An Act To Integrate the Approval of Early Childhood Education Plans for Children 4 Years of Age into Basic School Approval for Elementary Schools
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0560
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: SULLIV AN, TURNER, EDGECOMB, NORTON
Amends: 20-A MRSA §1, 20-A MRSA §4252, 20-A MRSA §4253, 20-A MRSA §4255, 20-A MRSA §4501, 20-A MRSA §4502, 20-A MRSA §15672, 20-A MRSA §15675, 20-A MRSA §15681

Legislative Document 
No. 560 
S.P. 172 
February 5, 2007 
An Act To Integrate the Approval of Early Childhood Education 
Plans for Children 4 Years of Age into Basic School Approval for 
Elementary Schools 
Submitted by the Department of Education pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator SULLIV AN of York. 
Cosponsored by Representati ve WEBSTER of Freeport and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senator: TURNER of Cumberland, Representatives: EDGECOMB of Caribou, NORTON of 
Bangor. 
PllI1ln! ('llll'I..~L·lcJ p.qxr 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §l, sub-§15, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, is 
amended to read: 
15. Kindergarten. "Kindergarten" means a one-year or 2-year childhood education 
program, for children at least 5 years of age, immediately prior to grade one. 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §1, sub-§23-A is enacted to read: 
23-A. Public preschool program. "Public preschool program" means a program 
offered by a public school that provides instruction to children who are 4 years of age. 
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §4252, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1989, c. 548, §3, is 
lO 
further amended to read: 
4. Programs for children 4 years of age and 5 years of age. Encourage the 
development of public preschool programs or 2-year kindergartens in conformity with 
section 5201, subsection 2, paragraph C and other appropriate programs to address the 
needs of 4 year old children 4 years of age and 5 years of age; 
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §4253, as amended by PL 1997, c. 534, § 1, is repealed. 
Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §4255, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 368, § 1, is repealed. 
Sec. 6. 20-A MRSA §4501, as amended by PL 1985, c. 797, §31, is further 
amended to read: 
§4501. Duty of school units 
In accordance with the policy expressed in section 2, every school administrative unit 
shall raise and support annually sufficient funds to maintain or support elementary and 
secondary schools to provide free education for its resident students at all grade levels. 
These schools shall meet the requirements of basic school approval. School units that 
choose to offer a public preschool program must meet the requirements of basic school 
approval. 
Sec. 7. 20-A MRS A §4502, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1991, c. 824, Pt. A, §32, 
is further amended to read: 
2. 
Curriculum standards. Schools shall also meet all curriculum standards 
established in chapter 207-A. 
Schools that offer public preschool programs shall 
demonstrate curriculum practice for those programs that implements the Maine early 
childhood learning guidelines and is appropriate for the age and development level of the 
children. 
Sec. 8. 20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§5, ~, as amended by PL 2001, c. 452, §9, is 
further amended to read: 
N. 
Preparation of a written local policy and implementation of training for all 
unlicensed personnel who administer medication in accordance with the requirements 
under section 254, subsection 5; aad 
Sec. 9. 20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§5, ~O, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 452, §1O, is 
amended to read: 
O. 
Preparation of a written local policy and implementation of training for all 
guidance counselors and school personnel who administer reintegration planning 
pursuant to section 254, subsection 12, who participate in a reintegration team and 
who have access to confidential criminal justice information regarding juveniles 
pursuant to section 1055, subsection 12"; and 
Sec. 10. 20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§5, ~p is enacted to read: 
P. Provision of family outreach and support programs designed to improve parent-
school relations and parenting skills consistent with section 4252, subsection 8. 
Sec. 11. 20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§9 is enacted to read: 
9. Coordinated early childhood programs for children 4 years of age. Any 
school administrative unit that wishes to develop an early childhood program for children 
years of age must submit a proposal for approval to the department. Evaluation of the 
proposal must include consideration of at least the following factors: 
A. 
Demonstrated coordination with other early childhood programs III the 
community to maximize resources; 
B. Consideration of the extended child care needs of working parents; and 
C. Provision of public notice regarding the proposal to the community being served, 
including the extent to which public notice has been disseminated broadly to other 
early childhood programs in the community. 
Sec. 12. 20-A MRS A §5201, sub-§2, ~C, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 
and 8, is amended to read: 
C. 
A person who will be at least 4 years eld of age on October 15th of the school 
year may enroll in a 2 year childhood education public preschool program prior to 
grade one kindergarten if it is offered. 
Sec. 13. 20-A MRSA §15672, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 504, Pt. A, §6, 
is amended to read: 
6. Elementary grades. "Elementary grades" means kindergarten public preschool 
programs to grade 8 and includes children enrolled in early kindergarten programs and 4 
year old children enrolled in a 2 year childhood education program prior to grade one. 
Sec. 14. 20-A MRS A §15672, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 504, Pt. A, §6, 
is amended to read: 
7. Elementary school level. "Elementary school level" means the grades from 
kindergarten public preschool programs to grade 5 and inelHdes early kindergarten 
programs and 2 year ehildbood edHeation programs enrolling 4 year old ehildren prior to 
grade one. 
Sec. 15. 20-A MRSA §15675, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 504, Pt. A, §6, 
is amended to read: 
3. Public preschool program to grade 2 students. If a school administrative unit is 
eligible to receive targeted funds for its kindergarten public preschool to grade 2 program 
under section 15681, then for each kindergarten public preschool program to grade 2 
student, the unit receives an additional weight of .10. 
A. 
For purposes of the additional weight under this subsection, the count of 
kindergarten public preschool program to grade 2 students is calculated based on the 
number of resident pupils in the most recent calendar year. 
B. Only school administrative units with a kindergarten public preschool to grade 2 
program programs approved by the department are eligible for funds pursuant to this 
subsection or other comparable index. 
C. 
Funds provided pursuant to this subsection may be expended only on behalf of 
kindergarten public preschool program to grade 2 students. 
Sec. 16. 20-A MRS A §15681, sub-§I, ~C, as amended by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. D, 
§2, is further amended to read: 
C. 
To receive targeted kindergarten public preschool program to grade 2 funds 
calculated pursuant to subsection 4, the school administrative unit must be in 
compliance with any applicable reporting requirements for local early childhood 
programs. Any program must be in compliance with chapter 203, subchapter 2. 
Sec. 17. 20-A MRSA §15681, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 504, Pt. A, §6, 
is amended to read: 
4. Public preschool program to grade 2 funds. For targeted kindergarten public 
preschool program to grade 2 funds, the commissioner shall calculate the amount that 
may be made available to eligible school administrative units as follows. 
A. For fiscal year 2005-06, the amount equals the product of the per-pupil guarantee 
calculated pursuant to section 15676 multiplied by the additional weight calculated 
pursuant to section 15675, subsection 3. 
B. 
For fiscal year 2006-07 and each subsequent year, the commissioner shall 
recalculate the amount by using the amount calculated under paragraph A as a base 
and appropriate trends in the Consumer Price Index or other comparable index. 
SUMMARY 
This bill defines "public preschool program" in the laws governing education. This 
definition differentiates a public preschool program from a one-or-two-year kindergarten 
program. 
The bill also integrates approval of early childhood education plans for programs for 
children 4 years of age into the laws governing basic school approval. 
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