2010 Maine Code
TITLE 20-A: EDUCATION
Chapter 211: ATTENDANCE
20-A §5103. Dropout prevention committee

Part 3: ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

Subchapter 3: DROPOUTS

§5103. Dropout prevention committee

The following provisions apply to the dropout prevention committee. [1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

1. Committee. Each superintendent, with school board approval, shall annually establish a separate dropout prevention committee for each individual school unit under the superintendent's supervision.

[ 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR) .]

2. Membership. The dropout prevention committee shall be composed of the following members:

A. A member of the school board selected by that board; [1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

B. A school administrator selected by the superintendent; [1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

C. A teacher and a school counselor selected by the school administrative unit's teacher organization; [1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

D. A parent selected by the unit's organized parent group, or, if no organized parent group exists, by the school board; [1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

E. A school attendance coordinator from the district selected by the superintendent; [1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

F. A high school student selected by the dropout prevention committee members selected in paragraphs A to E; [1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

G. A dropout selected by the dropout prevention committee members selected in paragraphs A to E; and [1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

H. A community resident of the district selected by the dropout prevention committee members selected in paragraphs A to E. [1989, c. 415, §29 (NEW).]

A dropout prevention committee may increase its membership by majority vote.

[ 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR) .]

3. Terms and vacancies. Members shall serve in accordance with policy established by the school board.

[ 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR) .]

4. Chair. The dropout prevention committee shall select a chair from among its members.

[ 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR) .]

5. Responsibilities. The following provisions apply to responsibilities of the dropout prevention committee.

A. The dropout prevention committee shall:

(1) Study the problem of dropouts and habitual truancy and the need for alternative education programs, kindergarten to grade 12;

(2) Make recommendations for addressing the problems; and

(3) Submit a plan of action to the school board, in accordance with section 4502, subsection 5, paragraph L-1. [2007, c. 667, §7 (AMD).]

B. The dropout prevention committee shall consider the following when developing its plan:

(1) Reasons why students drop out of school;

(2) Maintenance of continuing contacts with recent dropouts in order to extend opportunities for alternative education programs, counseling and referral;

(3) Education of teachers and administrators about the dropout problem;

(4) Use of human services programs to help dropouts;

(5) The school administrative unit's policies on suspension, expulsion and other disciplinary action; and

(6) Discriminatory practices and attitudes within the school administrative unit. [2007, c. 667, §7 (AMD).]

C. [1989, c. 415, §29 (RP).]

[ 2007, c. 667, §7 (AMD) .]

6. Annual report. The dropout prevention committee shall meet at least annually to review its plan and to make recommendations to the school board.

[ 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR) .]

7. Department assistance. The department shall provide technical assistance to a dropout prevention committee on request to the Office of Truancy, Dropout Prevention and Alternative Education.

[ 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR) .]

SECTION HISTORY

1981, c. 693, §§5,8 (NEW). 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR). RR 2001, c. 1, §24 (COR). 2007, c. 667, §7 (AMD).