Reply #205: ME ALEC "Parental Trigger" Leg - Privatize Failing Schools Rep. Amy Volk (R-Scarborogh) LD 1417... [View All]

Rep. Amy Volk (R-Scarborogh) has introduced LD1417 {LINK}, a "Parent Trigger" bill based on model legislation drafted by the Heartland Institute, an ultra-conservative group, and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a secretive right-wing group. California enacted a Parent Trigger law in 2009.
http://www.mainelegislature.org/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280041121

Volk's bill would allow a parents of a majority of the students at a school deemed "failing" to petition requesting the district administration to restructure the school by:

1. Closing the school;
2. Turning the school into a charter school;
3. Replacing school;s administration;
4. Implementation of a turnaround for staff.

Legislatures in Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, and West Virginia are all considering bills modeled on California's law.

Sen. Richard Rosen (R-Hancock) is the Maine state chair of ALEC. I have filed a FOAA request with him and the Maine Attorney General requesting information on which other legislators are members and for correspondence they have had with ALEC.

A list of model legislation regarding schools created by ALEC can be found here. Only members are allowed to read {LINK} these drafts.
http://www.alec.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Education&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=8&ContentID=9468