An Act To Support Community Schools

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §9923,  as enacted by PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. GGG, §1, is amended to read:

§ 9923. Designation of community schools

The department is authorized to designate 3 community schools established in accordance with this chapter as part of a 5-year pilot project beginning in the 2016-2017 school year. For the 2020-2021 school year, the department is authorized to designate 5 community schools established in accordance with this chapter. Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, the department may biannually designate 10 additional community schools established in accordance with this chapter. The department shall annually inform school administrative units of the application process and deadlines and make that information and appropriate forms available on its publicly accessible website. The commissioner shall provide state funding to the school administrative units in which the designated community schools are located and may employ a state community school coordinator to implement this pilot project designation program. Annual state allocations for this pilot project may not exceed $150,000.

This section is repealed July 1, 2021.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §15689-A, sub-§25,  as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. C, §54, is further amended to read:

summary

This bill makes the Department of Education's community school pilot project permanent. The department is authorized to designate 5 community schools in the 2020-2021 school year and 10 additional schools biannually beginning in the 2021-2022 school year. The Commissioner of Education is required to apply for available federal funds in support of community school implementation and expansion.