It is no secret that I am passionate about education and doing all we can to prepare young Mainers for the future. It is why I loved to teach, and continue to coach and substitute teach as often as I can. Investing in our students always produces the best outcomes for Maine.

Joseph Rafferty

When we equip our kids with the tools they need to succeed, amazing things can happen for those students and the community they live in. I’ve always believed that investing in even just one of our students will have a profound ripple effect throughout the rest of their career and life. This belief remains one of my biggest motivators in the Legislature – making sure Maine kids and students get the most from their education experience.

In an ideal world, that experience should lead to opportunities to apply their newfound skills in a career right here in Maine. Unfortunately, there are still barriers that can hinder our students from making that transition from the classroom and our workforce. Therefore, I wanted to share some of the ways my colleagues and I are making it easier for Maine kids to learn, grow, and ultimately work in Maine for the foreseeable future.

One of my colleagues, Sen. Eloise Vitelli (D-Arrowsic) introduced LD 1838, “An Act To Improve Student Access to Postsecondary School Transcripts and Diplomas.” The bill would prohibit Maine colleges and universities from withholding transcripts from students due to an outstanding balance on their account, conditioning the release of a student’s transcript on the payment of debts owed to the college or university.

These types of practices can create a roadblock for college grads looking to join our workforce or for former students to finish their degree. Beyond this, transcripts are also needed for financial assistance programs like our state’s own Opportunity Maine Tax Credit, which can further help students pay down their outstanding debt. We should be doing what we can to help them pay off these loans, not making it more difficult.

Speaking in favor of the bill, another colleague of mine Rep. Maggie O’Neil (D-Saco) put it best: “The practice of transcript withholding can have harmful unintended consequences for students. That’s because the transcript is a student’s ticket to re-enroll, transfer schools, or to show their employer that they have their degree or their credential.”

Interestingly enough, Rep. O’Neil, has introduced another bill that I think could go a long way for Maine students. LD 1880, “An Act To Provide Textbook Cost Assistance for High School Students Enrolled in Early College Courses,” establishes the Textbook Cost Assistance Fund in the Maine Department of Education. The fund would provide financial assistance to high school students enrolled in early college classes. The funds would be awarded on an as-needed-basis for the purpose of purchasing textbooks required for classes.

In other words, we’d be creating a fund to make sure textbooks are affordable to our most advanced high-school students who are also in need of financial assistance so they can enroll in college-level classes. To me, this is common sense, and would be an incredible asset for our students.

Last but certainly not least, another colleague of mine in the Senate, Sen. Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick) introduced LD 680, that would establish the Task Force To Study the Creation of a Comprehensive Career and Technical Education System. The task force, comprising 20 members, would examine the feasibility, advantages and disadvantages of establishing a comprehensive four-year high school career and technical education program for Maine students.

I am eager to see the results this study could produce. Every student is different, and we want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to succeed, no matter the path they choose. The goal of this study is to help more Maine students find pathways to good-paying, local jobs, and I am eager to see the results it could produce.

As Senate chair of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, I am excited to continue working on these bills as they make their way through our legislative process. We have the potential to make a real difference for Maine students and teachers, and it makes me quite proud to know that the Maine Legislature has their back.

Thank you for the opportunity you’ve given me to represent you in Augusta. Please do not hesitate to reach out should you need my assistance. You can send me an email Joe.Rafferty@legislature.maine.gov or reach me by phone at 207- 590-9902. If you want to stay even more up-to-date on what we’re working on in Augusta, sign up for my newsletter at mainesenate.org. You can also find helpful winter resources that my office has compiled all in one place at www.mainesenate.org/2021-winter-resources.

Joseph Rafferty represents Senate District 34: Acton, Kennebunk, Lebanon, North Berwick, Wells and part of Berwick He can be reached at Joe.Rafferty@legislature.maine.gov for 207-590-9902. sign up for his newsletter at mainesenate.org