State of Maine Archives: on Education
Angus King:
Public schools are the idea at the heart of democracy
Education: Help parents send their children to private schools with public money?Brakey: Yes. Supports tax credit for parents who opt out of the public education system.
King: No. "Public schools are the idea at the heart of democracy."
Ringelstein: No. Invest public funds in public schools, not voucher or privatization programs.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Maine Senate race
Nov 1, 2018
Angus King:
More teacher development; more school construction
King indicates support for the following principles regarding education. - Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
- Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
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Increase state funds for school construction and facility maintenance.
- Finance school renovations and repairs jointly between local school districts and the state.
Source: Maine Governor 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Angus King:
Include both abstinence and safe sex in sex-ed
King indicates support for the following principles regarding education. -
Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
- Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
Source: Maine Governor 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Angus King:
Simplify repayment & refinance student loans
Student debt: Refinance student loans at lower rates, by increasing taxes on high earners (Elizabeth Warren bill)?Brakey:
Solution to student debt is teaching students real-world skills.
King: Yes. Voted for Warren bill. Also supported legislation to simplify repayment.
Ringelstein: Yes. Refinance student loans at lower rates.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Maine Senate race
Nov 1, 2018
Betsy Sweet:
Pay teachers better; cut back on standardized tests
- Give kids a chance at affordable higher education. Provide two years of free tuition to young Mainers in exchange for a year of public service. This will teach young people the virtues of giving back, community engagement, and help them address
the escalating costs of education.
- Bring Back programs for technical and skills-based education.
- Pay teachers better. We are losing skilled teachers to retirement and few are entering the field because of low pay and unfair retirement benefits.
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Cut back on standardized tests. Our education system was born in the 1920's and has become about numbers and standardized tests. Instead, let's emphasize teaching strategies that enhance today's communities and economy.
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Make pre-k available to every 3 and 4-year old in Maine, where the most difference can be made in education, as well as affordable day care and developmental services. Let's invest our money where we know it will work.
Source: Ballotpedia.org Connection: 2018 Maine Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
Bruce Poliquin:
Expand from 10 charters to more parental choices
Parents, not Washington bureaucrats, are better able to determine the right education for their kids. The best education is closest to home.I strongly support the widest educational and school choices for students and their parents.
Unfortunately, it wasn't until 2012 that Maine students experienced expanded educational choices offered to students in 40 other states. For many years, the teachers union convinced enough Maine legislators to ban publically funded charter schools.
Even today, Maine students will benefit from the flexible curriculums of only ten charter schools statewide. Education should be about the children, not the adults.
I have lived and share the educational values of our 2nd District families.
I will carry this experience to Washington and fight for local control, student and teacher performance standards, learning excellence, and school choice.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Charlie Summers:
Supports vouchers, charters, magnet schools, standard tests
Summers indicates support for the following principles regarding education. - Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.
- Allow teachers and professionals to receive federal
funding to establish charter or magnet schools.
- Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
Source: Maine Congressional Election 2008 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2008
Chris Lyons:
Vouchers for school choice
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Vouchers for school choice"?
A: support
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Maine Senate candidate
Mar 6, 2018
Cynthia Dill:
More funding for schools, teachers, and Head Start
Dill supports these principles regarding education:- Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
- Increase funds for hiring additional teachers.
- Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- Increase funding for Head Start programs.
- Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
Source: Maine 2006 Congressional National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2006
Eliot Cutler:
Earlier schooling; longer school year; more school funding
Every child in Maine deserves the opportunity to learn at a great public school. We can ensure the future prosperity of Maine by focusing on educating our children and empowering their teachers and principals. We must improve and expand early childhood
education, extend the school calendar by 10 days, encourage parental and community participation, and fix school funding, because the quality of the schools shouldn't be based on what zip code you live in.
Source: 2014 gubernatorial campaign website, CutlerForMaine.com
Dec 31, 2013
Eliot Cutler:
Pay it Forward, Pay it Back: tuition-free college
Even though Maine's students graduate from high school at among the highest rates in the country, too few go on to study in our universities and community colleges. We've allowed tuition to rise to 13% higher than the national average. Making higher
education in Maine more affordable is a sure-fire way to broaden opportunity. We should consider implementing "Pay it Forward, Pay it Back," a plan to create a fund to support tuition-free post-high school education for Maine high school graduates.
Source: 2014 gubernatorial campaign website, CutlerForMaine.com
Dec 31, 2013
Eliot Cutler:
Cautious support for virtual charter schools
Cutler offered cautious support for virtual charter schools. When asked about the poor track record of some charter schools, Cutler said he supports virtual charter schools but does not oppose a one-year moratorium to "fully evaluate alternatives."
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.
Source: Maine Sunday Telegram on 2014 Maine gubernatorial race
Mar 11, 2014
Eliot Cutler:
Try out Common Core standards before tweaking them
Asked whether they would support Common Core State Standards, which detail what public school students should know at the end of each grade through their high school graduation, LePage expressed skepticism of the guidelines he signed into law in 2011,
attributing the fall of Massachusetts' public education system from one of the best systems in the country in part to the state's adoption of those standards.{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].
Source: Bangor Daily News on 2014 Maine Gubernatorial debate
Oct 20, 2014
Eric Brakey:
Support private schools, charter schools, or homeschooling
In addition to providing a quality public education option for Maine's children, we must also ensure that alternative educational options are available for parents who choose them. Every child learns differently, so we must protect the right of parents
to choose alternative schooling for their children, whether that be through private schools, charter schools, or homeschooling.Currently, parents who choose to pursue alternative education paths are punished by being forced to pay twice for their
child's education: once through their taxes, and again through the costs of private school tuition or homeschooling expenses. Eric Brakey will pursue legislation to give a tax credit for education expenses to parents who opt-out of the public education
system.
Parents who choose an alternative education path for their children should not be punished with added out-of-pocket expenses when they are already paying for a public school education. Eric Brakey will work to solve this problem.
Source: 2018 Maine Senatorial campaign website BrakeyForSenate.com
Nov 1, 2014
Eric Brakey:
Competition will improve our schools
All of Senator Brakey's positions and comments come from the 2016 CCL Candidate Survey [as reported on maine.patriotguide.us]: Q: Do you support or oppose allowing public education funds to follow students to schools or programs of their
family's choice (school choice)?
Eric Brakey: Support "Competition will improve our schools by making them more responsive to the expectations of parents."
Source: Christian Civic League on 2018 Maine Senate race
Nov 1, 2018
Janet Mills:
Commission on Education Reform must follow open meetings law
Maine Atty Gen Janet Mills filed a complaint in district court charging the Blue Ribbon Commission on Education Reform with violating the state's open meetings law. Mills says the DoEd asked her office whether the first meeting of the commission
could be closed as Governor Paul LePage wished and her answer was clear that it could not. "We allege that there was a willful violation in good part because they were informed directly, specifically that of course the meeting was a public meeting."
Source: MainePublic.org on 2018 Maine Gubernatorial race
Jul 8, 2016
Janet Mills:
Expand pre-school; pay teachers a living wage
This budget begins making pre-kindergarten programs available to every 4-year old in Maine.We provide $18.5 million to Child Development Services to support our youngest and neediest children. For kindergarten through high school, we provide an
additional $126 million. This budget invests in recruitment and retention to ensure that teachers in Maine will not be forced to leave the state for a living wage. This budget ensures that no teacher in Maine will make less than $40,000 a year.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Maine legislature
Feb 11, 2019
Janet Mills:
Invest $126M in public schools, and $18M for child services
This budget begins making pre-kindergarten programs available to every 4-year old in Maine.We also provide $18.5 million to Child Development Services to support the needs of our youngest and neediest children.
For kindergarten through high school, we provide an additional $126 million over the biennium. This brings the state's share of public education funding to nearly 51 percent of Essential Programs and Services.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Maine legislature
Feb 11, 2019
Janet Mills:
Restore budget cuts to higher education
This year, I ask this Legislature to fully fund the second year of the higher education budget which was cut last spring. These institutions of higher learning cannot withstand rising costs without the prospects of higher tuition. And higher tuition is
the last thing our students need.Our CTEs [Career and Technical Education] are more important than ever; yet they have not received significant funds for equipment since 1998. I ask this body to fund equipment upgrades for our CTEs so that teachers
are able to provide our 8,000 CTE students with the skills that we desperately need them to have.
We need to simplify debt relief programs like the Educational Opportunity Tax Credit to help more graduates retire their debt.
And we must boost the Educators for Maine Loan Forgiveness Program to incentivize young teachers to work in the underserved areas which desperately need them.
Source: 2020 Maine State of the State address
Jan 21, 2020
Janet Mills:
$6 million in low/no interest loans for childcare facilities
My Back to Work proposal will seek $6 million for low-or no-interest loans to renovate, expand, or construct childcare facilities and increase the availability and quality of childcare slots, with half of that money going to underserved communities in ru
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature
Feb 23, 2021
Janet Mills:
Make two years of community college free
I propose making two years of community college free. To the high school classes of 2020 through 2023--if you enroll full-time in a Maine community college this fall or next, Maine will cover every last dollar of your tuition so you can obtain a
one-year certificate or two-year associates degree and graduate unburdened by debt and ready to enter the workforce. If you already started a two-year program, we've got your back too. We will cover the last dollar of your second year.
I will fund an overhaul of the Opportunity Maine Tax Credit. We will broaden and simplify the program's eligibility criteria so that those who graduated with student debt--regardless of what type of degree they have or where they graduated or what type
of work they do now--they will be eligible for up to $25,000 of debt relief over the course of their lifetime, so long as they have a job and they make Maine their home.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature
Feb 10, 2022
Janet Mills:
Met state's commitment to fund 55% of cost of education
For the first time in Maine history we met the state's longstanding commitment to fund 55% of the cost of education. No longer will we underfund education in the State of Maine, as past administrations have done. We will maintain this commitment to
our students, to our teachers, to our municipalities, and to our property taxpayers. And to help us do so I propose creating an Education Stabilization Fund, capitalized with $30 million from the General Fund, to continue delivering on that promise.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature
Feb 10, 2022
Mary Mayhew:
Parents should have access to multiple education choices
Every parent should have the right to decide how their own children should be educated. There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution that will work for every student-kids have different needs and I'm a firm advocate
for parents having all the choices, including public and private schools, in-classroom and virtual charter schools, and home schooling options. I'd also like to see more options for students inside of our current framework.
Source: 2018 Maine governor candidate website MayhewForMaine.com
May 2, 2018
Paul LePage:
Supports charter schools and virtual schools
LePage has been pushing to allow more public money to flow out of Maine's public school system and into private charter and virtual schools. Charter school legislation backed by
LePage and passed in 2011 allows public funds to be sent on educating students through online classes by virtual academies.The LePage's administration's push for virtual schools is one of the most documented aspects of his time in office.
LePage's ties to virtual education companies began during his campaign when k12 education, the nation's largest online education program, gave
$19,000 to the Republican Governor's Association's Maine PAC (political action nominee), money that was spent helping LePage win the general election.
Source: As Maine Went, by Mike Tipping, p. 84
Jul 14, 2014
Paul LePage:
Strong support for charter schools, virtual or otherwise
Independent Eliot Cutler offered cautious support for virtual charter schools while the Democratic candidate, Rep. Mike Michaud, said the online schools are "not the right answer." The candidates commented after the Maine Charter School Commission
approved the application for Maine Connections Academy and rejected two other virtual charter schools.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
Source: Maine Sunday Telegram on 2014 Maine gubernatorial race
Mar 11, 2014
Paul LePage:
Virtual charter schools are not the right answer
Eliot Cutler offered cautious support for virtual charter schools while Mike Michaud said the online schools are "not the right answer." The candidates commented after the Maine Charter School Commission approved the application for Maine Connections
Academy and rejected two other virtual charter schools.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."
Source: Maine Sunday Telegram on 2014 Maine gubernatorial race
Mar 11, 2014
Paul LePage:
2011: Signed onto Common Core, but now skeptical
Asked whether they would support Common Core State Standards, which detail what public school students should know at the end of each grade through their high school graduation, LePage expressed skepticism of the guidelines he signed into law in 2011,
attributing the fall of Massachusetts' public education system from one of the best systems in the country in part to the state's adoption of those standards.{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].
Source: Bangor Daily News on 2014 Maine Gubernatorial debate
Oct 20, 2014
Rick Perry:
Denounced Common Core standards publicly
In the minds of some Tea Party activists, however, Common Core (or "ObamaCore," or "Commie Core" as they sometimes refer to it) is at the very least an example of too much centralization and standardization of education and
at worst an unconstitutional attempt by the federal government (or, in the imaginations of some, the United Nations) to indoctrinate the nation's children for insidious purposes. Right wing radio host
Glenn Beck has claim that the initiative is a dragnet for personal student data meant to allow the government to monitor each child and control their future so that they will be a [cog in the machine forever].
This anti-Common Core activism has prompted Tea Party friendly governors in several states to reject the standards. Texas governor Rick Perry even called into Glenn Beck's show to denounce the standards.
Source: As Maine Went, by Mike Tipping, p. 92
Jul 14, 2014
Sara Gideon:
Access to high quality K-12 education for every family
Sara knows how important access is when it comes to education--as a senator, she will work to:- Ensure that every family has the opportunity to receive a high quality K-12 education no matter their neighborhood, family circumstances or race;
- Expand early childhood education and quality childcare opportunities;
- Value teachers and the job they do in the form of higher wages and better benefits.
Source: 2020 Maine Senate campaign website SaraGideon.com
Jun 4, 2020
Sara Gideon:
Tackle student debt crisis; expand trade, technical training
Sara knows how important access is when it comes to education--as a senator, she will work to:- Lower the cost of college and
tackle the student loan debt crisis to make higher education affordable and accessible for everyone; and
- Expand access to trade, technical and job training programs.
Source: 2020 Maine Senate campaign website SaraGideon.com
Jun 4, 2020
Shawn Moody:
Parental and local control in education curriculum
Prioritize parental and local control in education curriculum decisions. Provide improved performance evaluations for teachers and administrators. Permanently remove the failed 1-4 Grading System in "Proficiency Based Education". Evaluate high school,
community college, and University system offerings with an eye on the careers in the region, long term trends, and coordination of programs to reduce costs and improve student outcomes, ensuring they align with Maine employers' needs.
Source: 2018 Maine Gubernatorial race website ShawnMoody.com
Sep 1, 2018
Shenna Bellows:
Voucher programs siphon public school money
Supporting Public Education: I wouldn't be in this race if not for the good public education I received. Fully funding our schools, building new ones where they're needed, and hiring more teachers will mean more opportunities for students to succeed no
matter where they live or how much money their family earns. I oppose voucher programs that siphon public money to private or religious institutions that don't level the playing field and often exclude the students who most need a chance at a young age.
I also oppose the overly onerous new testing requirements mandated by the federal government. No Child Left Behind, supported by Republican Susan Collins, was a huge mistake.
It's time to invest in education at the local level again. Public schools helped build the intellectual foundation of this country, and they need to be supported.
Source: 2014 Maine Senate campaign website BellowsForSenate.com
Aug 31, 2014
Susan Collins:
Allow employers to help pay employee student debt
Q: Support free or subsidized tuition for lower-income individuals and lower interest on student loans?Susan Collins: Yes. Co-sponsored legislation to fund need-based grants to low-income students and to allow employers to help pay
employee student debt.
Sara Gideon: Yes. Will work to "lower the cost of college and tackle the student loan debt crisis." Sponsored education funds for low-income adults with minor children.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Maine Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Tea Party:
Common Core is "ObamaCore" or "Commie Core"
In the minds of some Tea Party activists, however, Common Core (or "ObamaCore," or "Commie Core" as they sometimes refer to it) is at the very least an example of too much centralization and standardization of education and
at worst an unconstitutional attempt by the federal government (or, in the imaginations of some, the United Nations) to indoctrinate the nation's children for insidious purposes. Right wing radio host
Glenn Beck has claim that the initiative is a dragnet for personal student data meant to allow the government to monitor each child and control their future so that they will be a (cog in the machine forever).
This anti-Common Core activism has prompted Tea Party friendly governors in several states to reject the standards. Texas governor Ricky Perry even called into Glenn Beck's show to denounce the standards.
Source: As Maine Went, by Mike Tipping, p. 92
Jul 14, 2014
Zak Ringelstein:
Do away with school privatization; invest in public schools
As a teacher, I have seen first-hand how privatization is damaging our public schools and creating more inequality. Privatization and standardized testing are scams that make profit for investors, but damage the integrity of education.
Schools can be the great equalizer and America can get the highest quality teachers into school buildings by raising teacher pay and creating better teacher training programs. The goal of any school must be to develop the whole child.
Source: 2018 Me. Senate campaign website, RingelsteinForMaine.com
Jun 26, 2018
Zak Ringelstein:
Refinance student loans at lower rates
Student debt: Refinance student loans at lower rates, by increasing taxes on high earners (Elizabeth Warren bill)?Brakey:
Solution to student debt is teaching students real-world skills.
King: Yes. Voted for Warren bill. Also supported legislation to simplify repayment.
Ringelstein: Yes. Refinance student loans at lower rates.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Maine Senate race
Nov 1, 2018
Janet Mills:
Free community college is working; let's keep it up
Last year, we worked together to make two years of Community College free for recent high school graduates. We believed that it would not only help students pursue higher education debt-free but that it would
make ready a trained workforce in much needed sectors of our economy.Maine's Community Colleges experienced record enrollment last year. Free community college is working. Let's keep it up for another two years!
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature
Feb 14, 2023
David Costello:
Provide universal pre-kindergarten and aftercare
- Provide universal pre-kindergarten and aftercare.
- Expand workforce training and apprenticeships.
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Increase performance-aligned resources for our schools, colleges, students, and teachers.
Source: 2024 Maine Senate campaign website CostelloForSenate.com
Feb 27, 2024
Demi Kouzounas:
Concerned about transgender identity video for children
A video explaining transgender identity to children was the subject of the Maine Republican Party's first ad for the 2022 gubernatorial election, In a release, Maine GOP Chair Demi Kouzounas said she was "extremely concerned" about
the video discussing transgender issues that had appeared on the Maine Department of Education's site, saying a kindergarten classroom was "not the place for this type of discussion."
Source: Bangor Daily News on 2024 Maine Senate race
May 18, 2022
Demi Kouzounas:
Forgiving student loans costs money & inflation
Student Financial Aid: Support lowering interest on student loans and/or forgiving them?Demi Kouzounas (R): No. Says federal spending creates inflation: "What does Biden keep on doing? ‘Well, I'm going to... forgive some
more loans.' ... That costs money."
Angus King (I): Yes. Opposed a resolution to block Biden's student debt relief program. In 2013 sponsored a bill lowering student-loan interest rates.
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Maine Senate race
Sep 9, 2024
Demi Kouzounas:
Oversaw platform that would effectively end sex education
Kouzounas' tenure as chair saw the state Republican party release a platform in 2022 that -- among other proposals -- called for defining any teaching in public schools about genders other than male and female as child sexual abuse.
The platform also proposed a ban on presenting "sexually-based material" to students prior to grade 12 -- which would effectively end sex education for most students.
Source: Maine Morning Star on 2024 Maine Senate race
Jan 22, 2024
Ed Crockett:
Invest in students by supporting Maine's public education
Education is the key to a meaningful and opportunity-filled future. Ed believes in investing in our student's future by supporting
Maine's public education, addressing stifling college and university debts, and creating more opportunities for the next generation to succeed.
Source: 2026 Maine Governor campaign website EdCrockettForMaine.com
Dec 19, 2025
Robert Charles:
I'll remove woke politics from the classroom
I'll restore discipline and excellence in education--bringing back math, reading, and life skills while removing woke politics from the classroom.
I'll end Janet Mills' woke nonsense and protect parental rights, fairness in girls' sports, and the safety of our schools
Source: 2026 Maine Gubernatorial campaign website BobbyForMaine.com
Jul 13, 2025
Page last updated: Mar 14, 2026