AUGUSTA, Maine — The off-again, on-again “blue ribbon” public education reform commission created earlier this year by Gov. Paul LePage and the Legislature will convene at the end of August for its long-awaited second meeting — albeit under new leadership.
The Commission to Reform Public Education Funding and Improve Student Performance in Maine meets Aug. 29 at York County Community College in Wells. Here’s a primer on what to expect, why the commission is important and who will be at the helm.
Wait, what commission?
It came after a fight. Earlier this year, legislative Democrats led an effort to appropriate more funding for public schools after property value changes statewide caused declines in how much some districts were to receive in state education funding. Democrats initially tried to tie the issue to what is normally a routine tax conformity bill — favored by LePage and Republicans — but that caused major conflict at the State House.
And after a compromise. The $15 million in additional school funding was appropriated in its own bill, along with the provision — backed by LePage — to create the education commission. The statute directs the commission to produce recommendations on how to improve Maine’s school funding formula and student achievement. The deadline for the recommendations is Jan. 10, 2017.
Yes, this is THAT commission. The commission had a shaky start when its first meeting in April was held in private at the Blaine House, closed to the public and education officials. The uproar that followed, led by Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves, angered LePage, who at one point withdrew the executive branch — and Deputy Education Commissioner Bill Beardsley — from the commission. The administration later reversed course on that threat.
Attorney General Janet Mills has said the gathering was illegal under Maine’s open meeting laws. Last month, she announced she would file a district court complaint against the administration. LePage has said that effort is a waste of time and has publicly laughed off the $500 maximum fine. That case is pending with a hearing set for Sept. 12 in Kennebec County Superior Court.
What’s being studied?
School funding. The issue has already been under a microscope for years with the conversation usually centering on how to equalize funding so the education received by a student in a poor, rural district is as good as the education for a student in a more affluent community. Numerous attempts at changing Maine’s school funding formula have gone through the Legislature over the years, most of them failing because — primarily — they were opposed by lawmakers from areas that would have been financially hurt by the changes.
The school funding issue was the subject of a $450,000 study that produced the “Picus report,” which among other things recommended a drastic increase in state spending for schools and targeted property tax relief programs to help poor communities keep up with rich ones. Members of the commission have said they will focus much of their work on the Picus report and an “Education Evolving” plan that was developed under LePage in 2012.
Student achievement. LePage has long said that Maine schools do not have a funding problem, but rather an achievement problem. He and others have pushed for reforms that would help public schools move more students to proficiency, particularly in math and reading, but test scores have remained stagnant despite increased school funding.
Who’s on the commission?
A who’s who of Maine education officials. Educators and administrators from both traditional and charter schools, a member of the State Board of Education, legislative leaders and the leaders of the state’s university and community college system have all been named to the 15-member commission. You can see the full list by clicking here.
New leadership. The Department of Education announced Friday that Beardsley, who was the commission’s chairman for its first meeting, has taken on a new role. He will step away from the chairmanship but will remain on the commission so he can more effectively advocate on behalf of LePage, he said Friday in an interview. Now chairing the commission is Robert Hasson, who oversees certification, educator effectiveness and higher education for the department. Hasson is a Maine native and past superintendent.
Aggressive meeting schedule. The commission has six meetings scheduled through Dec. 12. After the gathering later this month in Wells, meeting dates are Sept. 12 at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School; Oct. 17 at Lewiston Regional Technical Center; and Oct. 31, Nov. 28 and Dec. 12 at locations to be determined.
Why does this matter?
Everyone wants to improve education. Though there are myriad ideas about how to do it and disagreements about how well Maine schools are doing, you won’t find anyone anywhere who doesn’t want to improve education.
LePage sees major education reform as a key part of his legacy. The governor led the creation of public charter schools in Maine early in his tenure and who earlier this year spearheaded measures to ease student debt. LePage has said publicly in recent months that more reforms to education would be a priority in his final two years in office.
Lawmakers have reached a level of frustration. Though it’s not a focus of the commission, the process kicks off at a time when legislators from both parties have been escalating pressure on LePage and the Department of Education to release data related to school subsidies. In an Aug. 3 letter to LePage, members of the Legislature’s Education Committee requested a range of data that has not yet been forthcoming. Among other items, the letter asks questions about funding and achievement issues.
Beardsley is in the spotlight. With Beardsley taking the lead on the commission as LePage’s proxy, a long-running dispute is likely to continue. After Democrats indicated that they would oppose LePage’s nomination of Beardsley for education commission, LePage announced he wouldn’t appoint another. That has led to tension, arguments that LePage is in violation of the law and a game of musical chairs among top officials in the department as they attempt to keep the leadership role filled. Beardsley’s title is deputy education commissioner, but there is no question he leads the department for LePage.
Can it work?
Maybe, but the odds are stacked against it. School funding and achievement are perennial trouble spots in Maine and many other states. There have been failed bills and studies that weren’t followed up on. Relations between the governor and the Legislature are strained, particularly around education issues. Any changes to school funding will be prone to lawmakers voting depending on how their hometowns will be affected. That’s a lot.
However, there is huge focus on school funding right now. This commission and a citizen-initiated referendum on the November ballot that would provide tens of millions of new dollars for education through increased income taxes have caught the public’s attention. Whether that referendum passes or not, Maine is ripe for a reboot of its school funding formula and with all this attention, 2017 might be the year to do it.
