An Act To Ensure Federal Title I Funding Is Directed to Classroom Learning
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1319
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: LIBBY, CHIPMAN, RILEY, HANDY, BROOKS, GOLDEN, MELARAGNO
Amends: 20-A MRSA §15671, 20-A MRSA §15676

Legislative Document
No. 1319
S.P. 448
In Senate, April 4, 2017
An Act To Ensure Federal Title I Funding Is Directed to Classroom 
Learning
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator LIBBY of Androscoggin.
Cosponsored by Senator CHIPMAN of Cumberland, Representative RILEY of Jay, 
Representative HANDY of Lewiston and
Representatives: BROOKS of Lewiston, GOLDEN of Lewiston, MELARAGNO of Auburn.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §15671, sub-§5-B is enacted to read: 
5-B.  Federal Title I, Part A grant funds.  Federal grant funds received under Title 
I, Part A of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 United 
States Code, Section 6301 et seq., as amended by the federal Every Student Succeeds 
Act, 20 United States Code, Chapter 70, must be used by a school administrative unit as 
defined by section 1, subsection 26 to: 
A.  Supplement and not supplant any state and local funds allocated to the school 
administrative unit under this chapter; 
B.  Provide all students with a significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable and 
high-quality education; and 
C.  Close educational achievement gaps. 
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §15676, sub-§§1 and 2, as corrected by RR 2011, c. 2, §19, 
are amended to read: 
1.  Teaching staff costs.  The salary and benefit costs for school level teaching staff 
that are necessary to carry out this Act, calculated in accordance with section 15678, 
adjusted by the regional adjustment under section 15682 and reduced by the amount of 
funds received by the school administrative unit during the most recent fiscal year under 
Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 United States 
Code, Section 6301 et seq.; 
2.  Other staff costs.  The salary and benefit costs for school-level staff who are not 
teachers, but including substitute teachers, that are necessary to carry out this Act, 
calculated in accordance with section 15679, adjusted by the regional adjustment under 
section 15682 and reduced by the amount of funds received by the school administrative 
unit during the most recent fiscal year under Title I of the federal Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 United States Code, Section 6301 et seq.; and 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the school funding formula in the Essential Programs and Services 
Funding Act to remove the reduction of the federal Title I funds under the federal 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 received by school administrative units 
for teachers and other school staff and to require that school administrative units use 
federal Title I, Part A grant funds received under the federal Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, only to 
supplement the school administrative unit's funds that would, in the absence of such 
federal funds, be allocated from state and local school funding sources for the education 
of students participating in programs assisted under the federal law and not to supplant 
such state and local funds allocated to the school administrative unit.