Code of Maine Rules
05 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
071 - EDUCATION - GENERAL
Chapter 125 - BASIC APPROVAL STANDARDS: PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS
Section 071-125-2 - DEFINITIONS

Universal Citation: 05 ME Code Rules ยง 071-125-2

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

2.01 Assessment: "Assessment" means an educational instrument or activity designed to determine what a student knows and is able to do.

2.02 Commissioner: "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education or a designee.

2.03 Comprehensive Education Plan: "Comprehensive Education Plan" means a compilation of policies, plans and requirements as defined in this Chapter required under 20-A M.R.S. for public school administrative unit and public school approval. This Plan must address all policies, plans, reports, protocols, and processes required by the Commissioner, which considered together shall comprise the focus for continuous school improvement.

2.04 Curriculum: "Curriculum" means the school administrative unit's written document that includes the learning expectations for all students for all content areas of the system of Learning Results, as well as for other content areas specified by the local school board. The curriculum shall reflect continuous, sequential and specific instruction aligned with the content areas of the system of Learning Results.

2.05 Department: "Department" means the Maine Department of Education.

2.06 Evidence-based: "Evidence-based" means an activity, strategy, or intervention that

(i) demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on at least one of the following criteria:
(I) strong evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented experimental study;

(II) moderate evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study; or

(III) promising evidence from at least 1 well- designed and well-implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias; or

(ii)
(I) demonstrates a rationale based on high- quality research findings or positive evaluation that such activity, strategy, or intervention is likely to improve student outcomes or other relevant outcomes; and

(II) includes ongoing efforts to examine the effects of such activity, strategy, or intervention.

United States Department of Education. (2016). Elementary and Secondary Education Act. (As amended through P.L. 114-95). Washington, DC.

2.07 Kindergarten: "Kindergarten" means a one or two-year instructional program aligned with the system of Learning Results, immediately prior to grade one.

2.08 Parent: "Parent" means the parent or legal guardian of a student, or the student if of majority age.

2.09 Progress monitoring: "Progress monitoring" means a data collection measure designed to evaluate a student's response to instruction and/or intervention and conducted on a regular schedule. Data collected is used to inform future instructional and intervention decisions when a student's progress is insufficient for meeting expected outcomes.

2.10 Provisional Approval: "Provisional Approval" means an approval for a specified period of time during which a school administrative unit must take corrective action to comply with this rule.

2.11 School: "School" means an individual attendance center based on a unique address assignment within a school administrative unit or a public school as outlined in Section 1.01 that includes any combination of grades kindergarten through 12. "School" may also denote instruction delivered virtually, as approved by the Commissioner, the Charter Commission, or other approving entity. In the case of a virtual "school," the organization's physical office address shall serve as the attendance center of record.

2.12 School Administrative Unit: "School administrative unit" means the state-approved unit of school administration and includes a municipal school unit, school administrative district, community school district, or any other municipal or quasi-municipal corporation responsible for operating or constructing public schools, except that it does not include a career and technical education region. Beginning July 1, 2009, "school administrative unit" means the state-approved unit of school administration and includes only the following:

A. A municipal school unit;

B. A regional school unit formed pursuant to chapter 103-A;

C. An alternative organizational structure as approved by the commissioner and approved by the voters;

D. A school administrative district that does not provide public education for the entire span of kindergarten to grade 12 that has not reorganized as a regional school unit pursuant to chapter 103-A;

E. A community school district that has not reorganized as a regional school unit pursuant to chapter 103-A;

F. A municipal or quasi-municipal district responsible for operating public schools that has not reorganized as a regional school unit pursuant to chapter 103-A;

G. A municipal school unit, school administrative district, community school district, regional school unit or any other quasi-municipal district responsible for operating public schools that forms a part of an alternative organizational structure approved by the commissioner; and

H. A public charter school authorized under chapter 112 by an entity other than a local school board.

2.13 School Calendar: "School calendar" means the schedule of school days adopted in advance of the school year by the school board, pursuant to 20-A M.R.S. §4801.

2.14 School Personnel: "School personnel" or "personnel" means individuals employed by a school administrative unit or under contract with the unit to provide services to the children enrolled in the schools of the unit.

2.15 School Year: "School year" means the total number of school days in a year as established by the school administrative unit.

2.16 Screening: "Screening" means brief and efficient assessments that produce baseline data on sufficiency of current instruction to meet student needs, and individual student data designed to help identify students who may be in need of additional supports to be successful. Screening is conducted with all students at least annually and during regular intervals.

2.17 Student Records: "Student records" means those records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by a school or a party acting for the school.

2.18 System of Learning Results: "System of Learning Results" means the guiding principles, content areas, content standards, and performance indicators that specify what students should know and be able to do in grade spans covering kindergarten through grade 12, as specified in Maine Department of Education Regulation 131.

2.19 Teacher: "Teacher" means any person who is regularly employed for the instruction of students in a school and who is certified by the Commissioner for this position.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maine may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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