CHAPTER 224

S.P. 354 - L.D. 1037

An Act To Authorize Exemptions for Montessori Schools

from Certain Requirements

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §8301-A, sub-§9 is enacted to read:

9.__Exemption from certain requirements for accredited Montessori schools.__Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter, a child care facility that is accredited as a Montessori school by a national or international accreditation organization may apply to the commissioner for an exemption from those requirements of this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter that conflict with the recognized tenets of the Montessori philosophy.

The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.__ Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §8405 is enacted to read:

§8405.__Exemption from certain requirements for accredited

Montessori schools

Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or chapter 1673 or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter or chapter 1673, a nursery school that is accredited as a Montessori school by a national or international accreditation organization may apply to the commissioner for an exemption from those requirements of this chapter or chapter 1673 or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter or chapter 1673 that conflict with the recognized tenets of the Montessori philosophy.