Here are some of the Maine gubernatorial candidates' proposals for education reform

Maine’s gubernatorial candidates agree the state’s education system needs reform, citing declining test scores and workforce readiness. Republicans emphasize K-12 changes, while Democrats focus on child care and early education. Republican Owen McCarthy proposes expanding charter schools by one annually, a parental bill of rights for curriculum review, and AI education. David Jones supports inter-district public school attendance and education savings accounts for public, private, or home-based learning. Democrat Angus King III backs reading curriculum reforms, third-grade reading benchmarks, reduced teacher certification requirements, and a school accountability rating system. Shenna Bellows advocates for a statewide property tax freeze, funding increases through out-of-state taxes and millionaire levies, a $10,000 mentoring stipend for teachers, and Wabanaki studies curriculum expansion. On child care, Democrat Troy Jackson proposes free first-year child care, capping costs at 7% of income, and living wages for providers. Bellows aligns with the 7% cap and suggests a cabinet-level position for early childhood programs. Nirav Shah pushes public-private child care partnerships, employer contributions, and grants for providers in underserved areas. King supports better funding for universal pre-K, though fewer than half of Maine’s districts currently offer it. Higher education debates center on Gov. Janet Mills’ free community college program. Shah wants to make it permanent and add targeted grants for high-need professions. Bellows supports continuing the program and proposes free tuition for Pell-eligible students at all University of Maine campuses. McCarthy’s platform includes increasing access to higher education, though details remain incomplete.