An Act To
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1533
Committee Amendment CA_A_S302 (Senate)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §19152, 20-A MRSA §19157

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 580, L.D. 1533, Bill, "An Act To 
Amend the Maine Online Learning Program" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Establish the M~line Online Learning Collaborative' 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble .. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, Maine's students must meet the requirements of the system of learning 
results within a standards-based learning system as set forth in the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 222; and 
Whereas, the State can augment the capacity of Maine teachers to provide 
high-quality, 21st-century, technology-rich, online and blended learning experiences that 
present students with opportunities to meet the proficiency-based diploma requirements 
of Maine's standards-based learning system; and 
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect immediately in order to ensure that 
school administrative units have the capacity and resources necessary to provide 
high-quality, 21st-century, technology-rich, online and blended learning experiences to 
students; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill by inserting before section 1 the following: 
'Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §19152, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2011, c. 353, §6, is 
further amended to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A "to S.P. 580, L.D. 1533 
4. 
Public school educational opportunities. 
Increase the capacity of school 
administrative units to provide public school educational opportunities for students whose 
educational needs are not being met in the regular public school program; aR6 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §19152, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 353, §7, is 
amended to read: 
5. Nonresident tuition students. Permit school administrative units to provide 
online educational opportunities to nonresident tuition students who reside, and whose 
parents reside, outside the State. 
This subsection is repealed July 1, 201~~ 
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §19152, sub-§§6 and 7 are enacted to read: 
6. Standards-based. Enable students to meet the standards of the system oflearning 
results within a standards-based learning system as set forth in chapter 222; and 
7. Build teaching capacity. Augment the capacity of teachers who are residents of 
this State and who have been properlY-certified in accordance with certification rules 
adopted pursuant to chapter 502 to provide high-quality, 21 st-century, technology-rich, 
online and blended learning experiences for students.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 19153 in subsection 1 in paragraph A in the last line 
(page 1, line 9 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "appropriate;" the following: 'and' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §19153 in subsection 1 by striking out all of 
paragraphs Band C (page 1, lines 10 to 13 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'B. The online learning provider's ability to satisfy the requirements under subsection 
2.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 19153 in subsection 1 in the blocked paragraph by 
striking out all of the last sentence (page 1, lines 14 and 15 in L.D.). 
Amend the bill in section 4 in subsection 4 in the 2nd and 3rd lines (page 1, lines 34 
and 35 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "and cost comparisons between online 
learning programs or courses and programs delivered by means of traditional methods" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 6 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 6. 20-A MRSA §19157 is enacted to read: 
§19157. Maine Online Learning Collaborative 
The department shall form a partnership with a statewide consortium consisting of 
school administrative units, public charter schools, private secondary schools approved 
for the receipt of public funds under chapter 117, subchapter 2 that enroll 60% or more 
publicly funded students and other educational organizations that meet the eligibility 
requirements of subsection 2 to collaboratively develop a high-quality online learning 
program to commence in the 2014-2015 school year that provides students in grades 9 to 
access to digital learning through online and hybrid courses that are taught by teachers 
properly certified in accordance with certification rules adopted pursuant to chapter 502. 
The department shall develop approval criteria and a process for approving online 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to S.P. 580, L.D. 1533 
learning providers to implement online learning programs developed in accordance with 
this section. 
1. 
Collaborative partnership. The collaborative partnership formed under this 
section shall: 
A. Deliver educational programs that meet the diverse educational needs of students 
in order to prepare them to contribute to the future welfare of the State; 
B. 
Close the achievement gap between high-performing and low-performing 
students, including the gap between economically disadvantaged students and their 
more advantaged peers; 
C. Provide a broader range of educational options to parents and, utilizing existing 
resources, including learning technology, help to improve the academic achievement 
of students; 
D. Augment the capacity of school administrative units to provide public school 
options for those students whose educational needs are not being met through the 
regular public school progTam; 
E. Through the use of available learning technology resources, create educational 
opportunities for students that may not exist without the use of those resources; 
F. Provide consistent, high-quality, public education options for students through the 
use of available learning technology resources; 
G. Enable students to meet the standards of the system of learning results within a 
standards-based learning system as set forth in chapter 222; and 
H. 
Augment the capacity of teachers properly certified in accordance with 
certification rules adopted pursuant to chapter 502 to provide high-quality, 
21st-century, technology-rich, online and blended learning experiences for students. 
2. Institutional eligibility. An educational organization is eligible to be part of the 
consortium under this section if: 
A. It offers an online learning program or course at a secondary level for grades 9 to 
students enrolled in: 
(1) A public school in a school administrative unit; 
(2) A public charter school; or 
(3) A private secondary school approved for the receipt of public funds under 
chapter 117, subchapter 2 that enrolls 60% or more publicly funded students; 
B. The entire educational program for the student does not consist solely of online 
learning programs and courses; and 
C. The online learning provider uses only teachers who are residents of this State and 
who have been certified by the department. 
3. StUdent eligibility. Only students in grades 9 to 12 may enroll in programs under 
this section, except that an educational organization may request and the commissioner 
may grant an exception to allow a student in grade 7 or grade 8 to enroll if requirements 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A "to S.P. 580, L.D. 1533 
established by the commissioner in rule are met. A student is not eligible to enroll in 
programs offered under this section if the student is a nonresident tuition student who 
resides, and whose parents reside, outside the State. 
4. Fund established. The Maine Online Learning Collaborative Fund is established 
as a nonlapsing fund in the department. The fund is administered by the department to 
provide reimbursement to school administrative units for online learning programs 
provided under this section. The fund receives funds appropriated, allocated or 
transferred to the department for the purposes of this section. 
5. Request for proposals; approval criteria. The approval criteria and a request 
for proposal process developed by the department for approving online learning providers 
under this section must be reviewed and approved by the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs before the request for 
proposals is publicized by the department. 
6. Rules. The department shall adopt routine technical rules, as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A, to implement the provisions of this section.' 
Amend the bill in section 7 in the 4th line (page 5, line 11 in L.D.) by striking out the 
following: "Program Reimbursement" and inserting the following: 'Collaborative' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 7 the following: 
'Sec. 8. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
Maine Online Learning Collaborative Fund N164 
Initiative: Provides base allocations to reimburse school administrative units for the costs 
associated with online learning programs. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following: 
2013-14 
$500 
$500 
2014-15 
$500 
$500 
'Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment adds an emergency preamble and an emergency clause to the bill 
and amends the laws governing the Maine Online Learning Program by adding 2 
provisions to the goals of the program that would enable students to meet the standards of 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to S.P. 580, L.D. 1533 
the system of learning results and that would augment the capacity of teachers who are 
certified in the State to provide high-quality online and blended learning experiences for 
students. 
The amendment also strikes the provisions in the bill that propose to establish the 
Maine Online Learning Program Reimbursement Fund and replaces the fund with 
provisions to authorize the Department of Education to establish the Maine Online 
Learning Collaborative, a partnership with a statewide consortium consisting of Maine 
school administrative units, public charter schools and approved private secondary 
schools that enroll 60% or more publicly funded students and other educational 
organizations to collaboratively develop a high-quality online learning program to 
commence in the 2014-2015 school year that provides students in grades 9 to 12 access to 
part-time digital learning through online and hybrid courses that are taught by Maine 
certified teachers. 
The amendment also requires the Department of Education to develop approval 
criteria and a process for approving online learning providers to implement online 
learning programs with the Maine Online Learning Collaborative; and provides that the 
request for proposals must be reviewed and approved by the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs before the request 
for proposals is publicized by the department. 
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 06/17113 
~aG 
LD 1533 
LR 1886(02) 
An Act To Amend the Maine Online Learning Program 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment A" (S-?::D2-) 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
FY 2013-14 
FY 2014-15 
Projections 
FY 2015-16 
Projections 
FY 2016-17 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$500 
$500 
$500 
$500 
This bill establishes the Maine Online Learning Collaborative Fund as a nonlapsing fund within the Department of 
Education to provide reimbursement to local school administrative units for certain online learning programs. This 
bill provides base Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $500 per year beginning in fiscal year 2013-14 for the 
Maine Online Learning Collaborative Fund to authorize the expenditure of funds. 
This legislation requires the State Controller to transfer available balances remaining in the Maine Learning 
Technology Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account to the Maine Online Learning Collaborative Fund no later 
than 10 days after this legislation becomes effective. The State's accounting system does not have an Other Special 
Revenue Funds account with that specific name. However, there are currently 4 Maine Learning Technology 
Initiative, Other Special Revenue Funds accounts that have cash balances totaling $1,175,491. Given the current 
language in this legislation, the State Controller has indicated that all available funds would be taken from all accounts 
under the Maine Learning Technology Initiative program. Also, because this legislation does not include language 
that would allow for only those balances available after "accounting for all commitments or obligations" to be 
transferred to the Maine Online Learning Collaborative Fund, the State Controller would be obligated to transfer the 
cash balances in the Other Special Revenue Funds accounts without consideration of what commitments or 
obligations currently exist. General Fund appropriations may be required to address those commitments and 
obligations. 
LRI886(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1