We’re already one month into the new school year, and students and families are readjusting their summer schedules to a fall calendar. At the same time, many are benefiting from several historic and important changes to the state’s public education system that were approved during this legislative term.

Since COVID-19, most school districts have experienced workforce shortages. This has been particularly true for educational technicians, bus drivers and support staff. For the first time, the Legislature, with the support of the governor, enacted a minimum wage for these staff positions. This was done following an earlier increase of the minimum teacher salary to $40,000. These measures are concrete first steps toward ensuring schools have the necessary staff to provide a robust education for all students.

For years, parents and students with disabilities have struggled to secure appropriate services through Child Development Services. For the past two decades, the Legislature has grappled with numerous proposals to fix the agency. Finally, the Maine Department of Education introduced a major reform package that was endorsed by key stakeholders and garnered bipartisan support. As a result of these changes, children will now receive timely and appropriate services in partnership with local school districts.

Over the past several years, the number of unhoused public school students has almost doubled to over 5,000. For the first time, the Legislature allocated $2 million for a pilot program dedicated to rental assistance for these students. This effort complements a previous initiative supported by the Legislature to prevent students from losing their housing. Currently, I serve on a national study group with 10 legislators from other states who are confronting similar challenges. We are working to craft model programs to help states be more responsive to families and students without housing.

A significant indicator of student academic success is being able to read at grade level. Last year, the Legislature approved a grant program to improve reading outcomes by utilizing best practices and research, including the science of reading method. This year, DOE set aside $10 million to significantly augment the program. DOE is now working with a national foundation to further expand this critically important effort.

Along with these accomplishments, the Legislature met its obligation to cover 55% of public school funding, sustain free breakfast and lunch for all students, assist preschoolers with disabilities by increasing reimbursements for children attending special-purpose schools, invest $3.5 million for services for English-language learners, and continue funding for free community college.

Unfortunately, educational issues have recently become the flashpoint of political culture wars. This is worrisome and takes away precious time to discuss and debate policies that have positive impacts on students and parents.

Maine House Democrats have continuously defeated extreme Republican measures, including bills to rate and prohibit books, minimize access to educational materials, and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Perhaps the most troublesome bills before us this session included Republican-sponsored proposals like the one to allow guns in schools, putting our students, teachers and staff at greater safety risks.

Criminalizing Maine teachers and librarians and depriving school bookshelves of educational materials would simply hurt our students, who need our support now more than ever. Bills to increase the presence of guns near children are never the correct solution. Furthermore, we must stop spending time on proposals that demonize LGBTQ+ students, attack our educators and further distract from making our public education system the best it can be.

During this upcoming legislative session, as Republicans focus on ways to limit learning opportunities, I and my Democratic colleagues will be intent on supporting policies that will help students and parents be successful. This includes expanding support for teachers and school staff, providing funding for school construction, maintaining affordability within the University of Maine System – including adequate compensation for faculty and staff – reducing student absenteeism rates and scaling up reading and math programs.

Let’s get to work.