§10. Education Research Institute
The Education Research Institute, referred to in this section as the "institute," is established to collect and analyze education information and perform targeted education research for the Legislature. The institute shall create and maintain an information system that tracks important early care and education data for public preschool programs, kindergarten and grades one to 12. The institute shall also conduct exploratory, long-term research on education issues. [PL 2009, c. 540, §1 (AMD).]
1. Legislature to contract with university. The Legislature, through the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters, shall contract with the University of Maine System to establish and maintain the institute. Personnel coordinating the work of the institute must be appointed by the University of Maine System in consultation with the Legislature and those personnel shall consult with and act on behalf of the Legislature, performing such data collection, analysis and research as the Legislature may require.
[PL 1995, c. 395, Pt. J, §1 (NEW).]
2. Steering committee. The Education Research Institute Steering Committee, referred to in this section as the "steering committee," is established to advise the Legislature and the University of Maine System on all matters related to the institute. Steering committee members must be appointed by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters for a term of 2 years. The steering committee shall meet at least 4 times each year and must include one member of each of the following:
A. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters; [PL 1995, c. 395, Pt. J, §1 (NEW).]
B. The Department of Education; [PL 1995, c. 395, Pt. J, §1 (NEW).]
C. The State Board of Education; [PL 1995, c. 395, Pt. J, §1 (NEW).]
D. The University of Maine System; [PL 1995, c. 395, Pt. J, §1 (NEW).]
E. The Maine School Management Association; [PL 1995, c. 395, Pt. J, §1 (NEW).]
F. The Maine Education Association; [PL 1995, c. 395, Pt. J, §1 (NEW).]
G. The Maine Municipal Association; [PL 2021, c. 293, Pt. A, §23 (AMD).]
H. The Maine Principals Association; and [PL 2021, c. 293, Pt. A, §24 (AMD).]
I. The Maine Children's Cabinet Early Childhood Advisory Council. [PL 2019, c. 450, §14 (AMD).]
The steering committee shall elect a chair from among its members to serve a term of 2 years.
[PL 2021, c. 293, Pt. A, §§23, 24 (AMD).]
3. Location and access. The education information system and research results gathered pursuant to this section must be maintained by the institute at the University of Maine System. The education information system and research results must be available for use by any interested group or individual in the form available from the institute.
[PL 1995, c. 395, Pt. J, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1995, c. 395, §J1 (NEW). PL 2009, c. 540, §§1-4 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 450, §§12-14 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 293, Pt. A, §§23, 24 (AMD).