A major reason Maine fell to last in those state rankings is because it stopped giving U.S. News access to Advanced Placement performance data for Maine high schools — a key part of the methodology the media organization uses to rate the schools.
It’s unclear why the Maine Department of Education declined to grant access to the statistics, and a spokesperson has not responded to our request for comment. But, like Maine, other states that have not authorized U.S. News to use their high schools’ AP enrollment and exam data have fallen to the bottom of the rankings.
Update, Sept 1: After our story was published, the Maine Department of Education said in a statement: “Since 2020, at the recommendation of the Maine Attorney General’s Office, the Maine Department of Education has not authorized the College Board to share student data out of concern that it could be made available for commercial use. In fact, the College Board has paid fines in New York – one of four states that is not currently providing data to the College Board – for the illegal and improper sale of student data. The Maine Department of Education takes student privacy seriously. Assessment results have no bearing on this decision.”
The ad blaming Maine’s descent on Jackson, a former state Senate president and majority leader, is from Republican Sen. Susan Collins’ campaign, and it has aired on broadcast and digital platforms since Aug. 17, according to AdImpact. Jackson is challenging Collins for her U.S. Senate seat in the toss-up race.
