-Bsec3007.html

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 6671. Youth mental health first aid training.

A school administrative unit shall establish a youth mental health first aid training program for health educators in secondary schools. Training includes;

• Safely de-escalating crises
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses
• Timely refer students to mental health services in the early stages of their development of mental disorders

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec6671.html

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 254. Educational Duties.

The commissioner shall strongly encourage each school board to adopt local procedures for implementing a districtwide parental involvement initiative as school board policy. 

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec254.html

Code of Maine Rules 05.071.125 Basic approval Standard: public schools and school administrative units.

School administrative units shall provide family outreach and support programs designed to improve parent engagement and parent-school relations, practices such as open houses, parent conferences, parent education opportunities, newsletters, family events, and program evaluations.

https://casetext.com/regulation/maine-administrative-code/department-05-department-of-education/division-071-education-general/chapter-125-basic-approval-standards-public-schools-and-school-administrative-units/section-071-125-5-other-minimum-requirements

Who does this protect? Family, Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 1001. Duties of school boards.

Each school board shall annually approve a comprehensive emergency management plan developed by the school unit administration working with school teachers and staff and local, county, and state public safety officials, fire-fighting personnel, emergency management officials, mental health officials, and law enforcement officials. 

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec1001.html

 Maine Revised Statutes 20-A 6552. Firearms. 

• A person may not possess a firearm on public school property or the property of an approved private school or discharge a firearm within 500 feet of public school property or the property of an approved private school.
• The prohibition on the possession and discharge of a firearm does not apply to law enforcement officials.

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec6552.html

Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

There is no current policy surrounding Social Inclusion in the state of Maine. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

Maine Revised Statutes 20-A §254. Educational Duties; Technical assistance; professional development and training for instruction in digital literacy; clearinghouse for information on the use of online learning resources.

The commissioner shall develop professional development and training for instruction in digital literacy.

http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec254.html

Who does this protect? Students, Student

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

There is currently no policy surrounding Leadership in Maine. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School

There is currently no policy surrounding Professional Relations in Maine. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School