Proposed Rules and the Rulemaking Process

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is charged with adopting education rules to implement laws passed by the Maine Legislature. There are two types of rules – routine technical and major substantive. The Maine DOE sends all provisionally adopted rules to the Legislature for final adoption.

The Maine DOE adopts all rules in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 MRSA chapter 375, subchapters 2 and 2-A.  APA requires public and legislative notice of rulemaking and the submission of all major substantive rules to the Legislature for review and approval. All proposed Maine DOE and State Board of Education rule chapters are included below and have been filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.

 

Newly Proposed Rules and Rule Changes

Chapter 83

• Rule Title: School Transportation Operations Program
• Filing Agency: This is a rule of the Department of Education
• Repeal of Rule Chapter 83
• Effective Date of Repeal: March 22, 2025

Chapter 115

• Rule Title: The Credentialing of Education Personnel
• Filing Agency: This is a rule of the State Board of Education
• DOE Priority Notice: Public Feedback for Ch. 115
• Current Rule Language: 
  • Chapter 115, Part 1: Rule Chapter 115 - Part 1
  • Chapter 115, Part 2: Rule Chapter 115 - Part 2

This information will be updated periodically through the Rulemaking Process.

This rule information is also located on the State Board's webpage.

DHHS - Office of Aging and Disability Services, Chapter 4

• Rule Title: Joint Regulations Between Division of Special Education and Bureau of Mental Retardation
• Program Filing Agency: This is a joint rule of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education
• Opportunities for Public Feedback: TBD
  • Comments may be emailed to Laura Cyr, laura.cyr@maine.gov
• Public Comment Hearing: TBD
• Current Rule Language: DHHS-OADS Chapter 4
  • Existing rule to be repealed

This information will be updated periodically through the Rulemaking Process.

Chapter 128

• Rule Title: Truants & Dropouts Guidelines
• Program Filing Agency: This is a rule of the Department of Education
• Current Rule Language: Chapter 128

This information will be updated periodically through the Rulemaking Process.

Chapter 132

• Rule Title: Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction
  • Social Studies
• Program Filing Agency: This is a rule of the Department of Education
• Proposed Rule Language: Rule Chapter 132: Social Studies

This information will be updated periodically through the Rulemaking Process.

Chapter 85

• Rule Title: School Bus Purchase Program
• Filing Agency: This is a rule of the Department of Education
• DOE Notice of Rulemaking: Rulemaking Notice - Chapter 85
• Current Rule Language: Rule Chapter 85

This information will be updated periodically through the Rulemaking Process.

 

Rules Finalized Within the Past 12 Months

Chapter 83

• Rule Title: School Transportation Operations Program
• Filing Agency: This is a rule of the Department of Education
• Effective Date of Rule: May 5, 2024
• Final Adoption of Rule Chapter 83

Chapter 84

• Rule Title: School Bus Refurbishment Program
• Filing Agency: This is a rule of the Department of Education
• Effective Date of Rule: May 6, 2024
• Final Adoption of Rule Chapter 84: Rule Chapter 84

Chapter 52

• Rule Title: Grant Application and Award Procedure Fund for School Meal Equipment and Program Improvement 
• Filing Agency: This is a rule of the Department of Education
• Effective Date of Rule: February 29, 2024
• Final Adoption of Rule Chapter 52: Rule Chapter 52

Chapter 61

• Rule Title: State Board of Education Rules for Major Capital School Construction Projects
• Filing Agency: This is a rule of the State Board of Education
• Effective Date of Rule: June 12, 2024
• Final Adoption of Rule Chapter 61: Rule Chapter 61

Chapter 41

• Rule Title: Offering Instruction Related to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and the Use of an Automated External Defibrillator in Maine Public Schools
• Filing Agency: This is a rule of the Maine Department of Education
• Effective Date of Rule: January 4, 2024
• Final Adoption of Rule Chapter 41: Rule Chapter 41

Chapter 64

• Rule Title: Maine School Facilities Program and School Revolving Renovation Fund
• Filing Agency: This is a joint rule of the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Municipal Bond Bank
• Effective Date of Rule: June 13, 2024
• Final Adoption of Rule Chapter 64: Rule Chapter 64

Chapter 101

• Rule Title:  Maine Unified Special Education Rule
• Filing Agency: This is a rule of the Maine Department of Education
• Effective Date of the Rule: June 26, 2024
• Final Adoption of Rule Chapter 101: Rule Chapter 101

 

Public Documents that are not readily available on this page can be available on request. For general questions or access to these documents, please email Maine DOE’s rulemaking liaison, Laura Cyr at laura.cyr@maine.gov.

 

How to Get Involved:

As the Maine Department of Education weighs proposed rule changes, there are numerous points in the process where stakeholder and public comment are solicited. This graphic provides an overview of the Rulemaking Process and highlights points for public input.

 

A PDF of Maine DOE’s rulemaking process infographic is available here.