PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2025
Contact: Jacob Posik
Director of Legislative Affairs
Office: 207.321.2550

Analysis: One-in-Seven Maine Public Schools Would Be Closed
Under Charter School Standards

New report finds that if traditional public schools were held to the same academic and other standards as charter schools, more than 70 schools would close statewide.

PORTLAND, Maine – A new report published today by Maine Policy Institute reveals that 14%, or 71 of Maine’s traditional public schools, would be at risk of closure if held to the same standards used to evaluate the state’s charter schools.

The study, titled “Accountability Gap: Applying Charter Standards to Maine’s Public Schools“, analyzes the performance of more than 500 public schools across nine key accountability metrics used by the Maine Charter School Commission. It finds that charter schools, despite receiving far less funding and serving greater rates of disadvantaged students, perform as well or better than traditional public schools schools on multiple academic and operational standards.

“Charter schools are playing by a much stricter rulebook,” said Matt Gagnon, CEO of Maine Policy Institute. “If we applied those same standards across the board, a large number of Maine’s traditional public schools would be considered failing. That’s a double standard that deprives Maine families of educational opportunities and reduces fairness in public education.”

Among the report’s findings:

  • More than 60% of traditional public schools fail at least one charter school performance standard.
  • Roughly 14% fail three or more standards, the same threshold used to close the Harpswell Coastal Academy charter school in 2023. 
  • Traditional public schools spend more than $10,000 more per pupil, on average, than charter schools, yet student outcomes are not markedly better in these learning environments. 
  • Nearly 30% of traditional public high schools fail to graduate enough students to meet charter school standards. 
  • Charter schools serve more disadvantaged students yet meet or exceed spending-adjusted performance standards in English Language Arts and Science. 

As a result of the report’s findings, Maine Policy calls on lawmakers to implement the following reforms:

  • Lift the state’s arbitrary cap on the number of charter schools permitted to operate in Maine.
  • Lift the enrollment cap on attendance at virtual charter schools.
  • Apply fair standards to all public schools. 
  • Reform school oversight to prioritize student outcomes over educational bureaucracy.

“This isn’t about picking sides, or winners and losers in public education. It’s about fairness, transparency, and giving every Maine student the best shot at success, whether their school is a charter or not,” said policy analyst, Harris Van Pate, the primary author of the report.

Click here to read the full analysis. 

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Maine Policy Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to expand individual liberty and economic freedom in Maine. Learn more about our work at www.mainepolicy.org.