AUGUSTA – Five key measures supported by Rep. Kelly Murphy, D-Scarborough, House chair of the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, will go into effect today.
Together, the new laws aim to strengthen K-12 education in Maine by banning the use of cell phones during the school day, backfilling lost federal funding for the Building Assets, Reducing Risks Program (BARR) and increasing starting teacher salaries.
“As a long-time educator, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges that our students and schools are facing,” said Murphy. “The laws that are going into effect today will have a profoundly positive impact – helping students focus better during the school day, improving academic outcomes and finally paying teachers more of what they deserve. They will set up Maine students for academic success in the years to come.”
The supplemental budget passed by the Legislature in April includes increased funding for BARR, a well-established program used in more than 100 schools that has resulted in improved attendance, high school graduation and academic performance. It also includes $350,000 in funding for school districts to help implement the cell phone ban and funding to increase starting teacher salaries from $40,000 to $50,000 over the next few years.
Additionally, a pair of bills sponsored by Murphy this session are now in effect. LD 1098 will protect Maine students' right to a full day of education. The bill was inspired by a group of Maine activists and parents who noticed a trend of children with learning disabilities being sent home early due to staffing difficulties. The bill seeks to ensure that every child in the state is provided access to a full, appropriate education and encourages schools not to reduce that access due to lack of staffing, inadequate training or insufficient behavioral supports.
Finally, LD 1097 will protect the well-being of Maine children by providing behavioral de-escalation training to teachers, education technicians and administrators. The measure was introduced in response to the rise of challenging behaviors in classrooms. It will help give teachers the tools to mitigate and prevent disruptive classroom behavior while ensuring students’ comfort in the classroom.
Murphy is serving her second term in the Maine House and represents part of Scarborough. She is the House chair of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Murphy) | 305-965-2744