Resolve, To Establish a Pilot Program To Encourage Climate Education in Maine Public Schools
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1902
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: BLUME, WOODSOME, BRENNAN, DUNPHY, HEPLER, PEBWORTH, MAXMIN, MOORE

Legislative Document
No. 1902
H.P. 1409
House of Representatives, January 5, 2022
Resolve, To Establish a Pilot Program To Encourage Climate 
Education in Maine Public Schools
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BLUME of York.
Cosponsored by Senator WOODSOME of York and
Representatives: BRENNAN of Portland, DUNPHY of Old Town, HEPLER of Woolwich, 
McCREA of Fort Fairfield, PEBWORTH of Blue Hill, Senators: MAXMIN of Lincoln, 
MOORE of Washington.
Sec. 1.  Commissioner of Education to establish pilot program to provide 
professional development grants for climate education. Resolved:  That the 
Commissioner of Education, referred to in this resolve as "the commissioner," shall 
establish the Climate Education Professional Development Pilot Program, referred to in 
this resolve as "the pilot program," to provide grants for professional development for 
educators on climate science and to support the preparation of courses on interdisciplinary 
climate education for a period of 3 years.
Sec. 2.  Pilot program; administration. Resolved: That the commissioner shall 
administer the pilot program to assist school districts in partnering with nonprofit 
community-based organizations to create and implement plans to provide teacher training 
in next generation science standards and interdisciplinary climate education.
Sec. 3.  Grant awards. Resolved:  That grant awards under the pilot program must 
be prioritized for schools and communities historically underserved by climate science 
education. These schools and communities may include, but are not limited to, tribal 
nations, including tribal schools, migrant students, schools with high populations of 
students who receive free and reduced-price lunches, rural and remote schools, students in 
alternative learning education environments, students of color, English language learner 
students and students receiving special education services.  When selecting and prioritizing 
grant recipients, the commissioner may consider how an applicant has successfully 
demonstrated student progress, achievement and understanding with respect to climate 
science standards through the provision of professional development. The commissioner 
shall establish standards and an application process for the professional development grants 
in accordance with the priorities in this section.
Sec. 4.  Fund established. Resolved:  That the Climate Education Professional 
Development Pilot Program Fund is established as a dedicated, nonlapsing fund within the 
Department of Education for the purpose of receiving funds from the State and other 
sources for the purposes of this resolve.  The department shall use the funds received to 
administer the pilot program and to award grants to support the purposes described in this 
resolve.  At the end of the pilot program or upon distribution of all the funds, the fund is 
dissolved.
Sec. 5.  Transfer.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding any provision of law to the 
contrary, the State Controller shall transfer $3,000,000 from the unappropriated surplus of 
the General Fund to the Climate Education Professional Development Pilot Program Fund, 
Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Education no later than 
September 1, 2022 to support the pilot program.
Sec. 6.  Annual reports.  Resolved:  That a recipient of a grant under the pilot 
program shall report to the Department of Education annually for the duration of the grant.
Sec. 7.  Report to Legislature. Resolved:  That, no later than January 1, 2025, the 
commissioner shall submit a report regarding the pilot program and make 
recommendations, including whether the pilot program should continue as a pilot program, 
be modified or become a permanent program, to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs. The joint standing 
committee may report out legislation on the subject matter of the report to the First Regular 
Session of the 132nd Legislature.
Sec. 8.  Appropriations and allocations.  Resolved:  That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made.
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Climate Education Professional Development Pilot Program Fund N410
Initiative: Allocates one-time funds for grants to school districts to partner with nonprofit 
community-based organizations to create and implement plans to provide teacher training 
in next generation science standards and interdisciplinary climate education.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$0
$2,905,981
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$0
$2,905,981
Climate Education Professional Development Pilot Program Fund N410
Initiative: Allocates funds for one limited-period Regional Education Representative 
position and related All Other to administer the Climate Education Professional 
Development Pilot Program effective September 1, 2022.  This position ends June 30, 
2025.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2021-22
2022-23
Personal Services
$0
$85,021
All Other
$0
$8,998
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$0
$94,019
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2021-22
2022-23
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
$0
$3,000,000
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$0
$3,000,000
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Climate Education Professional Development Pilot 
Program as a 3-year pilot program within the Department of Education to provide grants 
for professional development for educators on climate science and to support the 
preparation of courses on interdisciplinary climate education and provides $3,000,000 in 
one-time funds for grants to school districts to partner with nonprofit community-based 
organizations to create and implement plans to provide teacher training in next generation 
science standards and interdisciplinary climate education.