126th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1510		LR 2010(02)
	An Act To Ensure Statewide School Accountability and Improvement
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
State Mandate - Unfunded
State Mandates
	Required Activity				Unit Affected	Local Cost
	Requires local school administrative units identified by the Department of Education as needing assistance to improve student achievement to develop and implement a school improvement plan.				School	Significant statewide
	The required local activities in this bill may represent a State mandate pursuant to the Constitution of Maine.  Unless General Fund appropriations are provided to fund at least 90% of the additional costs or a Mandate Preamble is amended to the bill and two-thirds of the members of each House vote to exempt this mandate from the funding requirement, municipalities may not be required to implement these changes.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The Governor's proposed budget for the 2014-2015 biennium, LD 1509, includes language that would authorize the Commissioner of Education to expend and disburse funds to support school improvement activities.  Information provided by the Department of Education indicates that $1.5 million in fiscal year 2013-14 and fiscal year 2014-15 will be allocated for this initiative if approved by the Legislature.  This funding would be used both to expand school improvement support capacity within the department and to provide grants to local school administrative units to implement school improvement plans.
	Additional costs to the Department of Education and the State Board of Education associated with the rulemaking and appeals process can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.