Resolve, To Create a State-run Virtual Academy Providing Maine Students with Access to Online Learning through Their Existing School Districts
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1736
Committee Amendment CA_B_S393 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" B " to S.P. 689, L.D. 1736, "Resolve, To Create a 
State-run Virtual Academy Providing Maine Students with Access to Online Learning 
through Their Existing School Districts" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 1 to 3 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 
State-run virtual academy. Resolved: 
That the Department of 
Education shall establish a state-administered virtual academy providing all public 
schools in the State access to online courses for their students. The department shall 
design the virtual academy in collaboration with members of the Maine Charter School 
Commission, established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-G, 
subsection 10-D, providers of online learning programs, associations representing school 
administrators, teachers, school boards and others involved in public education, and 2 
members of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
education matters appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
House, including one member of the party holding the highest number of seats and one 
member of the party holding the 2nd highest number of seats in the Legislature. In 
designing the virtual academy, the department shall: 
1. Ensure the virtual academy provides for a blended learning environment that 
offers access to virtual classes along with traditional classroom-based instruction; 
2. 
Place particular emphasis on enhancing curriculum and addressing potential 
scheduling obstacles, including scheduling obstacles that may be encountered by students 
in career and technical education programs; 
3. 
Use as models the Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative and the Virtual 
Learning Academy Charter School in New Hampshire; 
4. Propose a funding model for the state-administered virtual academy that provides 
that state funding is allocated as a separate line item in the General Purpose Aid for Local 
Schools program; and 
5. Propose an amendment to the existing funding model for virtual public charter 
schools in order to provide that state funding is allocated as separate line items in the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" B .. to S.P. 689, L.D. 1736 
General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program and that the amount of funding provided 
for a student enrolled in a virtual public charter school may not exceed $6,000 per 
student. 
The department shall complete the design of the virtual academy by August 1,2015, 
and the virtual academy must be operational by August 1, 2016; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Legislation. Resolved: That, by December 1,2015, the Department of 
Education shall submit any necessary legislation to implement section 1 of this resolve to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education 
matters; and be it further 
Sec. 3. 
Appropriations and allocations. 
Resolved: 
That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
Maine Virtual Academy N168 
Initiative: Provides funding for one Secretary Specialist position, one Education 
Specialist II position and one Education Specialist III position and related All Other costs 
associated with designing and operating a state-administered virtual academy. 
GENERAL FUND 
2013-14 
2014-15 
POSITIONS - LEGISLA TNE COUNT 
0.000 
3.000 
Personal Services 
$0 
$262,233 
All Other 
$0 
$11,000 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0 
$273,233 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority report of the Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs, provides that the Department of Education must include 2 
members of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
education matters, members of the Maine Charter School Commission and providers of 
online learning programs in the group collaborating in the design of a state-administered 
virtual academy that the department must establish by August 1, 2016 to provide all 
public schools in the State access to online courses for their students. 
The amendment provides that in designing the virtual academy the Department of 
Education must propose: 
1. A funding model for the state-administered virtual academy that provides that 
state funding is allocated as a separate line item in the General Purpose Aid for Local 
Schools program; and 
2. An amendment to the existing funding model for virtual public charter schools in 
order to provide that state funding is allocated as separate line items in the General 
Purpose Aid for Local Schools program and that the amount of funding provided for a 
student enrolled in a virtual public charter school does not exceed $6,000 per student. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~ "to S.P. 689, L.D. 1736 
The amendment also strikes the moratorium proposed in the resolve that would 
prohibit the authorization of virtual public charter schools and public charter schools that 
integrate online and on-site instruction until after the virtual academy administered by the 
State is operational. This amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02118/14 
~ac 
LD 1736 
LR 2724(03) 
Resolve, To Create a State-run Virtual Academy Providing Maine Students with Access to Online 
Learning through Their Existing School Districts 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ltg' (S -3PI3 ) 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Undetermined future biennium cost increase - General Fund 
FY 2013-14 
FY 2014-15 
$0 
$273,233 
$0 
$273,233 
Projections 
FY 2015-16 
$252,380 
$252,380 
Projections 
FY 2016-17 
$282,100 
$282,100 
This bill includes a General Fund appropriation of $273,233 in fiscal year 2014-15 to a newly created Maine Virtual 
School program within the Department of Education for one Secretary Specialist position, one Education Specialist II 
position and one Education Specialist III position to design by August 1, 2015, and implement by August 1, 2016, a 
state-administered virtual academy. 
The total state and local costs associated with providing all public schools in the State with access to online courses 
for their students will depend on the model that is developed. However, this legislation requires that the total cost per 
student enrolled in the virtual academy not exceed $6,000 per year. 
The Legislature will incur additional costs estimated to be $500 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $1,000 in fiscal year 20014-
for the per diem and expenses of2 legislators participating in the design of the state-administered virtual academy. 
These costs can be absorbed by the Legislature utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
LR2724(03) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1