12 FY 04/05
March
26, 2004
AN ORDER
ESTABLISHING THE TASK FORCE TO CREATE SEAMLESS
PRE-KINDERGARTEN
THROUGH SIXTEENTH GRADE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS
WHEREAS, the
State of Maine
must make more investments in economic growth and job creation; and
WHEREAS, the
State has established a goal of building a knowledge-based economy and raising
incomes to the national average by 2010; and
WHEREAS, affordable,
quality education is key to economic growth; and
WHEREAS,
efficiency in the delivery of Pre-Kindergarten through Sixteenth grade
education is necessary to maximize investments in education and service to
students; and
WHEREAS, Maine
seeks to increase the percentage of Maine’s
adults with four year college degrees to 30% of adults and to raise its high school-to-college
rate from 55% to 70%; and
WHEREAS, every
individual can learn, regardless of income, gender, race, ethnicity, geographic
isolation or disability and deserves an equal opportunity to high quality
public education; and
WHEREAS, the Community
College System and the University of Maine
System established a Coordinating Advisory
Committee in 2003 to increase collaboration; and
WHEREAS, the
Governor set a goal in January 2004 of taking more steps to connect all levels
of public education and the Commissioner of Education, Chancellor of the
University of Maine System and President of the Community College System have
been meeting in furtherance of that goal; and
WHEREAS, greater
collaboration between education professionals at all levels will lead to an
integrated and enhanced learning experience for students, as well as improved
employment stability, self-reliance, and civic engagement for citizens of the
State:
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, John E. Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine,
do hereby establish The Task Force to Create a Seamless Pre-Kindergarten through
Sixteenth Grade Educational System as follows
1. Duties
The Task Force is charged with
recommending to the Governor a strategy that
develops seamless Pre-Kindergarten through Sixteenth grade educational systems
in the State of Maine. To that end, the Task Force shall:
- Examine
options for planning, efficiencies and spending reform across Pre-Kindergarten
through Sixteenth grade educational systems in Maine;
- Examine
all components of Pre-Kindergarten through Sixteenth grade educational systems
in Maine to remove barriers
to student movement between the sectors, including strategies for sharing
academic performance data across sectors;
- Examine
pre-kindergarten to public school transition issues, educational
aspirations of Maine
students and needs of students who are first in their families to seek
post-secondary education;
- Examine
finance models for systems with universal access; and
- Identify
strategies that promote college readiness and college success for all.
- Procedure
The Task Force shall be led by the
Commissioner of Education and be composed of the Chancellor of the University
of Maine System, the President of
the Community College System and eighteen (18) other members, appointed by, and
serving at the pleasure of, the Governor. The Task Force shall meet at times and places
called by the Commissioner with assistance from the Governor’s
Office and state agencies as necessary and appropriate to carry out its
activities from existing resources. The
members of the Committee shall serve without compensation.
- Final Report
The Task Force shall submit a final
report to the Governor by January 15, 2005. The final report must include recommendations
for creating seamless Pre-Kindergarten through Sixteenth grade educational systems.
Upon submission of the final report, the Task Force and the authority of this
Executive Order shall dissolve.
- Effective Date
The effective date of this
Executive Order is March 26, 2004.
______________________________
John E. Baldacci, Governor
