District news
School choice families at private schools must take state tests
What happened
On January 21, 2026 the board changed its school choice policy (JFABA). Students who get West Bath tuition money to attend a private school in grades 6-12 must now agree to take Maine's yearly state tests, given at West Bath School if needed.
Why it matters to families
West Bath pays for grades 6-12 elsewhere, mostly at RSU 1. The superintendent said some private schools were not giving state tests, and if fewer than 95% of students take them, federal funding could be at risk. Parents choosing a private school must now make sure their child is tested.
The evidence
In the January 21, 2026 recording, the superintendent reads the new policy language: students granted school choice tuition assistance at a non-public school must participate in the Maine Comprehensive Assessment System annual assessments. The January 21 minutes record the 5-0 approval of the revised JFABA.
The source
January 21, 2026 WBSAU school board meeting recording (auto-generated captions)See the full record for West Bath School Administrative Unit.
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