Matt (@DrewetteCard) and NEW COHOST Courtney (@BelolanC; @PLearnMC) welcome everyone back for the Part Deux of the 130th Legislative Session! We welcome our new cohost, talk about recent public hearings, and raise an uncomfortable question about the current relationship between Maine Education Matters and Personalized Learning with Matt & Courtney. Thanks for downloading, subscribing, listening, and following!

We're back in 2022! The Maine Legislative Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs has reconvened and started up the second session of the 130th Legislative Session. Today's episode is a short "welcome back," with a teaser for an upcoming BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and addition to the MEM team! Thanks for subscribing and listening!

Maine Education Matters returns! A short episode about what's next for MEM, plans for the special session starting next month, and a massive announcement!

In a very special episode, Matt and Julie talk to the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs Representative Michael Brennan (Portland). We talk about the committee, the process of how bills “work”, and of course: BILLS!!! This is a MUST LISTEN if you’re a fan of the show!!

Matt and Julie talk about their plans for the upcoming season - some of them are pretty wild - and they'd love to get your feedback on how to interact better with listeners.

Matt and Juie are here with a summer sendoff as they prepare for the new year. They are joined by their good friends at the Personalized Learning with Matt and Courtney podcast to talk about why they started a podcast and what keeps them going. Follow the PLearnMC pod wherever you listen to this pod!

Matt & Julie wrap up the last two weeks' worth of signed (or unsigned) bills that are now Maine law! Plus: Julie takes a break, and Matt summons the Emperor for a world-melding opportunity. Also, what happened to a committee member?

Matt and Julie cover some bills that have been SIGNED INTO LAW, some more that are PASSED TO BE ENACTED, and a couple that are DEAD. Plus: Matt is victim to a conspiracy and Julie was the prime conspirator.

Matt & Julie review the few bills that have VOTES in the House and/or Senate. 4 Vaccination-based bills (all basically dead), 1 IEP--based bill (moving on up #Jeffersons), and 1 PEPG bill (that would delay evaluations for the 21-22SY). Plus: Matt sends the podcast deep into the ethereal plane, and Julie tries to dive into the mind of one of the Ed Committee members.

BIG shoutouts to @TableTopAudio for the sounds, and @PLearnMC for being an amazing podcast and good friends.
Oh, and Matt ate a guinea pig.

Matt & Julie talk about previous curriculum mandates, new curriculum mandates, a process to oversee curriculum mandates... and more! We review Work Session votes from the week of May 17, 2021. Plus: Matt names his summer drink, and Julie starts off with an apology.