2014 Maine Governor's race: on Education

Eliot Cutler: Try out Common Core standards before tweaking them

{Opponents Mike Michaud & Eliot] Cutler both diverted attention from the standards, developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, which have been adopted by all but a few states.

"I think teachers are sick of being pushed from pillar to post," Cutler said, advocating trying those standards for a number of years before tweaking them.

At least three states have repealed using the Common Core standards and in April 2013, the Republican National Committee adopted a resolution opposing the standards [including a possible repeal in Maine].

Paul LePage: 2011: Signed onto Common Core, but now skeptical

{Opponents Mike Michaud & Eliot] Cutler both diverted attention from the standards, developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, which have been adopted by all but a few states.

"I think teachers are sick of being pushed from pillar to post," Cutler said, advocating trying those standards for a number of years before tweaking them.

At least three states have repealed using the Common Core standards and in April 2013, the Republican National Committee adopted a resolution opposing the standards [including a possible repeal in Maine].

Eliot Cutler: Cautious support for virtual charter schools

Cutler said he supports virtual charter schools in principle as a way to "apply new technologies to improve our kids' futures," and he praised the Maine Charter School Commission, saying it has rigorously vetted the companies that have applied.

"Along with other alternatives, virtual charter schools may improve outcomes for students and families for whom traditional instruction is not working and may add value to public education in Maine," Cutler said, adding that he read the Commission's report "carefully and with great concern."

"Both the commission and the Legislature are coming to grips with the question of how we make good cyber education alternatives available to as many Maine kids as possible," he said.

Paul LePage: Strong support for charter schools, virtual or otherwise

Their views differ from that of Gov. Paul LePage, whose strong support for charter schools, virtual or otherwise, has been well-established since he took office in 2011. The Republican governor has pushed for the expansion of school choice and sees charter schools--independently run schools that operate on public dollars but often offer alternative curricula--as an important piece of that.

The State Senate proposed a one-year moratorium on for-profit virtual charter schools. The bill, which could keep Maine Connections Academy from opening this fall, awaits further votes in the Legislature. LePage has said that he would veto any moratorium

Paul LePage: Virtual charter schools are not the right answer

Michaud's campaign spokeswoman said the candidate is less likely to warm up to virtual charter schools, even after a one-year moratorium: "A number of studies have found that virtual charter schools don't serve students well. Students in virtual charter schools failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress at rates that are worse than traditional public schools."

Michaud said he supports technological advances in the classroom but not the virtual charter schools approach. "Maine has an opportunity to create innovative virtual learning tools, but it needs to be done right," he said. "What we need is a student-focused, Maine-based solution that brings innovation to the classroom."