Maine’s Next Governor Will Impact Level Of State Power Over Education System

The results of Maine’s 2026 gubernatorial election will have a substantial effect on how much influence the state has over its educational system, as elected officials seek to improve student performance.

According to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data, Maine test scores were at their lowest in three decades as of 2024. This has led to a debate over whether the state should step in to mandate specific learning curricula, which it does not currently do.

Amy Johnson, a professor at the University of Southern Maine, has been critical of the state’s longstanding decentralized policies, arguing, “The more we keep saying ‘local control,’ the more we’re expecting small municipalities to pass muster when they don’t have the resources.” Democratic gubernatorial nominee Hannah Pingree has echoed Johnson’s sentiment, saying that while she does not seek to impose top-down state policy, she would provide municipalities with the necessary funding to address major challenges.

Republican gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles, in contrast, has emphasized his alignment with Maine’s tradition of local control, and argued, “Control over our education policies should extend beyond the superintendents and school boards to people who know what’s best for students – their family members.” Charles has previously articulated a fiscally conservative vision for the state’s schools, arguing that cutting administrative costs would allow teachers to be paid more, and by extension improve declining test scores.

He has claimed that Pingree did not effectively address the state’s educational problems in her former capacity as Director of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future.

Both Pingree and Charles have also connected their educational vision to their broader economic platforms, which reflect traditional Democratic and Republican priorities. Pingree has emphasized her support for teacher’s unions and making childcare more affordable, while Charles has said that cutting taxes and promoting economic growth would make it easier for teachers to live in Maine.

Maine students’ test scores began to decline prior to the state’s COVID-19 shutdowns, and continued to drop during the remote learning era. While the next governor will shape the state’s role in educational policy, it remains to be seen what effect their decisions will have on student achievement.