126th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 481 LR 406(02)
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Virtual Public Charter Schools
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
Current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Limiting the per-pupil allocation that follows a student to a virtual public charter school to 20% will not change the total cost of K-12 public education or the State's share of that cost.
The Department of Education and the Maine Charter School Commission may need to contract with an outside entity to conduct the required review in order to determine the appropriate amount of per-pupil allocation that should be provided for students enrolled in virtual charter schools.  According to the Department of Education, outside resources may be needed because neither the department nor the commission has the capacity, in staff resources or expertise, to gather and analyze the data necessary to make the required recommendations.  The cost to the department and its ability to absorb those costs without impacting other programs and services can not be determined at this time.