Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §1, sub-§39-A is enacted to read:

39-A.__Town academy.__"Town academy" means a private school approved for tuition purposes under section 2951 that enrolls at least 60% publicly funded students and that is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges pursuant to section 2901, subsection 2, paragraph A.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §2901, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, is amended to read:

A. Currently accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and Colleges; or

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §6202-A, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2003, c. 712, §2, is further amended to read:

4. Graduation decisions at town academies. By the 2007-2008 school year, high school graduation for publicly funded students in nonaccredited private schools approved for tuition that enroll at least 60% publicly funded students or town academies, as determined by the previous school year's October and April average enrollment, must be determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in English language arts, health and physical education, mathematics, science and technology, and social studies, in addition to other requirements that may be established by the trustees. By the 2009-2010 school year, high school graduation for publicly funded students in private schools town academies must be determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in all content areas of the system of learning results, in addition to other requirements as established approved by the trustees. The trustees of each town academy shall approve an assessment system that ensures students have access to courses, opportunities and services that enable the students to show growth in academic progress and achievement of standards of the system of learning results.__The assessment system approved by the trustees under this subsection may use alternative methods of assessing a portfolio of each student's work, including, but not limited to, academic performance, common assessments of the student's work, standardized tests, standards-based course design, community service and extracurricular activities.

Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §6209, first ¶, as amended by PL 2001, c. 454, §31, is further amended to read:

The department in consultation with the state board shall establish and implement a comprehensive, statewide system of