Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 20-A, § 2 (2026)

Policy on public education

✓ current as of May 2026

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The state policy on public education is as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

1. State responsibility for public education. In accordance with the Constitution of Maine, Article VIII, the Legislature shall enact the laws that are necessary to assure that all school administrative units make suitable provisions for the support and maintenance of the public schools. It is the intent of the Legislature that every person within the age limitations prescribed by state statutes shall be provided an opportunity to receive the benefits of a free public education.

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

2. Local control of public education. It is the intent of the Legislature that the control and management of the public schools shall be vested in the legislative and governing bodies of local school administrative units, as long as those units are in compliance with appropriate state statutes.

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

3. Mandated programs.

[PL 1991, c. 847, §1 (RP).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1981, c. 693, §§5,8 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 821 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 501, §P22 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 502, §D16 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 534, §E1 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 878, §A43 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 9, §II1 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 429, §1 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 528, §III23 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 528, §RRR (AFF). PL 1991, c. 591, §III23 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 847, §1 (AMD).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 15 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1983–2024 · leading case: Hallissey v. Sch. Admin. Dist. No. 77, 2000 ME 143 (Me. 2000).

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Hallissey v. Sch. Admin. Dist. No. 77, 2000 ME 143 (Me. 2000). · cites it 4× “[7] 20-A M.R.S.A. § 2(1) (1992) sets forth the State's policy on public education as follows: In accordance with the Constitution of Maine, Article VIII, the Legislature shall enact the laws that are necessary to assure that all school administrative units make suitable…”

John Doe v. Reg'l Sch. Unit 26, 2014 ME 11 (Me. 2014). · cites it 2× “See 20-A M.R.S. § 2(1) (2013). It does not purport to establish guidelines for the use of school bathrooms.”

Sch. Comm. of Town of York v. Town of York, 626 A.2d 935 (Me. 1993). · cites it 2× “12 The School Committee finally contends that interposing a Budget Committee between the School Committee and the Town meeting frustrates the legislative scheme set out in Title 20-A because it undercuts state policy dividing school authority between the school board and the…”

Town of Frye Island v. State, 2008 ME 27 (Me. 2008). “” 20-A M.R.S. § 2(1) (2007); see also Shaw v.”

Logiodice v. Trs. of Maine Cent. Inst., 135 F. Supp. 2d 199 (D. Me. 2001). · cites it 2× “” 20-A M.R.S.A. § 2; see also Me. Const. art.”

MSAD 6 Bd. of Directors v. Town of Frye Island, 2020 ME 45 (Me. 2020). “” 20-A M.R.S. § 2(1) (2018); see also Me. Const.”

Logiodice v. Trs. of Maine Cent. Inst., 170 F. Supp. 2d 16 (D. Me. 2001). “Rather, it delegated a statutory obligation in accordance with other statutory provisions specifically providing that school districts may contract out their responsibility to educate students.”

Solmitz v. Maine Sch. Admin. Dist. No. 59, 495 A.2d 812 (Me. 1985). “§ 2(2) (1983) provides: It is the intent of the Legislature that the control and management of the public schools shall be vested in the legislative and governing bodies of local school administrative units, as long as those units are in compliance with appropriate state…”

Bangor Baptist Church v. State of Me., Dept. of Educ., 576 F. Supp. 1299 (D. Me. 1983). “Defendants’ interpretation of the education laws would arrogate to the Commissioner the powers and responsibilities entrusted by the legislature to local public school authorities, see 20-A M.R.S.A. § 2 (1981), and eliminate entirely the sensitive administrative safeguards of…”

Logiodice v. Trs. of Maine Cent. Inst., 296 F.3d 22 (1st Cir. 2002). “A school teacher dismissed by a private school without due process is likely to have other options for employment; a student wrongly expelled from the only free secondary education in town is in far more trouble, unless his parents are rich or mobile.”

Thornton Academy v. Reg'l Sch. Unit 21, 2019 ME 115 (Me. 2019). “1, § 1 ; 20-A M.R.S. §§ 2, 1451, 1479, 5202(2) (2018) ; see Sch.”

City of Lewiston v. Lewiston Educ. Directors, 503 A.2d 210 (Me. 1985). “20-A M.R.S.A. § 2(2) (1983). 5 *213 Next, the City notes that the Legislature has passed no law specifically dealing with salaries of school employees other than teachers or superintendants, or with the authority of school boards to enter into collective bargaining agreements.”

Show all 15 citing cases →

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 20-A, § 2(1) — 6 cases

John Doe v. Reg'l Sch. Unit 26, 2014 ME 11 (Me. 2014). “See 20-A M.R.S. § 2(1) (2013). It does not purport to establish guidelines for the use of school bathrooms.”

Hallissey v. Sch. Admin. Dist. No. 77, 2000 ME 143 (Me. 2000). “[7] 20-A M.R.S.A. § 2(1) (1992) sets forth the State's policy on public education as follows: In accordance with the Constitution of Maine, Article VIII, the Legislature shall enact the laws that are necessary to assure that all school administrative units make suitable…”

Town of Frye Island v. State, 2008 ME 27 (Me. 2008). “” 20-A M.R.S. § 2(1) (2007); see also Shaw v.”

MSAD 6 Bd. of Directors v. Town of Frye Island, 2020 ME 45 (Me. 2020). “” 20-A M.R.S. § 2(1) (2018); see also Me. Const.”

Crosspoint Church v. Makin (D. Me. 2024).

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 20-A, § 2(2) — 4 cases

Hallissey v. Sch. Admin. Dist. No. 77, 2000 ME 143 (Me. 2000). “[7] 20-A M.R.S.A. § 2(1) (1992) sets forth the State's policy on public education as follows: In accordance with the Constitution of Maine, Article VIII, the Legislature shall enact the laws that are necessary to assure that all school administrative units make suitable…”

Sch. Comm. of Town of York v. Town of York, 626 A.2d 935 (Me. 1993). “12 The School Committee finally contends that interposing a Budget Committee between the School Committee and the Town meeting frustrates the legislative scheme set out in Title 20-A because it undercuts state policy dividing school authority between the school board and the…”

Solmitz v. Maine Sch. Admin. Dist. No. 59, 495 A.2d 812 (Me. 1985). “§ 2(2) (1983) provides: It is the intent of the Legislature that the control and management of the public schools shall be vested in the legislative and governing bodies of local school administrative units, as long as those units are in compliance with appropriate state…”

City of Lewiston v. Lewiston Educ. Directors, 503 A.2d 210 (Me. 1985). “20-A M.R.S.A. § 2(2) (1983). 5 *213 Next, the City notes that the Legislature has passed no law specifically dealing with salaries of school employees other than teachers or superintendants, or with the authority of school boards to enter into collective bargaining agreements.”

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