An Act To Improve Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers and Other Public School Employees
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1131
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: CAIN, NELSON, ALFOND, JOHNSON, MILLETT, DAUGHTRY, KORNFIELD, MAKER, POULIOT
Amends: 20-A MRSA §264

Legislative Document 
No. 1131 
S.P. 392 
In Senate, March 21, 2013 
An Act To Improve Professional Development Opportunities for 
Teachers and Other Public School Employees 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator CAIN of Penobscot. 
Cosponsored by Representative NELSON of Falmouth and 
Senators: President ALFOND of Cumberland, JOHNSON of Lincoln, MILLETT of 
Cumberland, Representatives: DAUGHTRY of Brunswick, KORNFIELD of Bangor, 
MacDONALD of Boothbay, MAKER of Calais, POULIOT of Augusta. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §264 is enacted to read: 
§264.  Professional development 
1.  Fund.  The Fund for Professional Development in Education, referred to in this 
section as "the fund," is established for the purpose of providing funding to school 
administrative units to cover a portion of the cost of professional development for 
teachers and other education professionals. 
2.  Professional development opportunities.  The commissioner shall establish a 
system to support school administrative units in the provision of up to 10 days per year of 
professional development for teachers and other education professionals.  The system 
must: 
A.  Include a process for school administrative units to request from the 
commissioner funding from the fund to cover the cost of professional development 
for teachers and other education professionals; and 
B.  Provide that the commissioner shall approve funding from the fund to a school 
administrative unit that demonstrates that: 
(1)  The professional development activities for which funding is requested will 
improve the ability of teachers and other education professionals in the school 
administrative unit to teach or provide other educational services for students in 
the school administrative unit's schools; 
(2)  The school administrative unit will cover from local funds at least 50% of the 
cost of the professional development for which funding is requested; and 
(3)  The school administrative unit has entered into an agreement with teachers 
and other education professionals in the school administrative unit regarding the 
purpose, dates, times and program components of the professional development 
activities for which funding is sought. 
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF  
Professional Development 0859 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to school administrative units for a portion of the cost 
of professional development for teachers and other education professionals. 
GENERAL FUND 
2013-14
2014-15
All Other 
$2,000,000
$2,000,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$2,000,000
$2,000,000
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes the Fund for Professional Development in Education with an 
appropriation of $2,000,000 to support up to 50% of the cost of up to an additional 10 
days annually of professional development for teachers and other education professionals.  
The fund is administered by the Commissioner of Education, who must approve funding 
if a school administrative unit demonstrates that the professional development for which 
funding is requested will improve teaching or educational services provided to students, 
the school administrative unit will provide at least 50% of the funding and the school 
administrative unit has entered into an agreement with the teachers regarding the timing 
and components of the professional development activities.