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LD 165

An Act To Allow School Boards To Expel Or Suspend Students Regardless Of Grade Level

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Nathan Carlow and 6 co-sponsors

Bill would have eliminated grade-level restrictions on school board expulsion/suspension powers; Maine legislature rejected it June 2025.

Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
#ageandgradelevel #schoolpolicies #suspensions
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Bill Summary · LD 165

Legislative bill overview

LD 165 proposed to remove grade-level restrictions on school board authority to expel or suspend students in Maine. Currently, Maine law limits expulsion and suspension powers based on student grade levels, and this bill sought to eliminate those limitations, giving school boards broader discretion across all grades.

Why is this important

Grade-level restrictions exist to protect younger students from severe disciplinary consequences, as developmental research suggests elementary and middle school students have different behavioral capacities than high schoolers. Removing these protections could significantly alter discipline outcomes for younger children and their educational continuity, while also raising questions about consistency in how schools handle behavioral issues across age groups.

Potential points of contention

  • Student developmental differences: Young children have limited impulse control and emotional regulation compared to teenagers; blanket expulsion authority may be developmentally inappropriate for elementary students
  • Educational access and equity: Expanded expulsion authority could disproportionately affect students with disabilities or from marginalized communities already subject to higher discipline rates
  • Alternative discipline approaches: The bill doesn't address whether expanded suspension/expulsion authority aligns with evidence-based practices like restorative justice or trauma-informed discipline that many districts now employ

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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