Maine Expands Law on How Schools Report Alleged Misconduct

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine legislators have expanded a law that aimed to improve notification of investigations into teachers accused of wrongdoing.

Lawmakers raced to pass the law last year following reports that a former Democratic lawmaker had romantic relationships with students he met as teacher and coach at a now-shuttered all-female high school in Portland.

But even supporters of the law say it had unintended consequences.

The Department of Education says the rushed law left no way for the state to notify other schools districts about ongoing investigations, for example.

The new law would allow the state to release such information. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has signed the bill into law.